Shannen Doherty’s death has left an impact on the lives of many people, including her longtime friend, Sarah Michelle Gellar. The two stars had a beautiful friendship that spanned over three decades, and Gellar gave fans a glimpse into the bond they shared when she took to Instagram to pay tribute to Doherty on what would have been her 54th birthday on Saturday, April 12 (she died in July 2024 at 53).
Gellar’s post (which she shared with her 4.8 million followers on Instagram) included a throwback photo and a video of Doherty. She shared her thoughts in the caption, writing, “For as long as I can remember, we have celebrated our birthdays together @theshando This year I will keep that tradition, and celebrate you. I am so glad we were all together on this day last year, not knowing it would be the last like this. Happy Birthday, Shannen.”
Sarah Michelle Gellar Pays Tribute To Her Late BFF Shannen Doherty
Fans reacted to the post with messages of love and support, as their thoughts go out to Gellar during this difficult time. “Not only do I aspire to be a friend like you but I hope more than anything I find a friend like Shannen,” a fan shared. “We will continue to celebrate her for you as well!!!” another wrote. Other reactions include “I can’t handle this,” followed by a crying face emoji, and “I still can’t believe she’s gone.”
It is clear from the comments that many people have been reflecting on Doherty and missing her.
Doherty died from breast cancer (she was first diagnosed in 2015), and her death has been marked by an outpouring of love from celebrities and fans alike. At the time of her passing, Gellar also took to social media to share her thoughts and discuss how much Doherty meant to her. She did this by posting photos from happier times and questioning what she would do without her beloved friend.
“How do you possibly find the right words to sum up 30 years of friendship? I keep reminding myself it only hurts this much because, there was so much love,” Gellar wrote.
She also used the post to thank fans for their continued support and kindness, celebrate Doherty’s love for animals, and encourage donations to animal charities in her honor.
In the months since Doherty’s death, it has also been reported that Gellar would be open to replacing her role in the upcoming sequel to the hit ’90s film Mallrats. Director Kevin Smith expressed his desire for Gellar to take the role that Doherty was set to reprise, telling The Hollywood Reporter that he felt it may be “meaningful for her on some level because of her relationship with Shannen.”
Many fans will find their own way to pay tribute to the actress who meant so much to them, whether this is with a public post, a private donation to an animal shelter, or a moment of silence.
