The ‘Charmed’ Stars Are Barely Recognizable 26 Years Later – What Happened to Them?

Here’s a dive into the lives of the actresses who starred in the popular TV series “Charmed,” which ran from 1998 to 2006. It captivated viewers with its mix of supernatural elements and strong family relationships.

The storyline centered on the Halliwell sisters, Prue, Piper, Phoebe, and later Paige. The four discovered they were powerful witches with a destiny to combat evil. These characters were played by Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, Alyssa Milano, and Rose McGowan.

The three original sisters on the show discovered they come from a line of kind female witches. They were given the mission to use their shared magical abilities, called the “Power of Three,” to combat evil forces.

Each sister had a unique power and personality, which enriched the show. This combination created a captivating story that kept viewers engaged for all eight seasons. So, where are the actresses who played the sisters today, 26 years after the show aired?

Shannen Doherty as Prue Halliwell

Shannen Doherty was born on April 12, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her acting career began early, with her debut at age ten on the series “Father Murphy” (1981).

By age eleven, she was recognized as a child actress, notably playing Jenny Wilder on “Little House on the Prairie” (1974). She went on to appear in other productions, including “Our House” and “Mallrats,” before being cast as Prue Halliwell on “Charmed” in 1988.

As for her personal life, Doherty has been married three times. She tied the knot for the first time to Ashley Hamilton on September 24, 1993, and the two divorced on November 7, 1994.

The actress’s second wedding was to Rick Salomon, which took place on January 25, 2002. The exes had the marriage annulled on May 16, 2003.

Doherty went on to marry Kurt Iswarienko on October 25, 2011. But now, the actress has filed for divorce after finding out her estranged husband’s infidelity.

Aside from marriage woes, Doherty is facing serious health challenges. In 2015, she disclosed that she was battling breast cancer and undergoing treatment. The actress was first diagnosed in March 2015 after discovering that she had invasive breast cancer metastatic to at least one lymph node.

A hopeful Doherty had said, “I am continuing to eat right, exercise, and stay very positive about my life. I am thankful to my family, friends, and doctors for their support and, of course, my fans who have stood by me.”

The movie star went into remission in 2017. She announced that while her heart felt lighter, the next five years were crucial. The actress pointed out that recurrences are common, and many others in her situation have experienced them.

Sadly, in 2017, Doherty’s cancer returned, bringing with it a whirlwind of emotions as she described it as having many phases. She went through the stages of shock, denial, acceptance, anger, resentment, rebellion, fear, appreciation, and beauty. She wrote that in all stages, “Cancer is with you forever.”

In the post shared during Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a poignant image of Doherty showed her holding clumps of her hair. She had started chemotherapy and was using a cold cap in hopes of keeping her hair.

Despite her efforts, she ended up with clumps of hair in her hands. She felt sick and like she was losing herself. Throughout this journey, the actress gained new relationships and lost others. She ended up experiencing the profound impact of cancer on her life and connections.

Doherty beat cancer again in 2017 but it resurfaced in 2020 when she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, which later spread to her bones. In her podcast “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty” the actress also announced that the cancer had spread to her brain.

In January 2023, she underwent brain surgery, which removed most of the cancer. The rest was removed using brain radiation. She also divulged that she went into the surgery early in the morning just after learning that her marriage to Iswarienko was over.

She narrated, “I went in after I found out that, you know, my marriage was essentially over, that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years.”

Even with the loss of her marriage and battling cancer for over eight years, she remains positive. She said she got closure about her marriage and can move on in a healthy manner. The 53-year-old doesn’t believe she will be single forever.