Biography
Known for portraying conniving TV vixens, dark-haired actress Shannen Doherty started her career at age ten after moving to Los Angeles with her family. When
Michael Landon saw her guest-starring appearance on the TV drama
Father Murphy, he cast her as Jenny Wilder for the 1982 season of
Little House on the Prairie. In 1985, she played bratty little sister Maggie in the teen movie
Girls Just Want to Have Fun with
Sarah Jessica Parker. She continued playing a bratty kid in the TV drama
Our House as
Wilford Brimley's granddaughter Kris before graduating to bratty teenager in the supreme black comedy
Heathers with
Winona Ryder. But her most recognizable role came in 1990 with
Aaron Spelling's FOX series
Beverly Hills 90210. As the twin sister of
Jason Priestley's Brandon Walsh, the character of Brenda Walsh became one of television's meanest teenagers. She left the show in 1994 in a much-publicized huff due to some disagreements, causing the producers to digitally remove her from episodes and promotional materials. For the rest of the '90s, she appeared in forgettable films and horrible made-for-TV movies, but somehow remained in public view due to her frequent arrests, cameo appearances, turbulent romantic life, and tendency to get into fights with celebrities. In 1998, she found a place for herself as the witch Prue Halliwell on the TV series
Charmed, with fellow grown-up child stars
Alyssa Milano and
Holly Marie Combs as her witch sisters. Several TV movies followed, including
Satan's School for Girls and Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay. In 2003, she hosted the reality-based program
Scare Tactics and starred in the made-for-TV thriller Nightlight. ~ Andrea LeVasseur, All Movie Guide