Shannen Doherty is a renowned American actress celebrated for her versatile roles in television and film. Her career spans several decades, with notable performances including Jenny Wilder in "Little House on the Prairie," Heather Duke in "Heathers," and the iconic Brenda Walsh in "Beverly Hills, 90210." Doherty's portrayal of Prue Halliwell in "Charmed" further solidified her status as a television star.
April 12, 1971: Birth of Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty was born on April 12, 1971.
1982: Guest Roles and "Little House on the Prairie"
In 1982, Shannen Doherty had guest roles in "Voyagers!" and "Father Murphy." That same year, at age 11, she landed the role of Jenny Wilder in "Little House on the Prairie."
1982: Voice Role and Guest Appearances
Shannen Doherty provided her voice for the animated film "The Secret of NIMH" and appeared in an episode of "Magnum, P.I." in 1982.
1982: Early Roles and Breakthrough in "Little House on the Prairie"
Shannen Doherty started her career with guest spots on TV series like "Voyagers!" and "Father Murphy." Her big break came when she landed the role of Jenny Wilder in "Little House on the Prairie." She also lent her voice to the animated film "The Secret of NIMH" in 1982.
1983: Cancellation of "Little House on the Prairie"
"Little House on the Prairie" was canceled in 1983.
1983: Final Season of "Little House on the Prairie"
Shannen Doherty appeared in all but four episodes of the final season of "Little House on the Prairie," which ended in 1983.
1984: Young Artist Award Nomination
Shannen Doherty was nominated for Best Young Actress: Guest in a Series at the 6th Youth in Film Awards for her performance in an episode of "Airwolf."
1985: Starring in "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
Shannen Doherty starred alongside Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker in the teen comedy "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" in 1985.
1985: Starring in "Girls Just Want to Have Fun"
Shannen Doherty starred as Maggie Malene in the teen comedy "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" alongside Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker in 1985.
1986: Role in "Our House"
Shannen Doherty took on the role of Kris Witherspoon in the family drama "Our House," which premiered in 1986.
1986: Start of "Our House" and Young Artist Award Nominations
Shannen Doherty began her role as Kris Witherspoon in the family drama "Our House," which ran from 1986 to 1988. Her performance earned her several Young Artist Award nominations.
1988: End of "Our House"
"Our House," starring Shannen Doherty, ran for its final season and ended in 1988.
1988: Film Debut in "Heathers" and Conclusion of "Our House"
Shannen Doherty made her major motion picture debut in the dark comedy "Heathers." The same year, her run on the family drama "Our House" came to an end.
1988: Premiere of "Heathers"
Shannen Doherty's film "Heathers" was released in 1988.
1989: Premiere of "Heathers"
Shannen Doherty's film "Heathers" premiered, gaining her recognition.
1989: Release of "Heathers" Film
The original "Heathers" film, in which Shannen Doherty starred, was released in 1989.
1990: Breakthrough Role in "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Shannen Doherty landed the iconic role of Brenda Walsh in the Aaron Spelling-produced TV series "Beverly Hills, 90210."
1990: Breakthrough Role in "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Shannen Doherty rose to prominence with her portrayal of Brenda Walsh in the TV series "Beverly Hills, 90210," which debuted in 1990.
1991: Young Artist Award Nomination for "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Shannen Doherty's performance as Brenda Walsh in "Beverly Hills, 90210" earned her a Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series.
1992: Shannen Doherty's Public Image Suffers from Allegations of Bad Behavior
Beginning in 1992, Shannen Doherty's public image began to be overshadowed by reports of bad behavior, including alleged conflicts with co-stars and a reputation for partying and lateness.
1992: Second Young Artist Award Nomination for "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Shannen Doherty received another Young Artist Award nomination for Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series for her role in "Beverly Hills, 90210."
May 25, 1993: Dean Jay Factor Files Restraining Order Against Shannen Doherty
On May 25, 1993, Dean Jay Factor filed for a restraining order against Shannen Doherty, alleging physical violence and threats. Doherty's father, however, claimed that the abuse was from Factor, not Doherty.
