Obituary: Shannen Doherty

The television series Beverly Hills 90210, centered on the lives of young, privileged Los Angelenos, first aired in 1990 with low ratings and general indifference. As it tackled serious issues relevant to its young audience, it evolved into a cultural phenomenon through the decade. Dubbed by the New York Times as the inventor of the teen soap opera, the show achieved massive popularity.

Reaching US audiences of over 21 million, Beverly Hills 90210 propelled its main cast members—Luke Perry, Jason Priestley, and Shannen Doherty—into global stardom.

Shannen Doherty, who has died aged 53 of cancer, portrayed Brenda Walsh. Brenda’s family, including her twin brother Brendan (played by Priestley), moves to California from Minnesota in the first episode. Enrolling at West Beverly Hills High, Brenda quickly begins breaking rules, obtaining a fake ID to enter a nightclub, and dating bad boy Dylan (played by Perry) against her father’s wishes.

Doherty thought the show played an important role. In a 1992 interview with Rolling Stone, she said, “We represent situations to our audience, and I don’t think we take a side. It’s something that brings families together.”

Her sense of responsibility towards her audience significantly influenced the material. In one episode, where her character wanted to lose weight, she persuaded the producers to remove the scenes, fearing negative impacts on viewers struggling with body image issues.

She stayed on for four seasons, leaving in 1994 amid controversy. Charles Rosin, a series showrunner, revealed in 2008 that Doherty’s habitual lateness and overall unhappiness led to her departure. The cast had grown frustrated, and the producer Aaron Spelling chose not to renew her contract.

Doherty felt misunderstood, stating, “If you consider ‘difficult’ being a strong woman who sticks up for herself, yes, I admit to it. I’m open to different ideas, but if you get on my bad side and don’t treat me with as much respect as you treat a man, you’ve got a problem.”

The series continued for six more seasons without her. She returned for the 2008 revival, 90210, and participated in the 2019 show BH90210, which took a postmodern approach by having the original cast play exaggerated versions of themselves trying to reboot the show. Doherty had initially been reluctant but joined to honor Perry, who passed away in March 2019.

Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Doherty moved to southern California at the age of six. She attended the Lycée Français in Los Angeles. As a child, she successfully convinced her parents to take her to acting auditions, landing her first television role at age 10 on Father Murphy.

The following year, she joined the final season of Little House on the Prairie and three subsequent TV specials. She had a recurring role on Our House (1986-88) and appeared in films like Heathers (1989) but struggled to find work until she auditioned for Beverly Hills 90210.

After leaving 90210, Doherty starred in Kevin Smith’s comedy Mallrats (1995), which found a cult following despite initial poor reception. She achieved further success with the series Charmed, playing a witch who battles evil, and directed several episodes.

Her personal life included marriages to actor Ashley Hamilton and poker player Rick Salomon, both ending in divorce. Her third marriage, to Kurt Iswarienko in 2011, was detailed in the reality TV show Shannen Says. Doherty filed for divorce from Iswarienko last year.

First diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Doherty went into remission in 2018. In 2020, amidst publicizing her legal battles with insurers over wildfire damage to her house, she revealed her cancer had returned and was terminal. In 2023, she announced the cancer had spread to her brain.

She is survived by her mother, Rosa, and her older brother, Sean.

• Shannen Maria Doherty, actor, born 12 April 1971; died 13 July 2024.

Source: The Guardian