Shannen Doherty, beloved actress from ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ and ‘Charmed’, dies

Shannen Doherty, best known for her roles in the popular television series Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, has passed away at the age of 53. The actress succumbed to cancer after a prolonged battle, as confirmed by her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, in a statement to People.

“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,” Sloane announced.

Doherty had publicly shared her cancer journey, revealing in June of the previous year that the disease had metastasized to her brain. She posted an emotional video on Instagram on January 12, 2023, showing her receiving 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 career in television at the young age of 11, with guest appearances on Voyagers! and Father Murphy, produced by Michael Landon. She later starred as Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie. In the late 1980s, she transitioned to film with a notable role in the 1988 movie Heathers, before returning to television in 1990 as Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills 90210.

Following her success on Beverly Hills 90210, Doherty appeared in various made-for-TV movies and later starred in the hit series Charmed. After Charmed ended, she continued acting, primarily appearing on reality shows.

In February 2015, Doherty publicly revealed her breast cancer diagnosis. She subsequently sued her management firm, alleging that the lapse in her health insurance prevented her from undergoing regular checkups, which could have detected the cancer earlier. Two years later, she announced that her cancer was in remission.

“I am blessed, I know that. But for now…. remission,” she shared on Instagram.

However, in 2020, Doherty disclosed that her breast cancer had returned, this time at 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. She participated in a Beverly Hills 90210 reboot, starred in a Lifetime movie, and made an appearance at 90s Con in March 2023. In June 2023, she posted another poignant video on Instagram, sharing the news of her cancer’s spread to her brain.

Shannen, you fought so long and so hard. You were an inspiration to so many. You will be dearly missed. May you rest in peace.