Holly Marie Combs

Holly Marie Combs-Donoho (born December 3, 1973 in San Diego, California) is an American actress who has worked in movies and television series, including her role as Piper Halliwell on Charmed. Since 2002, she has been a producer for the show.

Biography

Early life

Holly was born when her mother, Lauralei Berckhem, was just 17 years old. Lauralei married Holly's biological father, but the two split up after two years, feeling they were too young to make a marriage work. When Holly was seven, she and her mother moved to New York City, where she attended a school there known as Beekman Hill Elementary, and then going on to The Professional Children's School of acting. It is reported that one of her teachers was the great Ernie Martin. Already, Holly's beauty was turning heads and she landed many print ads and commercials. Soon, she took an interest in acting, just as her mother had. The scar over her right eyebrow is the result of a childhood accident; while learning to walk, she hit her head on a marble table. Holly went through many different homes with her mother, often having very little privacy, while Holly's mom attempted to pursue an acting career. Holly was 12 when Lauralei (Holly's mom) married her stepfather.

Career

Although she had a number of minor roles in the late 1980s, including a brief speaking part in Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July, Holly's major acting debut arrived in the 1992 TV drama series Picket Fences. She auditioned for the role of Kimberly while she was in New York. The casting agent told her that she wasn't right for the part because, "She didn't have a big enough heart." Holly retorted, "If you're looking for someone with a big heart, what the hell are you doing in New York?" She immediately got the job. Picket Fences ran for four years, winning Holly critical acclaim and a Young Actor's award.

Holly was with her best friend Shannen Doherty when she saw the pilot script for Charmed on the backseat. Holly told Shannen that she wanted to audition. When they did, Holly auditioned for the role of "Prue Halliwell" and Shannen for "Piper Halliwell," but they ended up getting each other's roles because they didn't "fit". Alyssa Milano and Holly both became producers for Charmed in the fifth season. ""Charmed" Full Cast and Crew" IMDB.com. URL Accessed June 21 2006.

Charmed debuted in 1998 and has been a hit TV series, which ended in May 2006.

Personal life

In 1993, Holly married Brian "Travis" Smith, but they divorced in 1997. Later, she became engaged to Storm Lyndon, but they split in 2000. Since 2001, Holly has lived with David W. Donoho, who worked as key grip on Charmed. They married on February 14, 2004 and had a son, Finley Arthur Donoho, on April 26, 2004. They are now expecting their second child in August/ September. Holly lives in the Bell Canyon, San Fernendo Valley, California. She has a huge colletion of animals, being a dedicated animal lover. These include; 3 horses (Jesse, Jake and Jezebel), 5 dogs (Thunder, Sugar, Hugo, Lola and Travis - Lola given to her by Lin Milano), 3 cats (?, Selena and Blue), 2 lovebirds (Lollypop and Flower), 4 rabbits and koi fish. Holly used to have a turtle also, but due to the salmonella risk that it posed to the bubbly new arrival Finley, it had to go. But the turtle went to a good home, in the pond of a dear friend of Holly's. Past pets include 2 disabled hamsters and a huskey named Wiley, which Don Johnson gave to her.

Trivia

Holly enjoys Italian food, salami, bacon and cheeseburgers. As for music, she is a huge Remy Zero fan. Her favourite books include, 'The Garden of Eden' by Ernest Hemingway and 'Practical Magic' by Alice Hoffman. Holly,is a spokes lady, for Breast Cancer, her mother was in a "punk rock band", she thinks she's got a gypsy childhood,http://www.tv.com/holly-marie-combs/person/1532/biography.html, http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001061/bio believed that to rebell in her household was to learn how to "play the piano", certified scuba diver at 13, hit her head on a marble table with a visible scar, has four tattoes, smoked since 15 (quit when pregnant), and's afraid of Alyssa and Rose giving her boy a Mohawk (again!).

Fimlography

Charmed (1998-2006) (TV)
See Jane Date (2003) (TV)
Ocean's Eleven (2001) (uncredited)
Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder (1997) (TV)
Relativity (1997) (TV)
Daughters (1997) (TV)
Picket Fences (1992-1996) (TV)
Sins of Silence (1996) (TV)
A Reason to Believe (1995)
A Perfect Stranger (1994) (TV)
Chain of Desire (1992)
Dr. Giggles (1992)
Simple Men (1992)
Born on the Fourth of July (1989) (uncredited)
New York Stories (1989) (uncredited)
Sweet Hearts Dance (1988)
Walls of Glass (1985) (uncredited)

References

External links

Holly Marie Combs cast bio on The WB

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