Shannen Doherty — who played a Beverly Hills High student, a Heather, and a Charmed one — died this week. She was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, which metastasized to her brain in 2023. Friends and co-stars poured out their grief for one of the women who defined the ’90s. Holly Marie Combs, Doherty’s co-star on Charmed and ally in the show’s long afterlife, said there was a hole in her heart. “My most ardent champion. My loyal protector. My best friend,” she wrote on Instagram. “You taught me the meaning of family. You were and will be forevermore my sister. I love you.” Sarah Michelle Gellar, one of Doherty’s closest friends, wrote “I keep reminding myself it only hurts this much because, there was so much love.”
Her Mallrats director called Doherty “an American icon” and claimed she broke the internet before the internet. Her on-screen brother, Jason Priestley, wrote: “She was a force of nature and I will miss her.” Many of these same co-stars tributed Luke Perry when he died suddenly of a stroke in 2019. Rose McGowan, who replaced Doherty on Charmed, wrote she had “the heart of a lion. Passion for craft is often mislabeled as trouble. Shannen was passion.”
A tribute from Fox Entertainment said the actor elevated the network with her craft. “All of us at Fox mourn the loss of our friend Shannen Doherty and grieve alongside her family, friends, and fans,” Fox said in a statement. “We are grateful for Shannen’s undeniable talent and light, especially through her unforgettable, groundbreaking role in Beverly Hills, 90210, the iconic series that cemented her place among television royalty and helped define the bold, provocative identity Fox became known for. While Shannen was far too young to leave us, over her decadeslong career, she built a legacy that will be remembered and celebrated forever.” Charmed co-star Brian Krause wrote simply, “You showed me what strength is.” Below are more remembrances from Brian Austin Green, Gabrielle Carteris, Dan Savage, and more.
Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, just days before her death, Shannen released the latest episode of her podcast, Let’s Be Clear, revealing poignant moments from her life.
In a heartfelt January episode featuring her oncologist, Dr. Lawrence Piro, she shared the profound impact her desire to become a mother had on her decisions regarding her cancer treatment.
“Not only did I want a child for myself, but I wanted it for my husband. I wanted it for our marriage. I wanted him to have that part of himself fulfilled as well,” Shannen expressed, reflecting on her attempts to conceive with her then-husband, Kurt Iswarienko.
Shannen Doherty Talks About Her Challenges Over the Past Year
The couple, who tied the knot in 2011, faced the challenges of starting a family later in life and turned to IVF, with Shannen undergoing multiple rounds.
However, due to her ongoing health battles and the onset of menopause, Shannen eventually had to stop IVF.
Her relentless fight included a mastectomy in 2016, and after a brief remission in 2017, her cancer returned in 2019. By 2020, Shannen revealed she was battling metastatic stage 4 cancer, and in 2023, she disclosed that it had spread to her brain and bones.
Despite the relentless challenges, Shannen continued to hold onto hope. In early 2023, she and Kurt decided to part ways, and by November, she began to cautiously open her heart to the possibility of love again. “I don’t really know what it looks like,” Shannen told People.
In her latest podcast, Shannen talked about how she is preparing for death
“I have a best friend, a male best friend, who we joke that we’re married, and his two kids. We’ve had massive breakthroughs and we just love each other and hang out, and I kind of view them as my children.”
Discussing her enduring dream of motherhood, Shannen admitted, “God, I vacillate on it all the time. I think I would love nothing more than to be a mom. I always wanted it, and I think if I did it with my best friend or a partner, then I don’t know any amount of time… I look at kids who don’t have parents at all, and I think if I adopt a child or whatever it is, any amount of time is better than nothing. Maybe. I don’t know.”
Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty from the tv show Charmed
Holding onto hope, Shannen believed in the potential of clinical trials to improve her health. “I’m biding my time, and in the meantime, I’ve got my best friend’s kids, and my brother Sean’s seven kids. They’re all grown up, but that’s okay,” she shared.
Throughout her battle, Shannen continued to embrace life. In November 2023, she posted a video dancing with her friend Chris Cortazzo’s kids, capturing her zest for life.
On July 14, Chris paid tribute to her on Instagram, sharing a montage of their memories. “My beloved friend and heart. What memories and laughter we have shared through this journey. You were my protector, my best friend, and my divine wife. My heart is shattered. I love you forever, my sweet dear friend,” he wrote.
