Actress Passes Away at 53 After Battling Cancer

Shannen Doherty passed away at the age of 53 on Saturday, July 13, after several years of battling breast cancer. The news of her death was confirmed by her publicist, Leslie Sloane, in a statement released on Sunday. “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,” Sloane said, according to NBC News.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1971, Shannen Doherty began her acting career at a very young age. She secured her first TV roles as a guest star when she was just 11 years old, including a recurring role on the beloved historical drama Little House on the Prairie. Throughout the 1980s, she landed smaller roles in various projects and played a main character in the series Our House.

Shannen’s breakthrough role came in 1988 when she was cast as Heather Duke in the cult-classic film Heathers. Shortly after the film’s release, she gained national stardom for her role as Brenda Walsh on the popular teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. Her performance received critical acclaim, earning her award nominations before she left the show after its fourth season in 1994.

After departing from Beverly Hills, 90210, Shannen ventured into various roles in smaller films such as Mallrats and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. From 1998 to 2001, she starred as Prue Halliwell in the hit series Charmed. Additionally, she appeared in several reality TV shows, including Scare Tactics and Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty.

Shannen was married three times throughout her life. Her first marriage was to actor and singer Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994. She later married poker player Rick Salomon in 2002, but the marriage was annulled nine months later. In October 2011, she wed photographer Kurt Iswarienko, although the couple announced their plans to divorce in April 2023.

In 2015, Shannen publicly revealed that she had been diagnosed with breast cancer. After announcing her remission two years later, she disclosed in February 2020 that her cancer had returned. Throughout her battle with the disease, Shannen received considerable support from her friends and former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-stars. She frequently shared updates on her condition with her fans, including through her podcast called Let’s Be Clear.

Source: NBC News