One-time professional cheerleader and childhood beauty pageant contestant, Charisma Carpenter made it big by playing – not surprisingly – a beautiful high school cheerleader. After several years as Cordelia Chase on “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (WB/UPN, 1997–2003), and further exploration of the character on “Angel” (WB, 1999-2004), Carpenter finally left the real “Buffyverse,” but did not stray too far away from what made her famous in the first place.

Charisma Lee Carpenter was born on July 23, 1970, in Las Vegas, NV to Don and Chris Carpenter. She began studying ballet at five and was a participant in numerous beauty contests. She attended Las Vegas’ Bishop Gorman High School before her family moved to Mexico when she was 15. While living in Mexico, Carpenter commuted to Bonita High near San Diego, CA before finally graduating from Chula Vista School of Creative and Performing Arts.

While many TV series kids tend to be forgotten, their show biz careers over when they reach adulthood, Alyssa Milano was determined to make the leap. Known for her eight years as Samantha Micelli, tomboy-then-young-beauty daughter of Tony Danza on "Who's the Boss?" (ABC, 1984-92), she had been acting since she was seven and went on tour as one of the orphans in the musical "Annie." After additional stage roles and one small feature part (Marisa Silver's "Old Enough," 1984) Milano won the part on the sitcom.

BIOGRAPHY

It was difficult to say whether Shannen Doherty was best known for her acting or her off camera antics. As Brenda Walsh, twin sister to Brandon and the resident Midwestern girl putting down roots in Beverly Hills, Doherty made her mark on pop cultural history with her four-year stint on Fox's iconic TV hit, “Beverly Hills, 90210” (1990-2000). At the same time she played virginal Brenda, Doherty began attracting media attention – both tabloid and mainstream – for her perceived temperamental behavior off screen.