Shannen’s kindness extended to her close friend, Sarah Michelle Gellar. On an episode of Let’s Be Clear in February, Sarah recounted how Shannen had welcomed her children into her home during the pandemic. “You gave my children such a life in COVID, and I was really struggling with how to give them that freedom and that room to be kids and have adventures,” Sarah said. “And you opened your home to us in COVID in a way that I will for the rest of my life be grateful for.”
Determined to live fully, Shannen told People, “I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better. I’m just not — I’m not done.”
Her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed her passing on July 14 with a heavy heart. “It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty… She lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Leslie stated. “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.”
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Shannen Doherty, renowned for her roles in the immensely popular series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and the witchcraft fantasy “Charmed,” passed away at 53. Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and fought bravely against the disease for many years. Her dog Bowie was the first to detect her cancer.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty,” her publicist Leslie Sloane stated. “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.”
Shannen Doherty first captured the public’s attention in 1990 by portraying Brenda Walsh on Fox’s “Beverly Hills, 90210.” As part of the iconic Walsh family, alongside her twin brother Brandon, played by Jason Priestley, Doherty’s character was a fresh-faced brunette from Minnesota navigating the glamorous and often tumultuous world of Beverly Hills. The show’s depiction of the contrasts between the down-to-earth Walsh family and their peers’ affluent, often dramatic lives struck a chord with audiences, making it a defining series of the 1990s.
Following her success in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” Doherty continued to build her career with a prominent role in “Charmed,” where she played Prue Halliwell, the eldest of three witch sisters. Her performance in the series earned her a dedicated fan base and solidified her status as a beloved figure in television.
Jason Priestley, her on-screen brother from “Beverly Hills, 90210,” expressed his deep sorrow, recalling their years of working together and bond.
“Shannen was an incredible talent and a remarkable person,” Priestley said. “She faced her challenges with courage and grace and will be deeply missed.”
Bowie: The Dog Who Detected Shannen Doherty’s Breast Cancer:
Before Shannen Doherty, the former star of “Beverly Hills, 90210,” was diagnosed with breast cancer, her loyal dog, Bowie, was the first to sense that something was amiss. Doherty shared in a preview of an upcoming episode of Entertainment Tonight (video can be viewed below) that Bowie exhibited unusual behavior by obsessively sniffing a specific spot on her right side.
“She would obsessively sniff right here on my right side for a long time before,” Doherty revealed. “So, it made sense when I got diagnosed.”
“I had breast cancer that spread to the lymph nodes, and from one of my surgeries, we discovered that some of the cancer cells might have gone out of the lymph nodes,” Doherty explained during her ET interview. “So for that reason, we are doing chemo, and then after chemo, I’ll do radiation.”
“When I got back from surgery, [Bowie] again was kind of right in this area,” she recounted, gesturing towards her right side. “Then when I had my first chemo, she would sniff my entire body up and down. And she was always protective before, but she has become this crazy, protective dog. It’s hard to get close to me when she’s around.”
Doherty shared a touching Instagram post featuring “Ms. Bowie” lying beside her in bed. She opened up to her followers about her chemotherapy struggles and how her dog’s unwavering presence has been a comfort.
“Each person’s cancer journey is different. For me, chemo has been terrible, and believe me, we have tried almost everything. So, days like this have become a bit of the norm. I’m learning that it’s ok to fall into bed and give in to exhaustion, nausea, or aches,” Doherty wrote. “I’ve learned a lot of that through all the beautiful people who have shared their personal stories with me on Instagram.”
Shannen Doherty’s story highlights the profound bond between humans and their pets and how Bowie’s intuition played a crucial role in her health journey. Bowie’s protective instincts and comforting presence was a beacon of hope and support during one of the most challenging times of Doherty’s life.
Rest In Peace, Shannen. You were an amazing actress and will be missed. We’re sending out our heartfelt condolences to your family and friends during this difficult time. May we all unite in the hope and determination to see cancer eradicated from this earth.
Click the video below to watch her interview:
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Featured image credits: Shannen Doherty screenshot via YouTube video screenshot here and her beautiful dog Bowie via YouTube video screenshot here. Rest In Peace.
