‘90210’ and ‘Charmed’ Star Shannen Doherty Dies at 53

Shannen Doherty, the actress whose film and television work brought some of the most iconic TV characters of the 1990s to life, has died at the age of 53 after a prolonged battle with cancer.

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Doherty’s publicist said in a statement to People. “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.”

Born in Memphis in 1971, Doherty first gained attention as a child actress playing Jenny Wilder in 18 episodes of “Little House on the Prairie.” In the 1980s, she appeared in various guest roles on television before gaining mainstream prominence with her role as Heather Duke in the 1989 cult classic “Heathers,” alongside Wynona Ryder and Christian Slater.

Shortly after, Doherty landed the role that would define her career in the eyes of many fans. Starting in 1990, she portrayed Brenda Walsh, a teenager from Minnesota whose life drastically changes after moving to California, on “Beverly Hills, 90210.” While she left the iconic teen drama after four seasons, she revived the role in the 2008 CW reboot “90210” and appeared as herself in the 2019 meta comedy “BH90210,” which featured the show’s original cast members playing fictionalized versions of themselves while working on a “Beverly Hills, 90210” reboot.

Doherty’s 1990s roles also included Kevin Smith’s “Clerks” follow-up “Mallrats” and a series of made-for-TV movies. In 1999, she made a significant return to television with “Charmed.” In the series, Doherty starred alongside Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs as a trio of powerful witches known as The Charmed Ones. The show, which ran for eight seasons on The WB, solidified Doherty’s reputation as one of her generation’s most beloved TV stars.

In March 2015, Doherty announced that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. Despite her ongoing battle with the disease, she continued to work and openly discuss her health struggles until her passing.

Source: People