Holly Marie Combsbecame an overnight sensation when she portrayed the fiercely loyal and kind witch Piper Halliwell on the hit fantasy dramaCharmed.The massively successful show ran for eight seasons from 1998 to 2006 and featured the additional talent of lead actresses Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty, and Rose McGowan as the other Halliwell sisters.
By the time Combs landed the career-defining role, she had already experienced success on both the big and small screen, with notable appearances in the filmBorn on the Fourth of Julyand on the ’90s family dramaPicket Fences.Her performance as Piper has been lauded by critics and audiences alike, and the character remains a beloved fan favorite.
For those who connected Combs and her compelling portrayal of the iconic witch, you may be curious to know what the actress has been up to in recent years since the show’s conclusion. Let’s take a look at what Holly Marie Combs has been doing and how she got her start in Hollywood.
Who Is Holly Marie Combs?
Holly Marie Combs made her major acting debut at just 14 years old in 1988 when she portrayed the daughter of Susan Sarandon and Don Johnson’s charactersin the dramedySweet Hearts Dance.The up-and-coming actress continued to find steady work with parts in Oliver Stone’sBorn on the Fourth of July,the anthology filmNew York Stories, and the slasherDr. Giggles,before she landed arguably her most prominent role up until that point with the family drama seriesPicket Fences,in which she appeared as Kimberly Brock.
The 18-year-old showcased her dramatic acting chops as the eldest child of Sheriff Jimmy Brock (Tom Skerritt) in a show that centers on the aging law officer as he attempts to protect the fictional town of Rome, Wisconsin from strange and gruesome crimes. The program ran for four seasons from 1992 to 1996, and after its conclusion Combs starred as real-life murderer Diane Zamora in the television filmLove’s Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murderin 1997.
Combs Lands Her Breakthrough Role
The following year, Combs found herself skyrocketing to stardom when she nabbed the lead role of Piper Halliwell in The WB seriesCharmed,portraying the middle sister of a trio of witches in San Francisco. The show chronicles the siblings as they learn about their true destiny as The Charmed Ones and depicts their efforts to keep the world safe and discover their powers, all the while attempting to navigate the normal ups and downs of life. Combs was enlisted to audition for the show by her close friend Shannen Doherty, who appeared as the eldest sister Prue for three seasons.
Related:Charmed: The Best Episodes of the Original Series, Ranked
Combs' character Piper is kind and level-headed and often keeps the peace among her sisters, and she has the ability to freeze time in her environment and later is able to cause evil beings to combust. Combs became a staple on the show and Piper soonbecame a fan favorite, withCNNcalling her “the show’s solid foundation.” The actress was the only cast member to appear in every episode of the fantasy drama.
Charmed Becomes a Cult Classic
Charmedhad an impressive eight-season run and yielded 178 episodes, dominating the small screen from 1998 to 2006 and proving to be a ratings hit for The WB. Its premiere episode attracted a record-setting 7.7 million viewers, becoming the highest-rated debut episode for the network. The spellbinding show garnered numerous accolades and nominations during its tenure, including multiple Saturn Awards, NAACP, and Teen Choice Award nods. It also had a profound impact on pop culture and was listed as one of “The 60 Greatest Sci-Fi Shows of All Time” by TV Guide.
The program’s overwhelming success helped establish a media franchise consisting of a comic book series, board games, merchandise, and a video game and has become the inspiration for countless pop culture references. Combs' character Piper has appeared on numerous critics' lists including E! Online’s “Pop Culture’s Top 10 Most Bitchin' Witches” and The Huffington Post’s “The Top 10 Greatest Witches of All Time.”
Continued TV Success
Upon the conclusion ofCharmedin 2006, Combs appeared in the Lifetime television moviePoint of Entrybefore being cast as Ella Montgomery on the mystery teen drama seriesPretty Little Liarsin 2010. The character is the mother of one of the main protagonists Aria Montgomery (Lucy Hale), and Combs went on to portray the character for 62 episodes until its finale in 2017. Based on the Sara Shepard young adult novels of the same name, the show was a massive success and was extremely popular during its run, effectively establishinga media franchiseconsisting of multiple spin-offs and international adaptations.
Related:Pretty Little Liars: 10 Reasons the Series Should Have Avoided the Time Jump
In 2015, Combs once again teamed up with fellowCharmedco-star and best friend Shannen Doherty to star in the road trip reality showOff the Map with Shannen & Holly,in which the duo traveled across the southeastern states and explored the local activities. Combs subsequently appeared in the television movieLove’s Complicated,with her last acting role being in 2019 on an episode ofGrey’s Anatomy, guest starring alongside Alyssa Milano.
Foray Into the Podcasting World
The actress took a step back from Hollywood following her guest role onGrey’s Anatomy,getting married that same year and focusing more on her family life than her career. In 2022, Combs teamed up with herCharmedco-stars Brian Krause (Leo) and Drew Fuller (Chris) to create the podcast “The House of Halliwell / A Charmed Rewatch Podcast,” in which they reflect on their experiences on the show while re-watching the episodes. The podcast also features familiar faces from the seriesand memorable characters, and they go through the series season by season.
While there are no new acting roles on the horizon so far for Combs, it’s only a matter of time until the talented actress and producer will once again deliver a sensational performance in either TV or film.
