Actress Shannen Doherty has died aged 53, her publicist has confirmed.
The star, who was best-known for her roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, had been diagnosed 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,’ Doherty’s longtime publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed in a statement to People.
The Charmed star was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and entered remission two years later.
Her cancer returned as stage four in 2020, which she confirmed during an appearance on Good Morning America in February.
‘It’s going to come out in a matter of days or week that I am stage four. So my cancer came back and that’s why I am here,’ she said.
‘I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways. There’s definitely days when I say “why me?”, and then I go, “well, why not me, who else besides me deserves this?” None of us do.’
She revealed in June that her breast cancer had spread to her brain, and was terminal.
Doherty underwent surgery to remove the tumour and began radiation treatments.
She opened up about her diagnosis at a 90s Con in September. After receiving a standing ovation she said: ‘Thank you so much. You guys know how much I love crying constantly. And I do, it seems. So, thank you’.
Doherty was born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1971 and began acting as a child.
By 11 years of age, Doherty had a reoccurring role on Little House on the Prairie as Jenny Wilder. In the series nine-year-run, Doherty was only missing from four episodes.
As a teenager, she played Maggie in the teen musical/comedy Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1995) alongside actors Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. Although it originally received mixed reviews, the movie about a dance TV show now has a cult following. This was quickly followed up with another coming-of-age film -dark comedy Heathers (1989).
Things took off further for Doherty when she returned to TV and earned mainstream attention as Brenda Walsh in the popular Beverly Hills, 90210.
The series initially focused on Brenda and her family’s move from Minnesota to LA, and the culture shock provided inspiration for many of the storylines. She was recognised by the Young Artist Awards and picked up a nomination for Best Young Actress Starring in a Television Series. She left after four series, but her character continued to be mentioned for the remaining six.
For the reboot in 2008, she reprised the beloved character and is rumoured to have earned $40,000–50,000 per episode. She went back to Brenda once again for the six-episode sequel BH90210 in 2019.
One of her 90210 co-stars Brian Austin Green spoke of his admiration for Doherty in September.
‘Shannen is loved and she should be. She is a fighter,’ he began.
‘She’s been facing challenges over the last, gosh, decade now that are just, they’re difficult things. And she is absolutely leading by example and showing people that even in the toughest of times, you can keep your head up and you can be a good person, and she is, she’s an amazing person, and I think she’s an inspiration for people, she should be.’
Doherty’s talent also secured her a lead role in Charmed as Prue Halliwell, the oldest of three witch sisters. During her time on the series, she took on the job of directing. Her character was killed after three series in 2001.
Her last known project was the film Fortress, which also featured Jesse Metcalfe, Bruce Willis, and Chad Michael Murray.
Doherty married three times and recently joked about her divorce from her third husband, Kurt Iswarienko, 49, from whom she split in April after 11 years of marriage.
The animal rights activist said: ‘My other profession is getting engaged, married and divorced, and I’m doing that very well.’
Tributes have poured in for the actress since the news of her death.
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