Shannen Doherty, renowned for her roles in “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Charmed,” has passed away at the age of 53.
Her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, released a statement to People confirming her death.
“With a heavy heart, I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. She lost her long battle with cancer on Saturday, July 13,” the statement read.
Doherty had shared last year that her cancer had progressed to her brain, making the disclosure in a heartfelt video posted to Instagram on June 7.
In the video, dated January 12, 2023, Doherty is seen undergoing radiation treatment. She captioned the video: “On January 5th, my CT scan showed metastases in my brain, and the first round of radiation was on January 12.”
She continued, “My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic, and there was a lot going on in my life. I am fortunate to 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 died July 13 after a yearslong battle with cancer.
Shannen Doherty began her acting career at the age of 11 with guest appearances on “Voyagers!” and “Father Murphy,” both of which were projects of Michael Landon, with whom she would collaborate again on “Little House on the Prairie,” playing Jenny Wilder.
By the late 1980s, Doherty transitioned to the big screen, starring in the 1988 cult classic “Heathers.” She returned to television in 1990, gaining widespread recognition as Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills 90210.”
Following her breakout success, Doherty starred in several made-for-TV movies before landing a role in the popular series “Charmed.” After “Charmed” concluded, she continued her acting career, predominantly appearing in reality shows.
In February 2015, Shannen Doherty announced her diagnosis of breast cancer. She subsequently filed a lawsuit against her management firm, claiming that due to a lapse in her health insurance, she missed a routine checkup which could have caught the cancer earlier before it advanced.
Two years later, Doherty joyfully shared that her cancer had gone into remission. “I am blessed, I know that. But for now… remission,” she posted on Instagram at the time.
However, in 2020, Doherty disclosed that the breast cancer had returned, this time as stage 4. “I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” she told Amy Robach of ABC News.
Despite her advancing illness, Shannen Doherty remained active, participating 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 obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there’s a lot going on in my life. I am fortunate to 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,” she wrote.
Shannen, your battle was long and tough. You inspired countless people with your strength and courage. You will be deeply missed. Rest in peace.