A tale revolving around three witch sisters, Charmed, made its debut in the fall of 1998 and quickly gained a vast following. The project spanned eight seasons and its main characters rose to international fame. What pursuits do the stars of Charmed currently engage in, where are they showcasing their talents, and what is their present appearance?
Shannen Doherty (Prue Halliwell)
Shannen Doherty stepped into the series with an already established star status. Yet, her fame in Hollywood wasn’t merely attributed to her acting prowess but also her contentious temperament. In the 90s, she was included in the “50 Most Wicked Women in Prime Time” list and left the popular series, Beverly Hills, 90210, after its fourth season due to conflicts with the team.
In Charmed, Doherty lasted three seasons, after which she forced the producers to make a decision: either her or Alyssa Milano (Phoebe). The producers sided with Milano, leading Doherty to depart from the show and the small screen for several years.
According to Zoomboola.com, in 2015, Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer. She lodged a lawsuit against her former manager, Tanner Mainstain, accusing him of mishandling her medical insurance, which she believed resulted in her not receiving appropriate treatment, leading to her cancer metastasizing to her lymphatic system.
In early February 2020, Doherty revealed that her disease had returned, and she was now in stage 4. Presently, the actress continues her treatment and actively shares her journey through social media.
For over a decade, Doherty was married to photographer Kurt Iswarienko. However, in April 2023, it was reported that they were divorcing. While she didn’t disclose the reasons for their separation, she hinted at it with a quote she published on Instagram:
The only people who deserve to be in your life are the ones who threat you with love, kindness, and total respect.
Alyssa Milano (Phoebe Halliwell)
Already a celebrity when she joined the cast, Milano’s prominence only intensified with the success of Charmed. Post completion of the project, Milano landed several significant roles in productions like Castle, Mistresses, and Grey’s Anatomy.
In 2009, the actress wed David Bugliari, a sports agent for Creative Artists Agency. The couple basks in marital bliss, raising their two children, son Milo, and daughter Elizabella. Alyssa proudly defines herself not merely as an actress but a producer, designer, activist, and most importantly, a mother.
Holly Marie Combs (Piper Halliwell)
Following Charmed, Combs continued her acting journey; however, replicating the same level of success proved elusive. The only notable project she’s been involved in over the years was Pretty Little Liars, but by the fourth season, her character’s storyline was demoted to a supporting role.
Combs has been married thrice. From her second marriage, she has three children. In 2019, she married restaurateur Mike Ryan, and currently, they reside in Los Angeles with their family.
Brian Krause (Leo Wyatt)
The guardian character Leo in Charmed quickly endeared himself to audiences, evolving from a secondary character to a primary one. Prior to the series, Krause had appeared in the film Return to the Blue Lagoon, where he was paired with 15-year-old Milla Jovovich.
In 1996, Krause tied the knot with model Beth Bruce, a union that lasted four years. In the early 2000s, Krause captured the hearts of women across America. While filming Charmed, he had a brief romantic involvement with Alyssa Milano.
In 2010, the actor struggled with alcohol addiction, but he successfully overcame his dependency. Krause remains actively engaged in acting, though his filmography does not boast many blockbuster projects.
Noteworthy series include Mad Men (2007), Castle (2009), and Dynasty (2017-2022). Additionally, Krause often appears in lower-tier horror films. He resides in Los Angeles and maintains a close friendship with Holly Marie Combs.
Rose McGowan (Paige Matthews)
McGowan stepped into the fourth season of the series as a replacement for Doherty. Prior to her role in Charmed, she was chiefly recognized as Marilyn Manson’s girlfriend. The producers’ choice of McGowan proved strategic: she boosted ratings and drew in a male audience.
However, McGowan garnered substantial fame due to her numerous romantic liaisons and controversial declarations. At different points, she was engaged to Robert Rodriguez, artist Davey Detail, and activist Rain Dove.
The actress was one of the pioneers of the #MeToo movement and openly disclosed the sexual harassment she endured from Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein. She also criticized Caitlyn Jenner, Alyssa Milano, and even U.S. President Joe Biden.
In March 2022, a documentary about Marilyn Manson’s abuse of Evan Rachel Wood premiered on HBO. McGowan expressed support for her colleague, noting that she herself had not been subjected to the singer’s maltreatment.
Julian McMahon (Cole Turner)
McMahon embodied the alluringly demonic persona of an assistant district attorney and emissary of dark forces on screen. Initially, Julian was invited onto the series for several episodes, but due to high ratings, he was retained for three seasons.
As the son of a former Prime Minister of Australia, Julian chose not to follow his father’s footsteps and initially carved out a successful career in modelling before honing his acting prowess. Following Charmed, he continued to pursue acting vigorously, crediting his portfolio with successful projects such as Nip/Tuck, Fantastic Four, Premonition, and the series FBI.
The charismatic brunette has never been lacking in female attention: in the late 90s in Australia, he was married to singer Dannii Minogue (sister of Kylie Minogue). In 1999, he married actress Brooke Burns, and they had a daughter named Madison. During the filming of Charmed, he had a romance with Shannen Doherty.
In 2014, the actor married Kelly Paniagua, with whom he had been dating for 11 years. Julian shies away from social media, yet images of him affectionately embracing his wife frequently grace newspaper pages.
Kaley Cuoco (Billie Jenkins)
Charmed served as a springboard for Kaley’s career. She appeared in the 8th season as the Charmed Ones’ apprentice, Billie. After the series, Cuoco landed a role in the popular sitcom “The Big Bang Theory”, which catapulted her to global fame.
The actress dated Henry Cavill and, in 2013, married tennis player Ryan Sweeting. The couple were together for three years, after which Kaley claimed her husband was living off her earnings and filed for divorce. In 2018, she married billionaire heir Karl Cook.
Kaley is happily married and continues to act. Among her recent successful projects is the detective series “The Flight Attendant”. For her role as flight attendant Cassandra Bowden, she was nominated for the Golden Globe in 2021 and 2023.
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