Shannen Doherty, a beloved actress best known for her roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” passed away on Saturday at the age of 53 after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer. Doherty’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed the tragic news, expressing the sorrow felt by her family, friends, and fans.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty,” Sloane stated. “On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
Doherty’s cancer journey began in 2015 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite undergoing a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation, Doherty remained resilient and hopeful. She reflected on her harrowing experience in December 2023, describing how she struggled to maintain her strength during chemotherapy. “When I dropped down to 92 pounds from chemo and was incredibly dehydrated, I had to still get out of bed,” she recalled. “My husband at the time [Kurt Iswarienko] was sort of begging me to keep going, and my mom [was] literally trying to pick me up out of bed and get me to the doctor. At that point in time, I thought that I wouldn’t survive it.”
Despite going into remission in 2017, Doherty announced in February 2020 that her cancer had returned and progressed to Stage 4. She bravely shared her ongoing fight for survival during a virtual appearance on “Good Morning America” in October 2021, stating, “I never want to operate [like I’m dying].”
In November 2023, Doherty revealed that her cancer had spread to her bones after previously metastasizing to her brain. “I don’t want to die,” she told People magazine. “I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better. I’m just not — I’m not done.”
Doherty’s personal life was also marked by significant challenges. She discovered that her ex-husband, Kurt Iswarienko, had been unfaithful to her for two years, just hours before undergoing surgery to remove a brain tumor. “At the end of the day, I just felt so incredibly unloved by someone I was with for 14 years, by someone I loved with all my heart,” she shared on her podcast “Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty.”
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 12, 1971, Doherty began her acting career in the early 1980s with roles on “Father Murphy” and “Voyagers!” She gained widespread fame for her portrayal of Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” a role that defined her career. Despite behind-the-scenes tensions that led to her departure from the show, Doherty continued to find success in Hollywood, notably as Prue Halliwell on “Charmed.”
Doherty’s legacy extends beyond her acting career. She was a fierce advocate for animal rights, speaking on Capitol Hill in 2017 to end the trade of dog and cat meat for human consumption. Her resilience and advocacy work earned her admiration and respect from fans and peers alike.
In her final years, Doherty faced numerous challenges, including the loss of her Malibu home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire. She described the devastation on Instagram, sharing a photo of her wedding day at the home and writing, “This place. I got married there. But before that, it’s the place [where] @chriscortazzo let me stay after my dad passed away. It’s gone. Fire has taken it away. I’m devastated by all that’s happening. My heart is ripped apart.”
Doherty’s passing follows the deaths of other “90210” co-stars, including Luke Perry, Jed Allan, Denise Dowse, and Joe E. Tata. She expressed her wishes for her funeral on her podcast, stating that she wanted her remains mixed with those of her dog and father and explicitly noting that she did not want certain individuals to attend. “There’s a lot of people that I think would show up that I don’t want there,” she explained. “They don’t actually really like me enough to show up to my funeral. But they will because it’s the politically correct thing to do, and they don’t want to look bad.”
Shannen Doherty’s courageous battle against cancer, her advocacy for animal rights, and her enduring impact on television will be remembered by many. She leaves behind a legacy of strength, resilience, and an indomitable spirit that inspired countless fans around the world.
