Shannen Doherty was born in Memphis, Tennessee, USA, on April 12, 1971 to parents Tom and Rosa. Her father worked in a bank while her mother owned a beauty parlor. She has an older brother named Sean. In 1978 at the tender age of seven, she and her family moved to Los Angeles, where her father started a West Coast branch of the family transportation business. Shannen has always been close to her family, who disciplined her from a young age. She knew she wanted to pursue an acting career when she made her acting debut at age ten, with a role on the series Father Murphy.

Shannen was a confident student, involving herself in school performances and working hard in school, by making sure she always had exceptional grades. Despite her confidence, she isolated herself from large crowds and preferred to have a few close friends. She made a name for herself as a child actress at just 11-years-old, starring in Little House on the Prairie as Jenny Wilder. It was Michael Landon who noticed her performance in an episode of Father Murphy, that he decided to cast her. She then went on to appear in Our House with Deidre Hall and Wilford Brimley. She also starred alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt in Girls Just Want to Have Fun and then in Heathers, a teen comedy also starring Winona Ryder.

Her real success came in 1990, at the age of 19, when she was cast in Aaron Spelling's long-running hit series, Beverly Hills, 90210 as Brenda Walsh, the twin sister of Brandon Walsh, played by Jason Priestley. She attracted media attention from the press and eventually made her a household name. The success of the popular teen drama appealed to young teenage girls who could relate to her character, Brenda Walsh. After four years, she left the show in 1994. Afterward, she continued her work in movies, starring in the thriller Almost Dead and the comedy Mallrats.

During the fall of 1998, she reunited with long-time producer Aaron Spelling, when she was cast as Prue Halliwell on Charmed, a show about three ordinary women who happen to be witches. She starred alongside Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs. After three years, she left the show to find work in movies. Before her departure from the show, she had directed three of the last episodes in which she starred in. She continued her work in movies by starring in Another Day, The Rendering, Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay, and View of Terror. In 2003, she hosted season one of Scare Tactics as well as season two with only 8 episodes, and then left to pursue other endeavors.

In the fall of 2004, Shannen made her return to television on Fox's drama series North Shore, where she played Alexandra Hudson, the long lost sister of Nicole Booth, played by Brooke Burns. Eventually the show was canceled after one season. Then in 2005, she landed the role of Denise Johnson on the UPN series Love, Inc., however after the pilot episode she was dropped from the sitcom. From there she has ventured into new projects and in 2006, she starred in her own reality series, Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty.



Couldn't reach an agreement with the producers of "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990) regarding specifics of her participation in the series finale so using edits and digital effects they removed her entirely from the next to last episode retrospective. An hour long special which included virtually every other actor in show's history. In her family, her father Tom, works at a bank; her mother Rosa, is the owner of a beauty parlor; she also has an older brother named Sean; born 1967. Was removed from the teen soap "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990) at end of 4th season (March 1994). According to producer Aaron Spelling because of constant conflicts with other cast members and repeatedly late appearances on the set. Family moved to Los Angeles when she was 7 years old. Offered a role in Scream 3 (2000). Sentenced to either 10 days in jail or 20 days of work-release duty, three years probation, and ordered to pay a $1500 fine for drunk-driving charges. [12 June 2001] Shannen had her wages garnished by California United Bank when she was on "Beverly Hills, 90210" (1990) because she wrote nearly $32,000 worth of bad checks. Goddaughter is named Cooper London, daughter of Jason London. Her brief marriage to Ashley Hamilton is referenced in Mallrats (1995). Ben Affleck's character in the film is named Shannon Hamilton. Lives on a horse ranch in Ventura County, California Is a fan of "24" (2001). On that show's Season 4 DVD set, she provides audio commentary on "3:00 PM - 4:00 PM" with episode writer Evan Katz. Ranked #5 in "100 Greatest Teen Stars" (2006). Considered taking on the role of Bethany Sloane in Dogma (1999). She earned a seven figure sum for posing in the December 2003 edition of Playboy. Hails from the same city as musician/actor Justin Timberlake and wrestling legend Jerry Lawler. Was engaged to real-estate developer, Chris Foufas, from 1991-1992. Listed her Malibu beach home at $4 million. The gated mansion, built in 1976, has five bedrooms and 4 bathrooms in 3,410 square feet. It has an outdoor patio with a waterfall, overlooking an ocean view with 1 acre of park-like grounds and includes a pool and spa [2009]. Lives in Malibu, California.