October 11, 1993: Shannen Doherty Marries Ashley Hamilton
Shannen Doherty married Ashley Hamilton, the son of actors George Hamilton and Alana Collins, on October 11, 1993.
December 1993: First Appearance in Playboy Magazine
Shannen Doherty appeared nude in Playboy magazine for the first time in December 1993.
1993: Physical Altercation Between Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth
In 1993, an argument between Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth on the set of "Beverly Hills, 90210" escalated into a physical altercation, highlighting the intensity of their feud.
March 1994: Second Appearance in Playboy Magazine
Shannen Doherty was featured in Playboy magazine again, with a spread in March 1994.
April 1994: Shannen Doherty and Ashley Hamilton File for Divorce
Shannen Doherty and Ashley Hamilton filed for divorce in April 1994, ending their marriage after less than a year.
1994: Debut of "Shannen Doherty Shoots a Porno: A Shockumentary"
"Shannen Doherty Shoots a Porno: A Shockumentary," a satirical farce inspired by Shannen Doherty's reputation for controversy, debuted at Chicago's Torso Theatre in 1994.
1994: Tabloid Headlines Focus on Shannen Doherty's Feud with Jennie Garth
Between 1992 and 1994, tabloid headlines frequently focused on Shannen Doherty's alleged feud with her "Beverly Hills, 90210" co-star, Jennie Garth, further contributing to her negative public image.
1994: Departure from "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Shannen Doherty left the popular series "Beverly Hills, 90210" after the fourth season.
1994: Departure from "Beverly Hills, 90210"
Shannen Doherty's time on "Beverly Hills, 90210" ended after four seasons in 1994.
1995: Role in "Mallrats"
Shannen Doherty starred in Kevin Smith's film "Mallrats" in 1995.
1997: Conclusion of "Shannen Doherty Shoots a Porno: A Shockumentary"
"Shannen Doherty Shoots a Porno: A Shockumentary" concluded its three-year run at Chicago's Torso Theatre in 1997.
1998: Starring Role in "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty was cast as Prue Halliwell in the TV series "Charmed," which premiered in 1998.
1998: Starring Role in "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty was cast by Aaron Spelling again, this time for the TV series "Charmed." She played Prue Halliwell, one of the lead characters, and even directed a few episodes.
1999: Shannen Doherty Reveals Crohn's Disease Diagnosis
Shannen Doherty publicly shared her diagnosis of Crohn's disease in 1999.
1999: Saturn Award Nomination for "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Genre TV Actress for her performance in "Charmed."
1999: Saturn Award Nomination for "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty received a Saturn Award nomination for Best Genre TV Actress for her role in "Charmed."
2000: Second Saturn Award Nomination for "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty earned her second consecutive Saturn Award nomination for Best Genre TV Actress for her role in "Charmed."
2000: Second Saturn Award Nomination for "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty was nominated for a Saturn Award for Best Genre TV Actress for the second time for her performance in "Charmed."
2001: Departure from "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty left the TV series "Charmed" at the end of the third season in 2001.
2001: Departure from "Charmed"
Shannen Doherty's time on "Charmed" ended as her character was written off.
2002: Shannen Doherty's Marriage to Rick Salomon Annulled
Shannen Doherty's marriage to Rick Salomon was annulled in 2002 after nine months.
December 2003: Third Appearance in Playboy Magazine
Shannen Doherty posed for Playboy magazine for the third time, this time in a 10-page pictorial in December 2003.
2003: Hosting "Scare Tactics"
Shannen Doherty hosted the first season of the Sci Fi Channel's hidden camera show "Scare Tactics" in 2003.
2004: Role in "North Shore"
Shannen Doherty landed a starring role as Alexandra Hudson in the TV series "North Shore," which premiered in 2004.
2004: Ranked on E!'s "50 Most Wicked Women of Prime Time"
E! placed Shannen Doherty at number 10 on their list of the "50 Most Wicked Women of Prime Time" in 2004.
2005: End of "North Shore" and Pilot for "Love Inc."
