A feisty brunette with a self-assured attitude, Holly Marie Combs rose to fame as modern-day witch Piper Halliwell on the WB’s hit series “Charmed” (1998-2006). A California native raised in New York, Combs also starred as Kimberly Brock on David E. Kelley’s award-winning series “Picket Fences” (CBS, 1992-1996), which won her a Young Artist Award in 1993.
Born Dec. 3, 1973 in San Diego, CA, Combs was raised by her mother, Laralei Berckhem Combs, who was only 15 years old at the time of her daughter’s birth. Though Combs’ mother and father tried to make ends meet, the young parents split after two years of marriage. At the age of eight, Combs moved with her aspiring actress/singer mother to New York City where she attended the Professional School for Children. Landing print ads and a number of commercials by the age of 10, Combs followed in her mother’s footsteps, deciding to pursue acting even further.
At the age of 13, Combs scored her first major role, portraying Don Johnson and Susan Sarandon’s daughter in the feature film “Sweet Hearts Dance” (1988). Landing small roles in several feature films, Combs portrayed a young girl propositioned by a wheelchair-bound Tom Cruise in Oliver Stone's "Born on the Fourth of July" (1989), appeared in the Francis Ford Coppola-directed segment of "New York Stories" (1989), and landed a role in Hal Hartley's film, "Simple Men" (1992).
Combs’ first major break as an actress came at age 18 when she was cast as Kimberly Brock on the Emmy Award-winning dramatic series, “Picket Fences” (CBS, 1992-96). Though show creator David E. Kelley did not initially think Combs was right for the part, it was eventually rewritten for her, a move that proved successful for all parties. Portraying the teenage daughter of Tom Skerritt and Kathy Baker for four seasons, Combs received critical praise for her performance on the series, which later won her a Young Artist Award.
Combs went on to star in the NBC TV movie, “Love's Deadly Triangle: The Texas Cadet Murder” (1997), portraying real-life convicted killer Diane Zamora, and appeared as the daughter of a murdered heiress in the fact-based drama “Daughters” (1997).
The following year, Combs landed another lead role in series television – this time on the WB’s supernatural series “Charmed” (1998-2006). Cast opposite Alyssa Milano and real-life friend Shannen Doherty, Combs rounded out a trio of sisters who learn that they hereditarily possess the powers of witchcraft. Portraying the down-to-earth middle sister, Piper, Combs starred on the series for eight seasons, becoming a producer on the series in 2002. Though tension on the set, reportedly between Doherty and Milano, drove the former to leave the series after the third season, Rose McGowan was soon brought in as Doherty’s replacement. The chemistry between McGowan, Combs and Milano proved to be as successful for the series, which continued for five more seasons.
On hiatus from the series, Combs made a cameo in Steven Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s Eleven” (2001), and starred opposite Charisma Carpenter in the ABC Family Network comedy “See Jane Date” (2003), portraying a struggling actress whose career benefits from an affair with an A-list actor.