Shannen Doherty and Hollie Marie Combs revealed on the “Let’s Be Clear” podcast (via Huff Post) that Doherty was fired from “Charmed” due to an alleged ultimatum their co-star Alyssa Milano gave producers. A feud among the actors reportedly led to Milano telling “Charmed” producers they had to fire one of them, and if it was her she would threaten to sue them for a hostile work environment.
According to Combs, it was Milano who strong-armed the producers into firing Doherty after three seasons. While Doherty has often said she chose to leave “Charmed” on her own volition, it appears that was just a cover-up planned by her team at the time since she had already been forced off “Beverly Hills 90210.”
“One can’t keep telling the same story over and over and over again, when it’s not the truth,” Doherty said.
“My representatives, I remember them looking at me at the time and said, ‘No, no, no, your career won’t survive another firing, so we’re just going to say that you chose to leave,’” the actor revealed. “I remember I started laughing, going, ‘Who is going to believe that I’m crazy enough to leave a hit show?’”
Doherty was an original cast member on “Charmed” alongside Milano and Combs. Doherty’s character was killed after three seasons and she was replaced by Rose McGowan, who stayed with the show until it wrapped after Season 8. Combs was the guest on Doherty’s new podcast episode, with Combs revealing that “Charmed” producer Jonathan Levin once told her that Milano approached him with the ultimatum.
“He said, you know, ‘We’re basically in a position where it’s one or the other. We were told [by Alyssa] that it’s [Shannen] or me, and Alyssa has threatened to sue us for a hostile workplace environment,’” Combs said, adding that Milano “built a case for herself” by using a mediator to document every time she felt uncomfortable on set.
“I don’t ever remember being mean to [Milano] on set,” Doherty later added. “I couldn’t have been more kind and understanding…I wish that I had been older and wiser because I definitely would’ve sued, and I would’ve been honest about the situation because the rumors followed me regardless.”
Combs noted that Milano’s legal action threats “wouldn’t fucking fly” by today’s standards. The actor stressed there was never any “brawls” or “harsh words” said on set between Milano and Doherty.
Variety has reached out to Milano’s representative for comment.
On a previous episode of the “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, Doherty traced the origins of her feud with Milano back to how “Charmed” was promoted before its first season launched. She said that there was some resentment created due to the show being marketed around her despite Milano and Combs also being leads.
“I was cast first, the show was originally sold to the WB based on me,” Doherty said. “But once those magazine covers started happening, and one person is being asked and the other one isn’t … I felt like .. the competitiveness was kicking in. And I’m not saying with you, I’m saying with Alyssa and myself. There was a lack of female support.”
Actor Shannen Doherty posted an honest video about her breast cancer treatment on Tuesday and told fans the disease has spread to her brain.
Doherty, who was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer in 2020, posted an emotional video to Instagram of herself crying as she underwent radiation therapy on her brain. The Beverly Hills, 90210 actor also earlier had to be fitted for a custom-made mask that must be worn during treatment to keep a patient’s head still and ensure radiation lasers are accurately targeted.
Doherty said a CT scan from Jan. 5 revealed she had brain metastases, a condition that occurs when cancer cells spread from their original site to another location in the patient’s body.
Doherty said she underwent the first round of radiation on her brain on Jan. 12.
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“My fear is obvious,” Doherty wrote. “I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life.”
She continued, writing that she is “fortunate” to have great doctors and technicians at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.
“But that fear…. The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like,” Doherty concluded.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Within one year, the cancer had spread to her lymph nodes and Doherty underwent eight rounds of chemotherapy and radiation.
By 2017, Doherty had no evidence of disease (NED), meaning there was no cancer detected in her body at the time. Her tumour markers, the substances made by cancer cells or by normal cells in response to cancer, remained “elevated.”
In 2020, the Charmed star appeared on Good Morning America where she said her cancer returned as a stage 4 diagnosis.
Ask an Expert: breast cancer awareness
Doherty has been consistently open about her cancer treatment. She has encouraged other women to be aware of the signs and risks of breast cancer.
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During breast cancer awareness month in October 2021, Doherty encouraged her Instagram followers “to get mammograms, to get regular checkups, to cut thru the fear and face whatever might be in front of you.”