Shannen Doherty's series "North Shore" ended. Later that year, she appeared in the pilot episode of the comedy series "Love Inc."
October 2006: Appearances in "Bo! in the USA"
Shannen Doherty appeared in several episodes of the British sitcom "Bo! in the USA," playing herself, in October 2006.
2006: Premiere and Cancellation of "Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty"
Shannen Doherty produced and starred in her own reality show, "Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty," which premiered on the Oxygen channel in 2006. The show was canceled after one season.
2007: Prue Halliwell Named One of the Greatest Witches on Television
AOL named Shannen Doherty's character, Prue Halliwell, the 10th greatest witch in television history in 2007.
December 20, 2008: Premiere of "The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon"
Shannen Doherty starred in the SciFi Channel adventure film "The Lost Treasure of the Grand Canyon," which premiered on December 20, 2008.
2008: Return to "90210" Spin-off
Fourteen years after her last appearance as Brenda Walsh, Shannen Doherty joined the cast of the "Beverly Hills, 90210" spin-off on The CW.
2008: Guest Appearance in "High Chaparall"
Shannen Doherty guest-starred in an episode of the Swedish television show "High Chaparall."
2008: Guest Appearance in "High Chaparall" and Return to "Beverly Hills, 90210" Spin-off
Shannen Doherty made a guest appearance on the Swedish TV show "High Chaparall." The same year, she returned to the world of "Beverly Hills, 90210," reprising her role as Brenda Walsh in the spin-off series.
May 2009: Final Appearances in "90210" Spin-off
Shannen Doherty made her final appearances in The CW's "90210" spin-off in May 2009.
2009: Continued Appearances in "90210" Spin-off
Shannen Doherty continued to make appearances as Brenda Walsh in The CW's "90210" spin-off until May 2009.
March 1, 2010: Announcement as Contestant on "Dancing with the Stars"
It was announced that Shannen Doherty would be a contestant on the tenth season of "Dancing with the Stars."
March 22, 2010: Premiere of "Dancing with the Stars" Season 10
The tenth season of "Dancing with the Stars," featuring Shannen Doherty, premiered.
April 2010: Premiere of "Burning Palms" at Newport Beach Film Festival
The film "Burning Palms," featuring Shannen Doherty, premiered at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
June 3, 2010: Launch of "Mari-Kari" Web Series
The animated web series "Mari-Kari," featuring the voices of Shannen Doherty, was launched on FEARnet.
2010: Shannen Doherty Acknowledges Past Mistakes and Personal Growth
In 2010, Shannen Doherty acknowledged that she had made mistakes in the past, attributing her behavior to the pressures of fame, her youth, and personal difficulties. She emphasized personal growth and evolution since then.
July 21, 2011: WE tv Announces Shannen Doherty to Star in Reality Series
On July 21, 2011, WE tv announced that Shannen Doherty would star in a reality series following her and her fiancé, Kurt Iswarienko, as they planned their wedding.
October 15, 2011: Shannen Doherty Marries Kurt Iswarienko
Shannen Doherty married photographer Kurt Iswarienko on October 15, 2011, in Malibu, California.
April 10, 2012: Premiere of "Shannen Says"
Shannen Doherty's reality show, "Shannen Says," premiered on April 10, 2012. The show documented the planning of her wedding to Kurt Iswarienko.
2012: Shannen Doherty Becomes Spokesperson and Makes Cameo Appearance
In 2012, Shannen Doherty became a spokesperson for Education Connection. She also made a cameo appearance as Brenda Walsh from "Beverly Hills, 90210" in an episode of "The New Normal."
2012: Shannen Doherty Publicly Identifies as Republican
Shannen Doherty openly identified as a Republican in 2012, acknowledging that her political stance differed from the majority of the entertainment industry.
July 24, 2014: Announcement of "Off the Map with Shannen & Holly"
On July 24, 2014, it was announced that Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs would star in their own road-trip reality show called "Off the Map with Shannen & Holly."
