Shannen Doherty, a beloved actress known for her roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” has passed away at the age of 53 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer. Her publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed the news on Sunday, stating that Doherty had been surrounded by her loved ones, including her dog, Bowie, at the time of her passing.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, undergoing a mastectomy, chemotherapy, and radiation. She announced her remission in 2017, but in 2020, she revealed that she was battling Stage 4 breast cancer. Despite her health struggles, Doherty remained resilient, stating during a virtual appearance on “Good Morning America” in 2021 that she was “fighting to stay alive.”
In November 2023, Doherty shared that her cancer had metastasized to her bones, having previously spread to her brain. Despite her prognosis, she remained hopeful, expressing her desire to continue living, loving, and creating. She also revealed that she had discovered her ex-husband, Kurt Iswarienko, had been unfaithful to her for two years, adding another layer of hardship to her battle.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971, Doherty began her acting career in the early 1980s. She gained prominence with her role as Jenny Wilder on “Little House on the Prairie” and later starred in the black comedy “Heathers.” Her breakout role came with FOX’s “Beverly Hills, 90210,” where she played Brenda Walsh, a character that resonated with audiences.
Doherty’s career was not without controversy. She was let go from “90210” in 1994 due to on-set tensions, and she later admitted to being unhappy during filming. Despite this, she continued to find success in the industry, starring in the cult classic “Mallrats” and portraying Prue Halliwell on “Charmed.”
Offscreen, Doherty was a noted animal rights activist and spoke on Capitol Hill in 2017 about stopping the trade of dog and cat meat for human consumption. She also faced personal challenges, including the loss of her Malibu home in the 2018 Woolsey Fire and the end of her marriage to Iswarienko in 2023.
Doherty’s passing follows the deaths of several other “90210” actors in recent years, including Luke Perry, Jed Allan, Denise Dowse, Joe E. Tata, and David Gail. In one of her last podcast episodes, Doherty expressed her wishes for her remains to be mixed with those of her dog and her father.