Shannen Doherty

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 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 E. Marten). John was born in Massachusetts. Stanley was the son of Irish parents, John Thomas Doherty and Mary Ann Fleming. Shanne’s great-grandmother Mary 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 North Carolina. Peter was the son of Peter Robertson and Caroline Matilda Gilley. Nancy was the daughter of William Dillard Meeks/Meek and Martha Ann Elizabeth 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: Genealogy of Shannen Doherty – https://www.geni.com

Genealogy of Shannen Doherty (focusing on her mother’s side) – http://familytreemaker.genealogy.com