This is to confirm that Shannen Doherty has died after many years of living with cancer. She was 53 years old.
“With heavy hearts, I have to say that actress Shannen Doherty has died.” Her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed to PEOPLE on Sunday, July 14, “On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease.”
“Her loving family, friends, sister, daughter, and aunt were all around her, along with her dog, Bowie.” “The family wants to be left alone right now so they can grieve in peace,” Sloane said.
In 2015, a star from Beverly Hills, 90210 was diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite an initial recovery in 2017, her cancer returned in 2019. By 2020, she revealed it had progressed to metastatic stage 4. In June 2023, she shared that the cancer had spread to her brain, leading to surgery.
In a candid interview with PEOPLE in November 2023, she discussed her Stage 4 breast cancer, which had metastasized to her bones. Expressing her determination, she said, “I still have life to live. I’m not done yet. I’m not done with hopefully making things better.”
In June 2023, the Beverly Hills, 90210 star revealed on Instagram that her cancer had spread to her brain, necessitating surgery five months earlier to remove a brain tumor she had named Bob. Reflecting on the experience in August 2023, she told PEOPLE, “He had to be taken out and cut up to see his pathology. That was without a doubt one of the scariest things I’ve ever been through.”
Despite her illness, the actress remained committed to her work. She noted that many people assume such a diagnosis means you can’t walk, eat, or work, often prematurely considering you retired. “We’re not retired,” she emphasized. “We’re full of life and have such a different outlook on it. As a group, we want to work, enjoy life, and keep moving forward.”
Shannen Doherty, determined to raise awareness and funds for cancer research, also wanted to demonstrate that people with terminal cancer still have much to offer. Reflecting on her journey, she often asked herself, “Why me? Why did my cancer come back?” She sought a bigger picture, pondering, “Why am I in stage 4?”
These sentiments echoed her 2020 interview with Amy Robach on Good Morning America, where she was equally candid. “I definitely have days where I say, ‘Why me?’ Then I thought, ‘Why not me?’ Who else? Someone else doesn’t deserve this but me. None of us do.” It was during this interview that Doherty first revealed her breast cancer had returned as stage 4 after being in remission.
In a candid interview on Good Morning America, Shannen Doherty shared, “I’ll be stage 4 in a few days or a week. My cancer came back, which is why I’m here. I don’t think I’ve thought about it. In many ways, it’s a bitter pill to swallow.”
Doherty first rose to fame as Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, which premiered in October 1990. She left the show after the fourth season in 1994 but reprised her role in the 2008 reboot of 90210. Doherty also became well-known for her role as Prue Halliwell in Charmed, where she starred and directed several episodes until she left at the end of the third season in 2001.
Throughout her career, Doherty worked steadily, even venturing into reality TV with Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty and as a contestant on Dancing with the Stars. She returned to her iconic role in the 2019 TV reboot of Beverly Hills, 90210, a decision she made after the sudden death of her co-star Luke Perry in March 2019.
Reflecting on Perry’s death, she said, “It’s so strange for me to be diagnosed and then someone who seemed healthy to go first. It was really, like, shocking.” Doherty saw the reboot as the least she could do to honor Perry and a chance to prove she could keep working despite her health challenges.
Shannen Doherty explained one of her motivations for participating in the 2019 reboot of Beverly Hills, 90210: “One of the reasons, along with Luke, that I did 90210 and didn’t really tell anybody [was] because I thought, people can look at that [as] people with stage 4 can work too.”
Her resilience and determination left a strong impression on her fellow actors. Brian Austin Green expressed his admiration for her strength to PEOPLE, highlighting how much he respected her.
Brian Austin Green praised Shannen Doherty, saying, “Shannen very much leads by example and shows people that even in the worst situations, you can be a good person and keep your head up. Yes, she is; she’s a wonderful person and an inspiration.”
In her 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Doherty spoke about her love for life, gratitude for each day, and hope for the future. She cherished waking up and spending time with her family, friends, and dog. “My best memory is still to come,” she said. “I thank God every morning and every night and pray for the things that are important to me without asking for too much. It helps me feel closer to God and my spiritual side. My faith is my mantra.”
This heightened her awareness of life and the world around her. “I know it sounds corny and crazy, but you feel so blessed and more aware of everything. We’re the ones who want to work the most because we’re so thankful for every second, hour, and day we get to be here.”
