Shannen Doherty Passes Away at 53 After Long Battle with Cancer
Shannen Doherty, the beloved actress known for her roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” has passed away at the age of 53. After a prolonged and courageous fight against cancer, Doherty’s longtime publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed her death on July 14.
“It breaks my heart to say that actress Shannen Doherty has died. She died of cancer on July 13, after a long battle with the disease,” Sloane shared with PEOPLE. “The loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was with her family and her dog, Bowie. The family asks for privacy right now so they can mourn in peace,” she added.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Doherty was open about her journey. In November 2023, she revealed to PEOPLE that her cancer had progressed to Stage 4 and spread to her bones. “I wanna keep living. I still love people. I have more things to make. Hopefully, I’m not done making things better,” she expressed.
Doherty announced her cancer was in remission in April 2017, only for it to return in 2019. By the following year, she disclosed that it had advanced to metastatic Stage 4 cancer. In June 2023, she underwent surgery to remove a brain tumor she had named Bob, highlighting the cancer’s spread to her brain.
Despite her illness, Doherty remained determined to continue working. “People think it means you can’t walk, eat, or work. We’re full of life and have such a different outlook on it,” she said, emphasizing the resilience and determination of those living with terminal cancer.
Doherty dedicated herself to raising awareness and funds for cancer research, aiming to demonstrate that individuals with terminal cancer still have much to offer. “Why me?’” she reflected. “When you ask yourself, ‘Why am I in stage 4?’ you start to look for the bigger picture in life.”
Her forthrightness about her illness paralleled her career, where she rose to fame as Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” beginning in October 1990. After leaving the show in 1994, she found success again as Prue Halliwell on “Charmed,” where she also directed several episodes.
Throughout her career, Doherty continued to work, even venturing into reality TV with “Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty” and competing on “Dancing with the Stars.” In 2019, she reprised her role on the reboot of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” honoring her late co-star Luke Perry.
Brian Austin Green, her “90210” co-star, praised her resilience, saying, “Shannen is definitely setting a good example and showing people that you can be a good person even when things are hard. She’s a wonderful person and an inspiration.”
In her final interview with PEOPLE, Doherty expressed her deep appreciation for life, her family, and her faith. “My best memory is still to come. I worship every morning and every night, I thank God and pray for the things that are important to me,” she said.
Shannen Doherty’s legacy as a courageous and talented actress will continue to inspire many.
