Holly Marie Combs Ryan (born December 3, 1973) is an American actress and producer, known for her roles in television and film, spanning several decades. She began her career in the late 1980s, securing roles in television soap operas and films, including a part in the biographical drama Born on the Fourth of July (1989). She gained wider recognition for playing Kimberly Brock in the CBS series Picket Fences (1992-1996) and secured her first leading film role in the slasher Dr. Giggles (1992). Her breakthrough came with the leading role of Piper Halliwell in the WB fantasy drama series Charmed (1998-2006), introducing her to a broader audience. After appearing in various television films, she returned to prominence as Ella Montgomery in the Freeform drama thriller series Pretty Little Liars (2010-2017).
Holly Marie Combs was born to Lauralei Combs (née Berckhem) on December 3, 1973. Her mother was sixteen, and her father was seventeen at the time of her birth. Her parents married but divorced after two years. While Combs was learning to walk, she fell and hit her head on a marble table, resulting in a noticeable 'split' at the top of her right eyebrow. She lived in many different homes with her mother near the beach in San Diego, often having very little privacy, while her mother attempted to pursue an acting career. When Combs was seven, she and her mother moved to New York City where she spent most of her growing years. Combs was 12 when her mother married her stepfather.
In New York City, Holly attended Beekman Hill Elementary and The Professional Children's School of Acting.
Combs's career began at age ten with television commercials and print ads. She earned her Screen Actors Guild (SAG) card with the film Walls of Glass (also known as Flanagan, 1985), where both she and her mother had roles.
At 14, Combs landed her first major role in Sweet Hearts Dance (1988), a comedy-drama film directed by Robert Greenwald. She played Debs Boon, the daughter of Wiley Boon (played by Don Johnson) and Sandra Boon (played by Susan Sarandon). Her next major role was in Oliver Stone's Born on the Fourth of July (1989), a film adaptation of the best-selling autobiography of the same name by Vietnam War veteran Ron Kovic. Combs portrayed Jenny in the film, which also starred Tom Cruise. Her other roles included Helena in the 1989 anthology film New York Stories, and Kim Fields in Hal Hartley's Simple Men (1992). Also in 1992, Combs made an appearance in Temístocles López's Chain of Desire as Diana, and in the slasher film Dr. Giggles.
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Combs's first major breakthrough as an actress came at the age of 18, in the CBS television series Picket Fences. She portrayed Kimberly Brock, the daughter of Sheriff Jimmy Brock (played by Tom Skerritt) and his first wife Lydia for the show's four seasons (1992-96). Jimmy's second wife, Dr. Jill Brock (played by Kathy Baker), was her character's stepmother. Combs auditioned for the role 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." Combs retorted, "If you're looking for someone with a big heart, what the hell are you doing in New York?" She was later called back and offered the job. Combs won a Young Artist Award for her performance on the show.
During 1996, Combs starred as Sophie DiMatteo in Sins of Silence, a drama/horror television film directed by Sam Pillsbury.
In 1998, Combs landed a lead role in The WB television series Charmed, in which she portrayed Piper Halliwell, the middle of three sisters who are witches. She starred alongside Alyssa Milano (Phoebe Halliwell), Shannen Doherty (Prue Halliwell), and later Rose McGowan (Paige Matthews), who each portrayed one of her sisters. Following Shannen Doherty's departure after season three (2000-01), Combs's character became the eldest sister for the remaining five seasons of the show. Combs also became a producer for Charmed from season five onwards. The series ended its eight-season run on May 21, 2006.
During Charmed, Combs made an uncredited cameo appearance in Steven Soderbergh's Ocean's Eleven (2001), and starred opposite Charisma Carpenter in the romantic comedy film See Jane Date (2003), portraying the role of "a struggling actress whose career benefits from an affair with an A-list actor."
Her role as Piper earned her many acknowledgments, and her work as Piper is often praised. She maintained her role as Piper until the shows ending in 2006.