January 2, 2015: Premiere of "Off the Map with Shannen & Holly"
"Off the Map with Shannen & Holly," premiered on January 2, 2015, on Great American Country. The six-episode series documented Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Comb's road trip across the southeastern United States.
March 2015: Shannen Doherty Diagnosed with Breast Cancer
Shannen Doherty received a breast cancer diagnosis in March 2015, with the disease having spread to her lymph nodes.
February 2016: Shannen Doherty Undergoes Anti-Estrogen Treatment
In February 2016, Shannen Doherty shared that she was undergoing anti-estrogen treatment to shrink a tumor, aiming for a lumpectomy instead of a mastectomy.
May 2016: Shannen Doherty Undergoes Mastectomy and Begins Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy
Shannen Doherty underwent a unilateral mastectomy in May 2016. Due to the cancer being more advanced than initially thought, she also underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgery.
November 2016: Shannen Doherty Joins "Heathers" Television Series
Shannen Doherty joined the cast of the "Heathers" television series in November 2016. She played the mother of one of the new generation of "Heathers."
April 29, 2017: Shannen Doherty Announces Cancer Remission
On April 29, 2017, Shannen Doherty joyfully announced that her cancer was in remission.
March 2018: Postponement of "Heathers" Premiere
The premiere of the "Heathers" television series, originally scheduled for March 2018, was postponed due to the Parkland school shooting and the show's sensitive themes of high school violence.
June 2018: Paramount Network Pulls "Heathers" Series
Paramount Network decided to pull the "Heathers" television series altogether in June 2018, opting not to air it due to its dark tone.
October 2018: Aired "Heathers" Series
The "Heathers" television series eventually aired over five nights in October 2018.
November 2018: Shannen Doherty Loses House in Woolsey Fire
In November 2018, Shannen Doherty's house was destroyed in the devastating Woolsey Fire.
August 7, 2019: Premiere of "BH90210" and Release of "Undateable John"
On August 7, 2019, the six-episode sequel "BH90210", featuring Shannen Doherty reprising her role as Brenda Walsh, premiered on FOX. The same year, she also appeared in the movie "Undateable John."
2019: Appearance in "BH90210"
Shannen Doherty appeared in "BH90210."
February 4, 2020: Shannen Doherty Announces Cancer Recurrence
Shannen Doherty shared that her cancer had returned a year prior, in February 2020, and that she was now at stage four.
October 2021: Shannen Doherty Provides Cancer Treatment Update
In October 2021, Shannen Doherty provided an update on her ongoing cancer treatment during an interview with Juju Chang of ABC News.
December 17, 2021: Release of "Fortress"
The movie "Fortress," starring Shannen Doherty, was released in select theaters and on demand on December 17, 2021.
2021: Role in "Fortress"
Shannen Doherty appeared in the film "Fortress."
April 2023: Shannen Doherty Files for Divorce from Kurt Iswarienko
Shannen Doherty filed for divorce from her husband, Kurt Iswarienko, in April 2023.
June 2023: Shannen Doherty Discloses Cancer Spread to Brain and Terminal Prognosis
Shannen Doherty revealed in June 2023 that her cancer had spread to her brain and was terminal.
October 2023: Shannen Doherty and Kurt Iswarienko Nearing End of Divorce Proceedings
By October 2023, Shannen Doherty and Kurt Iswarienko were nearing the end of their divorce proceedings.
November 2023: Shannen Doherty Reveals Cancer Spread to Bones
In November 2023, Shannen Doherty shared that her cancer had further spread to her bones.
January 2024: Shannen Doherty Undergoes New Cancer Treatment with Positive Results
Shannen Doherty began a new cancer treatment in January 2024, which successfully broke through the blood-brain barrier, bringing a glimmer of hope.
June 2024: Reports of Kurt Iswarienko Prolonging Divorce Proceedings
Reports emerged in June 2024 that Shannen Doherty had stated in legal filings that her husband, Kurt Iswarienko, was attempting to prolong their divorce to avoid spousal payments.
July 13, 2024: Death of Shannen Doherty
Shannen Doherty passed away on July 13, 2024.