Shannen Doherty filmography

American actress Shannen Doherty has appeared in numerous television programs and motion pictures. After her television debut in Father Murphy in 1981,[1] she landed her first major role in the dramatic western television series Little House on the Prairie (1982–1983), and reprised her role in its three television specials.[2] Doherty received two Young Artist Award nominations for playing the oldest Witherspoon sibling Kris in the family drama Our House (1986–1988).[3][4] She appeared in four films during the 1980s, including the positively-received, animated film The Secret of NIMH (1982)[5] and the cult classic Heathers (1988).[1] Her breakthrough role was as Brenda Walsh in the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990–1994), but she was later dropped from the series because of backstage issues and her negative image as a "bad girl".[6] She starred in television films in the early and mid-1990s, and played Rene Mosier in the romantic comedy Mallrats (1995) in an attempt to rebuild her career.[7][8]

A woman with shoulder-length black hair wearing a black dress with a plunging neckline speaks to a reporter.
Doherty attending the premiere of 90210 in 2008

Doherty enjoyed a resurgence in popularity after being cast by producer Aaron Spelling to play Prue Halliwell on the supernatural drama Charmed (1998–2001). The series was their second collaboration following Beverly Hills, 90210.[1] The character was praised by critics and fans, earning a spot as one of the best witches in television history according to a TVLine article,[9] and Doherty took an active role in the show's production, directing three of its episodes. Following disagreements with Spelling and co-star Alyssa Milano, Doherty left the series in its third season.[7][10] Doherty starred in a string of television films and had a recurring role on the prime-time soap opera North Shore (2004–2005).[11] The following year, she was cast as Denise Johnson in the unaired pilot of the sitcom Love, Inc., but was dropped from the show by producers from United Paramount Network (UPN).[12][13][14] She reprised her role as Brenda Walsh in the reboot of 90210 (2008–2009), appearing as a special guest star in seven episodes in its first season.[15]

While acting in scripted material, Doherty also participated in five reality television shows, none of which had much success, except Shannen Says (2012), in which she received positive reviews.[16][17] In 2010, Doherty competed in the tenth season of Dancing with the Stars to honor her father who had a stroke in December 2009.[18] Later that year, she also voiced the identical twins Mari and Kari on the animated web series Mari-Kari,[19] and starred in the independent satirical thriller Burning Palms after a nine-year absence from film.[20] In 2012 and 2014, she directed two music videos for the band Radical Something.[21][22] She starred alongside Alec Baldwin, Danny Glover, and Michael Madsen in the 2016 sports drama film Back in the Day.[23] In 2018, she appeared in a television series based on Heathers and the television movie No One Would Tell, a remake of the 1996 film of the same name.[24] The following year, she portrayed a heightened version of herself for BH90210, and guest-starred on Riverdale as part of a Luke Perry tribute.[25][26] Doherty appeared in two action films Fortress (2021) and Hot Seat (2022),[27][28] as well as two television films, Dying to Belong and List of a Lifetime, in 2021[29][30]

Film

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1982The Secret of NIMHTeresa Brisby (voice)
Night ShiftBluebird
1985Girls Just Want to Have FunMaggie Malene
1988HeathersHeather Duke
1994Almost DeadKatherine Roshak
Naked Gun 33+13: The Final InsultHerselfCameo
1995MallratsRene Mosier
1997NowhereVal-Chick 2Cameo
1999Striking PosesGage Sullivan
2001Jay and Silent Bob Strike BackHerselfCameo
2010Burning PalmsDr. Shelly
2016Back in the DayMaria
2017BethanySusanProducer
2019Undateable JohnCharlene
2021FortressBrigadier General Barbara Dobbs
2022Hot SeatPolice Chief Pam Connelly
2024Darkness of ManVivianPost-production
TBAHow to Make a Deal with the DevilThe DevilCompleted
TBABukowskiYoung Katherina BukowskiIn post-production

