Shannen Doherty, who rose to fame as a child actor and became a major star in the 1990s with her role on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” passed away on Saturday after a long battle with breast cancer.
“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,” said her publicist, Leslie Sloane.
Doherty was 53.
First diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Doherty went into remission two years later. Unfortunately, her cancer returned, and in February 2020, court documents in a lawsuit against her insurance company revealed that she was “dying” of Stage 4 breast cancer, which had metastasized.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” Doherty said in a previous interview. “There are definitely days where I say, ‘Why me?’ And then I go, ‘Well, why not me? Who else besides me deserves this?’ None of us do.”
In June 2023, Doherty emotionally revealed on Instagram that her cancer had spread to her brain at the beginning of the year.
“On January 5th, my scan showed Mets in my brain,” she wrote alongside a video of her receiving radiation. “My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life. But that fear…. The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like.”
Born on April 12, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee, Doherty’s early Hollywood debut came at age 10 with a role on the series “Father Murphy,” followed by “Little House on the Prairie” the next year.
Doherty’s career took off with roles in “Our House” and the 1989 film “Heathers.” However, her most iconic role came as Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which made her a superstar in the early ’90s.
Her time on “90210” was marked by reports of on-set difficulties and feuds, particularly with co-star Jennie Garth. She left the show after its fourth season, while others, including Garth, stayed on for six more seasons.
Doherty acknowledged that leaving “90210” helped her find peace and discover herself, stating that she struggled with being in the spotlight while dealing with personal issues.
Her co-star Jason Priestley expressed sadness at her passing, describing her as “a force of nature.”
In the mid-’90s, Doherty’s career slowed but later reignited with her role in “Charmed,” where she played a witch for three seasons.
Alyssa Milano, her “Charmed” co-star, commented on their complex relationship but expressed deep respect and admiration for Doherty, saying that the world is less without her.
In the early 2000s, Doherty transitioned to reality television, hosting “Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty.” Her personal life included two divorces before her third marriage to photographer Kurt Iswarienko, which ended in 2023.
By accounts, Doherty mellowed with age and reprised her role as Brenda Walsh twice: in the 2008 reboot “90210” and the 2019 show “BH90210.”
She is the second major cast member from “Beverly Hills, 90210” to die young, following Luke Perry’s death in March 2019 from complications due to a stroke.