Shannen Doherty, who starred in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” died on Saturday at age 53. She fought a brave and lengthy battle against breast cancer.
Shannon was first diagnosed in March 2015. She had treatment and several surgeries. Doherty announced she was in remission in April 2017.
In February 2020, she revealed that her cancer had returned and she was in stage 4. In June 2023, her cancer spread to her brain.
Shannen’s Publicist Confirmed The Actress Died On July 13th
Shannen’s publicist, Leslie Sloan, confirmed early this morning that the actress had succumbed to her illness.
Doherty had a long and memorable acting career. Shannen’s first role was on “Little House on the Prairie” from 1982 to 1983. She played Jenny Wilder.
Another notable role was in the 1988 film “Heathers,” in which she played Heather Duke, one of the three Heathers.
She starred in the movie with Winona Ryder and Christian Slater. Shannen’s performance was quite impressive.
Heathers is one of the funniest, most brilliant, and boldest movies ever made. Shannen perfectly played the quintessential popular girl. It’s worth a watch if you like 80’s cult classics.
Next was the role that catapulted her to fame, playing Brenda Walsh from 1990 to 1994. She received critical acclaim for portraying the strong-willed, intelligent, fierce, and often misunderstood teen.
90210 wasn’t the same after Shannen left. Brenda was easily the most real character on the show. No amount of the 90s pop culture “I hate Brenda” crusade changes that.
In 1998, Doherty was cast in another incredible role, playing a witch named Prue Halliwell. She left the show in 2001. Much like her character on 90210, the show was never the same after Prue’s death.
Shannen Doherty Was Open About Her Cancer Journey
Shannen was open about her cancer journey and wanted to put a different face on the disease. She used her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear,” to share her thoughts, and her strength was palpable.
Shannen said.
“I definitely have days where I say, why me? And then I go, well, why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this? None of us do,”
She was always honest with her fans about what she was going through. She never asked for pity and kept working until the end of her life.
Shannen wanted people to see that stage 4 cancer didn’t automatically put you in hospice. She remained hopeful, with a smile on her face and a positive attitude.
In her last health update prior to her death, she was ready for battle. She was optimistic about starting a new round of chemotherapy. She was willing to try anything to live longer.
Shannen’s publicist made this statement earlier this morning,
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13th, 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 privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
Yesterday, Shannen didn’t “lose” her battle with cancer. She was a winner who fought bravely for almost ten years. She will be sorely missed.
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