Shannen Doherty, the beloved star of Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, has passed away at the age of 53.
Her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed the news to People in a heartfelt statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease.”
Last year, Doherty disclosed that her cancer had metastasized to her brain. She made this emotional announcement on June 7 in a video shared on Instagram.
In the video, dated January 12, 2023, Doherty is seen undergoing radiation treatment.
“On January 5th, my CT scan showed Mets in my brain,” she wrote. “January 12, the first round of radiation took place.”
“My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life. I am fortunate as I have great doctors like Dr. Amin Mirahdi and the amazing techs at Cedar Sinai. But that fear… The turmoil… The timing of it all… This is what cancer can look like.”
Doherty began her television career at the age of 11 with guest roles on Voyagers! and Father Murphy, created and produced by Michael Landon. She later worked with Landon again when she was cast as Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie.
In the late 1980s, she transitioned to film, starring in the 1988 movie Heathers. She returned to television in 1990, taking on the role of Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills 90210.
Following her rise to fame, Doherty appeared in several made-for-TV movies before being cast in the hit series Charmed.
After Charmed ended, Doherty continued acting, primarily in reality TV shows.
In February 2015, Doherty revealed she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. She sued her management firm, alleging that if her health insurance had not lapsed, she would have been able to attend regular checkups and the cancer might have been detected earlier.
Two years later, she announced that her cancer had gone into remission.
“I am blessed, I know that. But for now… remission,” she shared on Instagram at the time.
However, in 2020, Doherty revealed that her breast cancer had returned and was now stage 4.
“I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” she told ABC News’ Amy Robach.
Despite her diagnosis, Doherty remained active in her career, taking part in a Beverly Hills 90210 reboot, starring in a Lifetime movie, and making an appearance at 90s Con in March 2023.
In June 2023, Doherty shared a poignant video on Instagram revealing that her cancer had spread to her brain.
“My fear is evident. I am extremely claustrophobic, and with so much going on in my life, the timing of it all is overwhelming,” she wrote. “I am grateful for my exceptional doctors like Dr. Amin Mirahdi and the incredible technicians at Cedar Sinai. But this is the reality of cancer.”
Shannen, you fought bravely and tirelessly. You were an inspiration to countless people. You will be deeply missed.
