Profile Text
Doherty in 2011, Helga Esteb / Shutterstock.com
Birth Name: Shannen Maria Doherty
Date of Birth: April 12, 1971
Place of Birth: Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Date of Death: July 13, 2024
Place of Death: Malibu, Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Irish, English, Scottish, Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, Welsh, remote French
Shannen Doherty was an American actress, producer, author, and director. In a career spanning five decades, her roles include the shows Little House on the Prairie , Our House , Beverly Hills, 90210 , and later 90210 and BH90210 ; The Secret of Lost Creek , and Charmed , of which she also directed episodes; the films The Secret of NIMH , in voice performance; Girls Just Want to Have Fun , Heathers , Mallrats , Nowhere (1997), Striking Poses , Burning Palms , Bethany (2017), Fortress (2021), Hot Seat , and Darkness of Man ; the mini-series Robert Kennedy and His Times and Category 7: The End of the World , the made-for-tv movies Obsessed , Freeze Frame (1992), Blindfold: Acts of Obsession , Jailbreakers , A Burning Passion: The Margaret Mitchell Story , Gone in the Night , Friends ‘Til the End , Sleeping with the Devil , The Ticket (1997), Satan’s School for Girls (2000), Christmas Caper , Kiss Me Deadly , Growing the Big One , and No One Would Tell ; as a host of Scare Tactics and Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty , and the music video for “Real Love” (1992).
Shannen was the daughter of Rosa and John Thomas “Tom” Doherty, Jr., who had a transportation business. She moved to Los Angeles, California, in the early 1980s for her acting career.
Shannen was often described as having been of part Native American ancestry. It is not clear if this Native American ancestry had been verified/documented.
Shannen’s paternal grandfather was John Thomas Doherty (the son of Stanley Joseph Doherty and Mary Elizabeth Marten/Martin). John was born in Malden, Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Stanley was born in Melrose, Middlesex County, the son of Irish parents, John Thomas Doherty and Mary Ann Fleming. Shanne’s great-grandmother Mary Elizabeth was born in Pontefract, Yorkshire, England.
Shannen’s paternal grandmother was Lillie Hill Roberson (the daughter of Peter Henry Roberson and Nancy James Meeks). Lillie was born in Leaksville, Rockingham County, North Carolina. Peter was born in Spray, Rockingham County, the son of Peter Robertson/Roberson and Caroline Matilda Gilley. Shannen’s great-grandmother Nancy was born in Henry County, Virginia, the daughter of Pvt. William Dillard Meeks/Meek and Mary Ann Elizabeth Newnam/Newman.
Shannen’s maternal grandfather was Lloyd Buford Wright (the son of Benjamin Richard Wright and Bertie Murphey). Lloyd was born in Arkansas. Benjamin was the son of James Wilson Wright and Sallie/Sarah Beth/Bet Montgomery. Bertie was the daughter of Ferdinand Eugene Murphey and Margaret Ann “Maggie” Pippen.
Shannen’s maternal grandmother was Hilda Mae Parker (the daughter of Jesse P. Parker and Rosa Mae Powell). Hilda’s parents were from Mississippi. Jesse was the son of William Gabriel Parker and Nancy Ann Willis. Rosa was the daughter of Michael Joel Powell.
Sources: Genealogies of Shannen Doherty – https://www.geni.com https://www.findagrave.com
Genealogy of Shannen Doherty (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com