Television

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
1981Father MurphyDrusilla ShannonEpisodes: "By the Bear That Bit Me" (Parts 1 & 2)
1982The PhoenixLittle Girl (uncredited)Episode: "One of Them"
Voyagers!Betty ParrisEpisode: "Agents of Satan"
1982–1983Little House on the PrairieJenny WilderMain role (season 9)
1983Little House: Look Back to YesterdayTelevision film
Magnum, P.I.Ima PlattEpisode: "A Sense of Debt"
1984AirwolfPhoebe DannerEpisode: "Bite of the Jackal"
Little House: The Last FarewellJenny WilderTelevision film
Little House: Bless All The Dear Children
1985Robert Kennedy and His TimesKathleen KennedyMiniseries (Parts 1 & 2)
The New Leave It to BeaverLaurieEpisode: "Steppin' Out"
The Other LoverAlson FieldingTelevision film
Highway to HeavenShelley FowlerEpisode: "The Secret"
1987Alf Loves a MysteryThe Lady in RedTelevision film
1986–1988Our HouseKris WitherspoonMain role
198921 Jump StreetJanineEpisode: "Things We Said Today"
1990Life Goes OnGinny GreenEpisode: "Corky's Crush"
1990–1994Beverly Hills, 90210Brenda WalshMain role (seasons 1–4)
Soundtrack, Episode: "Wild Fire" (uncredited)
1991Forever YoungParty GirlTelevision film
1992The Secret of Lost CreekJeannie FogleMain role
ObsessedLorie BrindelTelevision film
1993Freeze FrameLindsay Scott
Saturday Night LiveHerself/hostEpisode: "Shannen Doherty/Cypress Hill"
1994Blindfold: Acts of ObsessionMadeleine DaltonTelevision film
A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell StoryMargaret Mitchell
JailbreakersAngel Norton
1996Gone in the NightCyndi Dowaliby
1997Friends 'Til the EndHeather Romley
Sleeping with the DevilRebecca Dubrovich
The TicketCeeCee Reicker
1998–2001CharmedPrue HalliwellMain role (seasons 1–3)
Director ("Be Careful What You Witch For", "The Good, the Bad, and the Cursed", "All Hell Breaks Loose")
Choreographer ("Coyote Piper")
Very special thanks ("Something Wicca This Way Goes...?")
2000Satan's School for GirlsBeth Hammersmith/Karen OxfordTelevision film
2001Another DayKateTelevision film; also Co-executive producer
2002The RenderingSarah ReynoldsTelevision film
Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary KayLexi Wilcox
2003NightlightCeleste TimmermanTelevision film/Also known as View of Terror
2003Scare TacticsHerselfHost (season 1)
2004–2005North ShoreAlexandra HudsonRecurring role (11 episodes)
2005Category 7: The End of the WorldFaith ClavellTelevision film
Love, Inc.Denise JohnsonUnaired pilot
2006Breaking Up with Shannen DohertyHerselfHost; also Executive producer, Writer ("Dancing By Myself" and "You Need My Helpline: Chemistry Test")
2007Christmas CaperKate DoveTelevision film
2008Kiss Me DeadlyMarta
The Lost Treasure of the Grand CanyonSusan Jordan
DefunctFanny Thornton
2008–200990210Brenda WalshSpecial guest star (season 1; 7 episodes)
2009Encounter with DangerLoriTelevision film
2010Dancing with the StarsHerselfContestant; Season 10 (Voted off in Week 2)
Growing the Big OneEmma SilberTelevision film
Soundtrack, "The Yankee Doodle Boy" (uncredited)
2011Les Anges de la téléréalitéHerselfSeason 3: I Love New York
2012Witchslayer GretlGretlTelevision film
Shannen SaysHerselfMain role; also Executive producer
The New NormalBrenda Walsh/herselfEpisode: "The XY Factor"
2014All I Want for ChristmasBrenda PattersonTelevision film
Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer LampreysCate Parker
2015Off the Map with Shannen & HollyHerselfMain role; also Executive producer
2016Rock in a Hard PlaceJaniceCable pilot (Indiegogo campaign)
2018No One Would TellLaura CollinsTelevision film
HeathersMrs. Dean/Dr. DestinyEpisodes: "Pilot", "Reindeer Games", "I'm a No-Rust-Build-Up Man Myself", and "Are We Going to Prom or Hell?"
2019BH90210Herself/Brenda WalshCo-producer
RiverdaleStranded MotoristEpisode: "Chapter Fifty-Eight: In Memoriam"
2021Dying to BelongKatherineTelevision film
List of a LifetimeDiana Carroll

Web

YearTitleRoleNotesRef.
2010Mari-KariMari/Kari (voice)
2011Suite 7AdrienneEpisode: "Company"
Director ("Captive Audience")
Producer ("Captive Audience" and "Company")
2012"Naked in Venice"Director
Producer
Music video for Radical Something
2014"Pure"
Borgore & Sikdope: Unicorn Zombie ApocalypseNews AnchorShort film
2023-presentLet's Be Clear with Shannen DohertyPodcaster. Lead rolePodcast

Music video appearances

YearTitleArtistRef.
1992"Real Love"Slaughter

References

Citations

Bibliography

  • Terrace, Vincent (2008). Encyclopedia of Television Shows, 1925 through 2010. Jefferson: McFarland. ISBN 978-0-7864-6477-7.

External links