Shannen started acting professionally as a preteen

The brunette beauty made her debut in the television series ‘Father Murphy’ for a two-episode run in 1981 before playing Jenny Wilder in the iconic show ‘Little House on the Prairie’ before starring in the 1985 made-for-television ‘Girls Just Want to Have Fun’ as Maggie Malene. Before making her debut as Brenda Walsh, she also brought to life Kris Wetherspoon in NBC’s ‘Our House’ between 1986 and 1988.