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Shannen Doherty, the beloved actress behind many iconic roles in television and film, has died at 53. Doherty’s longtime publicist and friend Leslie Sloane confirmed the actress’ death after a years-long battle with 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. 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.
Leslie Sloane, per Variety
Shannen Doherty was First Diagnosed with Cancer in 2015
Shannen Doherty’s road through managing her health has been difficult over the last decade. After first being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, the actress revealed she was in remission in 2017. Sadly, in 2019, Doherty’s cancer returned. In 2020, she revealed she was living with metastatic stage 4 cancer.
Last year, Doherty started to document her battle online. After revealing her cancer had spread to her brain and her bones, she began opening up about her treatment and living with the illness in her podcast, Let’s Be Clear.
On an episode of the podcast last month, Doherty talked about preparing for a new round of treatments and being uncertain how her body would handle them. “That’s not something that I can predict. It’s not something my doctors can predict. And it’s scary,” she said at the time.
Doherty Will Forever Be Remembered for the Iconic Characters She Portrayed On Screen
After getting her start in TV, Shannen Doherty first broke on the scene as a child, with her role as Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie. As a teen, she pivoted to film, starring in Girls Just Wanna Have Fun and Heathers.
Doherty’s career reached new heights as she played Brenda Walsh — the Minnesota implant who, alongside twin brother Brandon (Jason Priestley), tries to figure out life in the fast lane — in Beverly Hills, 90210. She even briefly reappeared in the reboot series, 90210, which aired from 2008-2009, as well as with the original cast in BH90210 in 2019.
After her time on the hit teen sitcom was completed, Doherty moved on to roles in Mallrats and continued to explore her talents across TV and film. She found another TV home as Prue Halliwell on Charmed.
In addition to her time on screen, Doherty was also an accomplished director and producer. She directed several episodes of Charmed, as well as a number of TV series and music videos.
In her later life, Doherty continued to act across television and film. Particularly after her cancer returned, she was determined to show others she still had a passion for her craft. She maintained an optimism and joy for life that inspired those around her. In December, she doubled down on her desire to keep her life full as she navigated her difficult diagnosis.
Fans have taken to social media to remember the actress, not just for her talents on screen, but for the heart and resilience she portrayed throughout her most difficult days.
