CNN
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Shannen Doherty, the actress who appeared in hit TV shows “Beverly Hills 90210” and “Charmed” and documented her nine-year battle with breast cancer, has died, her longtime publicist said.
She was 53 years old.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. She passed away on Saturday, July 13, after a long battle with cancer,” Doherty’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, said in a statement to CNN.
“A devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend, she was surrounded by loved ones and her beloved dog, Bowie. The family asks that their privacy be respected at this time so they can grieve in peace,” her statement continued.
The news was first reported by People magazine.
Doherty gained a passionate fan base for her roles as Heather Duke in the 1989 cult film Heathers, Brenda Walsh on the hit series Beverly Hills, 90210 and its spinoff, 90210, from 1990 to 1994, and Prue Halliwell on Charmed from 1998 to 2001.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and went into remission two years later. In 2020, Doherty announced that her cancer had returned and metastasized, reaching stage four.
She announced in June 2023 that the cancer had spread to her brain.
Doherty has been documenting her experience battling cancer on her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty,” with the latest episode released on July 8.
Doherty has spoken openly about living with cancer, even though it’s clearly incurable, and she didn’t waver when talking about her plans for the future.
“I think I’m in the mindset right now of, A. I need to make as much money as I can in the next two years, put it in the bank, put it in investments, and A. make sure I don’t have to work, that I can only work when I really want to,” she said this month. “Also, I can take a lot more vacation time. And when I pass away, my mom has a little bit of savings so I don’t have to worry about her.”
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Doherty moved with her family to Los Angeles as a child and quickly fell in love with acting.
She made her acting debut at the age of 10 in the television series Father Murphy.
Her acting caught the attention of legendary actor Michael Landon, who landed her the role of Jenny Wilder on his beloved series, Little House on the Prairie.
Doherty honed her acting skills in a variety of productions, including the TV series “Our House,” the 1985 film “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” and the dark 1988 teen comedy “Heathers.”
Mark Sennett/Getty Images
The cast of Beverly Hills 90210 in 1991. From left to right: Ian Ziering, Tori Spelling, Shannen Doherty, Brian Austin Green, Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Gabriel Carteris, and Luke Perry.
She used her experience as a child actress to land her biggest role to date, playing the plucky high school student Brenda Walsh in Aaron Spelling’s wildly popular teen drama, 90210.
She shot to fame in this role, where she heated up the screen as Dylan McKay, her lover opposite co-star Luke Perry.
Doherty left the show after four seasons after reports of tension on set between her and some of her co-stars.
She returned to film in 1994’s Alex Dead and 1995’s Mallrats.
Three years later, Doherty reteamed with Spelling to play three witchy sisters on the TV show Charmed, opposite Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs.
She left her role as Prue Halliwell on the show after three years and found work again in various films, including 2002’s Rendered and 2003’s A View of Terror.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images
The cast of “Charmed,” from left: Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty, and Holly Marie Combs as Piper Halliwell (Photo: Getty Images)
In 2008, Doherty reprised her role as Brenda for seven episodes in The CW’s reboot of 90210.
She later played herself in the meta-style reboot of “BH90210” in 2019 and had a cameo role as a stranded driver in The CW’s “Riverdale” that same year, alongside Perry. Perry suffered a stroke and died in March 2019 at the age of 52.
In September 2020, Doherty spoke to Elle magazine about the focus of gratitude she’s had throughout her cancer experience.
Michael Tran/AFP/Getty Images
Shannen Doherty in 2019.
“I try to cherish all the little moments that most people don’t really notice or take for granted,” she said. “The little things mean a lot to me. We have an endless well inside of us, and digging that well gives us the strength to face adversity and see the beauty in everything.”
On Sunday, Doherty’s co-stars and friends paid tribute to her.
Gabrielle Carteris, who co-starred with Doherty on “90210,” posted on Instagram, “So young and so sad. Rest in peace Shannon. I know Luke loves you with open arms.”
Jason Priestley, who played Brandon Walsh on the teen drama, wrote that he was “shocked and saddened” by Doherty’s death.
“She was a force of nature and she will be missed,” he wrote on Instagram. “Sending love and light to her family during this dark time.”
Former “90210” cast member Brian Austin Green wrote in the stories section of his verified Instagram account that he’ll miss Doherty “more than I can handle right now.”
Doherty’s Charmed co-star Rose McGowan wrote on Instagram that her friend “had the heart of a lion.”
“Passion for the craft is often mistaken for trouble. Shannen was a passion,” she wrote.
McGowan said she met Doherty in the ’90s and became closer since, calling their friendship “an incredible gift.”
“Our lives were intertwined in a unique way. We laughed at the dark forces that tried to make us hate each other and chose love and respect instead,” she wrote. “We are the kindest, strongest people you’ll ever meet. A force of energy that will live on in the hearts of others forever.”
This story has been updated. CNN’s Nadim Muaddi contributed to this report.
