Who is Kurt Iswarienko?
Kurt Iswarienko gained recognition as the former spouse of Shannen Doherty, but he is also an accomplished photographer. He has collaborated with top celebrities such as Ryan Gosling, Chris Pine, and Kumail Nanjiani.
Additionally, he has produced promotional videos for popular beauty brands such as Estée Lauder and Chanel. Iswarienko’s photography portfolio includes work on movie posters, such as for The Woman King and the film Ghosted starring Ana de Armas and Chris Evans.
Career
At the beginning of his professional journey, Kurt’s job involved being an electrician for Hollywood productions. He was a member of the camera and electrical team for the comedy-drama Going All The Way, which was helmed by Mark Pellington and hit theaters in 1997.
After that, Kurt Iswarienko became the chief electrician for the filming of Riding with James Dean in 1998. At the same time, he began to participate in various well-known movies like Clockstoppers, Pumpkin, and Outside Ozona.
One of the most significant opportunities for Kurt was being hired as an electrician for the action-packed movie Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl.
In addition, he entered the world of production when he financed a fantasy horror film called Puppet Master: The Legacy in that same year. He also served as a cinematographer for the short film Prenuptial Tango in 2007.
Furthermore, he took on the role of executive producer for the series Shannen Says in 2012, where he also made a cameo appearance as himself. Afterward, he appeared as a guest on the well-known talk show, Big Morning Buzz Live.
Later in his professional journey, Kurt Iswarienko shifted his focus towards honing his photography skills. As a result, he garnered recognition as a creative and innovative photographer.
He then went on to collaborate with renowned celebrities and prominent brands, traveling to various locations around the world to capture his subjects, from well-known figures to lesser-known individuals. Moreover, he has also worked with major brands such as Uniqlo and Netflix, contributing to their global advertising campaigns.
Marriage & Divorce
In October 2011, Shannen Doherty and Kurt Iswarienko exchanged vows in Malibu, California. The actress donned a white ballgown, making it her third marriage. Before this, Doherty was wed to Ashley Hamilton (1993-1994) and Rick Salomon (2002-2003).
The wedding of Doherty and Iswarienko was featured on their WE TV reality show, Shannen Says. The show followed the couple as they worked with renowned wedding planner David Tutera to create their ideal wedding.
One of the episodes of the series featured Doherty’s doubts about her relationship with the photographer after he left for a work commitment without informing her. Another focused on Iswarienko’s search for the perfect present for his wife. The eight-episode show concluded in May 2012.
In 2015, Shannen Doherty received a diagnosis of breast cancer, which brought her closer to her husband, Kurt Iswarienko. Despite wanting to tell him face-to-face, she ended up informing him over the phone before coming home to find him waiting for her in their driveway.
“My marriage was always strong, but it’s made my marriage a thousand times stronger. I could not have gotten through this without my husband.”
In April 2023, Doherty initiated the process of divorcing Iswarienko, citing “irreconcilable differences”. The couple had separated in January. Doherty requested financial assistance from Iswarienko but also requested that it not be granted to him.
In July 2024, Kurt Iswarienko’s ex-wife lost her battle with breast cancer, a disease she had been fighting since 2015. She initially battled breast cancer from 2015 to 2017, when it went into remission. Unfortunately, the cancer returned in 2020 and spread to other parts of her body.