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In 2007, she starred in the Lifetime television film Point of Entry (also titled Panic Button) as Kathy Alden, a wife and mother of a single child whose family moves to a "beautiful and supposedly secure gated community after she's the victim of a violent house break-in." The following year, Combs signed a contract with Lifetime to produce and star in a series Mistresses, based on the British series of the same name. However, that version of the show never made it to air.
In 2010, Combs was cast in the Freeform series Pretty Little Liars as Ella Montgomery, the mother of one of the main characters, Aria Montgomery (played by Lucy Hale). Combs was a series regular for the first three seasons, but became credited as a special guest star from season four onwards. Ella was way too dedicated to family. Her family was messed up. And to like remarry the guy that she divorced for cheating on her…Holly Marie Combs portrays Ella Montgomery on Pretty Little Liars. She received star billing for the first three seasons. Since then (seasons 4-7), she is credited as a Special Guest Star each time she appears.
In 2014, Combs reunited with former Charmed co-star Shannen Doherty for the reality show Off the Map with Shannen & Holly on Great American Country. The series followed the duo as they traveled across the southeastern United States, visiting small towns and engaging in various activities.
In 2019, Combs and Alyssa Milano guest-starred on Grey's Anatomy, marking a Charmed reunion on screen.
In February 1993, Combs married Brian "Travis" Smith but the marriage ended in 1997. In 2004 Holly married Charmed key-grip David Donoho on February 14th. They have three boys: Finley Arthur Donoho (born April 26th, 2004), Riley Edward Donoho (born October 26th, 2006) and Kelley James Donoho (born Tuesday, May 26th, 2009). Combs filed for divorce from David Donoho in November 2011, citing irreconcilable differences.
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On February 14, 2004, she married her long time boyfriend and the former Charmed key-grip David Donoho. In 2016, Combs began dating restaurateur Mike Ryan. In September 2019, Holly married Xoc restaurateur Mike Ryan (Smith). The couple moved in 2021 from Bell Canyon, California to Friday Harbor, Washington, seeking a fresh start.
Holly has two younger half-sisters through her father.
Combs has smoked since she was fifteen but only when she was nervous then she quit when she was pregnant with Finley Arthur.
Holly has a deep love for animals. Over the years, her home has included three quarter horses (Jesse, Jake, and Jezebel), eight dogs (Hugo, Travis, Sugar, Bear, Bleu, Fly Guy, Jethro and Lola), two cats (Selina and Bob), koi fish, two rabbits (Thumper and Jack), three goats (Flora, Fawn and Huckleberry Billy), lovebirds, and even a turtle she rehomed due to health concerns after having her first child.
Holly is equally passionate about activism. In May 2000, she teamed up with Tangi Miller and Alyson Hannigan for a breast cancer awareness campaign with the Susan G. Komen Foundation. Ford Motor company sponsored a Breast Cancer Awareness questionnaire which was a four page brochure featured in Vogue, Glamour, Self, Mademoiselle, and Women's Sports and Fitness magazine to raise awareness about the disease. In 2004 she was also a spokesperson for America Lights Up In Pink And Blue for premature babies. Since 2005, Holly became a spokesperson for Ortho Women's Health which encourages women to visit their gynecologist and feel comfortable talking about issues to their doctor. She was also Austin s Animal Services spokesperson for the 2011 campaign, "Summer of Love" to encourage animal lovers to foster a dog or a cat. In 2015 she appeared in a 'Boycott SeaWorld' public awareness campaign focusing on the need to boycott SeaWorld to end the suffering of Orcas.
Holly suffers with vitiligo on both of her hands.
At 16, Holly was a full-blown rebel: she was often mean to her mom and was punished by her teacher.
Holly's favorite Charmed episodes are Awakened and Sword and the City.
Turned down a role in The Craft to do Sins of Silence.
On October 7th 2010, the 12th anniversary of the first episode of Charmed, Holly tweeted "I will never forget the thrill I got watching the credits for the first time with Shannen.
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