Before succumbing to cancer's relentless onslaught, Shannen Doherty graced the screens of 'Little House on the Prairie', and starred brilliantly in 'Heathers' and 'Mallrats'. Her captivating performances in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and 'Charmed' were halted by conflicts with her co-stars, leaving a lasting impression on television history. Tragically, at the age of 53, Doherty lost her courageous battle against cancer.
The news of her passing, announced on Saturday, comes after a prolonged and valiant fight. In March 2015, she was first diagnosed with breast cancer, but after undergoing rigorous treatment and multiple surgeries, she declared herself cancer-free in April 2017. However, in February 2020, she tearfully revealed on 'Good Morning America' that her cancer had returned, reaching stage 4. Just this year, in June 2023, she bravely announced that the disease had spread to her brain.
In a statement to People, her publicist Leslie Sloane said, "With profound sadness, I confirm the passing of the beloved actress Shannen Doherty. She lost her fight with cancer on Saturday, July 13, after years of resilience and courage. Surrounded by her devoted family and loyal companion, Bowie, she faced her final days with dignity and strength."
Doherty's acting journey began with regular roles on NBC's 'Little House on the Prairie' and 'Our House'. She then captured hearts as Brenda Walsh in 'Beverly Hills, 90210', created by Darren Star. However, her time on the show was cut short due to reported conflicts with co-stars and producers. Despite her dismissal, she left an indelible mark as a teenage icon.
After starring alongside Ben Affleck and Jason Lee in 'Mallrats', she returned to primetime television as Prue Halliwell, the eldest of three sister witches, in 'Charmed'. However, her tenure on the show was also cut short due to reported differences with her co-star Alyssa Milano.
In her 2010 book, 'Badass: A Hard-Earned Guide to Living Life With Style and (the Right) Attitude', Doherty reflected on her outspoken nature, acknowledging that she was too vocal about things that could have been left unsaid. Yet, it was this unwavering authenticity that made her a beloved and enduring figure in Hollywood.
Shannen Maria Doherty, born April 12, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee, endured a tumultuous journey in Hollywood after her departure from the hit shows "90210" and "Charmed". Without her, "90210" continued for six more seasons, while "Charmed" lasted for another five, while Doherty herself found herself at the center of tabloid attention. In 1993, she was labeled as a "hard-partying, check-bouncing bad girl" who "may be going way too far" on the cover of People magazine.
Raised by Rosa, a beauty parlor owner, and Tom, a financial adviser who passed away in 2010 after years of ill health, Doherty started her career at age 10 in Pepsi commercials. She then appeared in a two-part episode of "Father Murphy," starring Merlin Olsen and produced by Michael Landon. This led to her portrayal of Jenny Wilder, adopted by Laura (Melissa Gilbert) and Almanzo (Dean Butler), in the final season of Landon's "Little House on the Prairie," and she reprised the role in three subsequent telefilms.
Doherty's star continued to rise, playing Kathleen Kennedy in the CBS miniseries "Robert Kennedy and His Times" in 1985, alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt in "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," and guest-starring in another Landon production, "Highway to Heaven." On the series "Our House" from 1986 to 1988, she portrayed Kris Witherspoon, a young girl who moved with her siblings and mother (Deidre Hall) from Indiana to her grandfather's home in California following her father's death.
After "Charmed," Doherty appeared in films like "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" (2001) and "Naked Gun 33 1/3: The Final Insult" (2004), starred in numerous telefilms, and portrayed the illegitimate daughter of a billionaire in the short-lived Fox primetime soap "North Shore." She also ventured into reality television, competing on "Dancing With the Stars," hosting "Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty" and "Scare Tactics," and starring in "Shannen Says," where she planned her 2011 wedding to photographer Kurt Iswarienko, and "Off the Map with Shannen & Holly," reuniting with her former "Charmed" co-star Holly Marie Combs.
In April 2023, Doherty initiated divorce proceedings with Iswarienko. Her previous romantic endeavors had included fleeting marriages with renowned poker pro Rick Salomon and Ashley Hamilton, the son of celebrated actor George Hamilton. Reflecting on her struggles within the world of "90210," Doherty confessed to People magazine in 2019, "There were grievances over my tardiness, but perhaps they were unaware of the reasons - my father's hospitalization or a tumultuous marriage. I never disclosed, nor was I questioned. I don't deny there were misunderstandings, but a significant part of it stemmed from that." She gracefully reprised her role as Brenda in seven episodes of the 2008-13 reboot's first season and portrayed a fictionalized version of herself in the 2019 spin-off, 'BH90210.' Despite learning of her cancer's recurrence and the tragic passing of her former castmate Luke Perry at 52, Doherty persevered with the latter. She divulged, "One of the reasons I took on 'BH90210,' despite Luke's passing and my cancer's relapse, was that I believe people with stage 4 cancer can still work. Our lives don't abruptly end with a diagnosis; we still have a life to live."
