‘Charmed’ Star Holly Marie Combs Reveals She Is Retired from Acting

Nearly seven years after her last time in front of the camera, the actress is finally addressing her decision to leave Hollywood behind.

Nearly seven years after her last onscreen role, Holly Marie Combs has confirmed she's officially retired from acting. The "Charmed" alum broke the news during an episode of her podcast, "House of Halliwell," offering insight into what led to her decision.

Holly Marie Combs during the "Charmed" panel at the FAN EXPO Chicago 2024 at Donald E. Stephens Convention Center on August 18, 2024 in Rosemont, Illinois. | Source: Getty Images

"The stuff that I was getting and coming across my desk was just nothing that I was like, 'Oh my gosh, this is really great. I need to do this,'" Combs explained during the August 25 episode of her podcast.

She continued, "And being in, you know, that 40 to 50 range, the job pool gets even smaller and smaller. And I feel like the roles get a little less interesting."

Combs, 52, acknowledged that ageism in Hollywood has eased somewhat compared to years past, though she joked that nothing lately had been "blowing up [her] skirt."

Holly Marie Combs attends the 'Charmed' conference during Manga & Sci-Fi show at Parc des Expositions Porte de Versailles on October 20, 2018 in Paris, France. | Source: Getty Images

Beyond the dwindling pool of appealing roles, Combs — mother to Finley, 22, Riley, 19, and Kelley, 17, whom she shares with ex-husband David Donoho — simply wanted more time with her family.

"It was a lot of family," she added. "During COVID, we had three teenagers. Well, it was three teenagers and a preteen in the house, and it was just mayhem and chaos."

These days, the "Pretty Little Liars" alum stays plenty busy with "House of Halliwell," alongside what her co-host Drew Fuller has dubbed "15 other businesses." Still, she admitted the itch to step back in front of the camera occasionally resurfaces.

"I miss it occasionally," she continued. "Because, like you said, there's those moments when you're involved and you're acting and you're working that are just, I think it's like being present."

It seems Combs hasn't quite found a substitute for the comfort that came from losing herself in a character.

Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell in the series "Charmed," in circa 1999. | Source: Getty Images

Don't miss

Stories

My Neighbor Kept Letting Her Teenagers Use My Home Gym Without Asking – So I Taught Them a Lesson They Wouldn't Forget

Aug 31, 2026

Celebrity

Kylie Kelce on Whether She Plans to Try and Have a Baby Boy

Aug 22, 2026

Stories

My Daughter Hid Her New Tattoo from Me for Days – When I Finally Saw It, She Said, 'Dad's Girlfriend Gets Me. You're Just Old'

Sep 01, 2026

"That's what escapism is," she said. "And we get to escape into this different character with a different set of situations than our own life. And there is something about being in that moment that is quite peaceful, even if you're doing something highly dramatic."

As for whether Combs might someday return to acting, she might just consider it after her youngest child graduates high school. As she put it, "I'll be sitting around with a lot more time on my hands."