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From a MeToo activist to a professional break-up artist: What the cast of Charmed are doing now.

 

 

Long before we were binge-watching supernatural shows on Netflix, the world was bewitched by a show about three very powerful sisters who vanquished demons and warlocks on the weekly.

Back then, collecting each season’s colourful Charmed DVD box set was the prize of any fan. (It was over 20 years ago after all.)

Charmed followed sisters Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), Prue (Shannen Doherty) and Piper Halliwell (Holly Marie Combs) and later, their half-sister Paige Matthews, played by Rose McGowan. The sisters learned they were the most powerful witches in the world, aka the ‘Charmed ones’.

The sisters, who live together in San Francisco, learn to navigate their love lives, careers, sibling rivalry and the frequent onslaught of demons who are trying to steal their powers and murder ‘innocents’. Yep, it’s… a lot.  

The show ran for a magical eight seasons and quickly amassed a cult following, which has continued to grow since the series wrapped up in 2006.

In fact, the show even earned itself a reboot series in 2018.

Here’s what the original cast of Charmed are doing now.

Rose McGowan (Paige Matthews)

Charmed cast now
Image: The WB Network/Getty.
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She may not be a whitelighter anymore but Rose McGowan has gone on to do some pretty powerful things since Charmed ended.

McGowan has appeared in films such as The Black Dahlia, Grindhouse, Machete, and on the TV show Nip/Tuck alongside her former Charmed cast member Julian McMahon (Cole Turner).

Outside of acting, the 46-year-old is dedicated to fighting sexual harassment in Hollywood and has been a vocal activist for the #MeToo movement.

Most recently, McGowan has been a loud voice in the Harvey Weinstein scandal, as one of the many women to accuse the American film producer of sexual assault.

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Her work as an activist has been documented in her show, Citizen Rose.  

Holly Marie Combs (Piper Halliwell)

Charmed cast now
Image: The WB Network/Getty.

The second-oldest (and after season three, the eldest) of the Halliwell sisters was played by the one and only, Holly Marie Combs.

After the series wrapped up, Combs went on to guest-star on Pretty Little Liars. She played Aria's mum, Ella Montgomery.

In 2015, she reunited with her Charmed sister Shannen Doherty, to star in a travel show, Off the Map with Shannen & Holly.

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And good news Leo and Piper fans, Combs is still close friends with her on-screen husband, Brian Krause. She even invited him to her wedding to Mike Ryan last September.

 

 
 
 
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Life is better with this woman in it. #honesty #integrity #friends #respect???? #teampiper ❤️????????????????????

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Shannen Doherty (Prue Halliwell)

Charmed cast now
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She may have left the show after season three, but Shannen Doherty will forever be remembered as Prue, the telekinetic, no-nonsense Halliwell sister.

After Charmed, Doherty went on to star in her own reality TV show Breaking up with Shannen Doherty, where she would do the dirty work and break-up for people. (And yes, we are secretly adding that to our watchlist).

Doherty later reprised her role of Brenda Walsh on the CW spinoff 90210 and also appeared on the US Dancing with the Stars in 2010, but was eliminated early in the season.

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Behind the scenes, the 48-year-old has been suffering from breast cancer. After being diagnosed in 2015, Doherty documented her treatment – from chemotherapy to radiotherapy to a single mastectomy – using social media, and in 2017 announced she was in remission. Unfortunately, Doherty recently shared the news that her cancer returned in 2019.

Despite being diagnosed again last year, Doherty still returned to film the 90210 reboot.

Alyssa Milano (Phoebe Halliwell)

Charmed cast now
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Much like her character on the show, Alyssa Milano has many different talents. Immediately after the show ended, Milano guest-starred in ten episodes of My Name is Earl. 

The actor then took her love of baseball to a new league when she began hosting TBS’s Hot Corner baseball coverage in 2007 and even went on to create a clothing line of team apparel specifically for women.

In 2011, Milano appeared in Hall Pass and New Year’s Eve, as well as Netflix’s Wet Hot American Summer: 10 Years Later in 2017.

Much like McGowan, Milano has remained a longtime activist, working with companies such as UNICEF and PETA. She's also been a vocal advocate in the #MeToo movement and famously called for a sex strike to protest abortion law in America last year. 

The 47-year-old has a son and daughter with her husband David Bugliari, and she isn't afraid to get candid about her mortifying parenting moments. 

Brian Krause (Leo Wyatt)

Charmed cast now
Image: The WB Network/Getty.
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Everyone’s favourite whitelighter has kept himself pretty busy since his Charmed days.

Krause went on to appear in TV shows like Mad Men, The Closer and Castle. He’s even voiced video game characters for L.A. Noire and CSI: Miami.

Despite being married to Piper on the show, Krause briefly dated Charmed sister, Alyssa Milano, during the filming of the third and fourth seasons. Alas, it eventually fizzled out and the 51-year-old now has a son, Jamen Krause, with his ex-wife Beth Bruce.

Julian McMahon (Cole Turner/ Belthazor)

charmed cast now
Image: The WB Network/Getty.
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Even though he was an evil demon, we all had a crush on Cole Turner (the human version, of course).

Like many Aussie actors, Julian McMahon got his start on Home and Away before his break-out role in Charmed. After the show, McMahon, who is the son of former Australian prime minister William McMahon, went on to score major roles in shows like Nip/Tuck, Runaways and more recently, FBI and FBI: Most Wanted.

You might also recognise him from his role in the Fantastic Four films.

The 51-year-old is now married to his third wife, Kelly Paniagua, and has one daughter from his second marriage.

Kaley Cuoco (Billie Jenkins)

charmed cast now
Image: The WB Network/Getty.
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Kaley Cuoco joined the show in season eight, as apprentice witch, Billie. Shortly after Charmed ended, Cuoco landed the role of Penny on the very successful TV show, The Big Bang Theory.

The 34-year-old is also the executive producer and voice of Dr Harleen Quinzel and Harley Quinn in the new animated show Harley Quinn. 

Who was your favourite character from Charmed? Let us know in the comments below.

Feature Image: The CW Network.