Shannen Doherty’s Final Struggle: Fighting to End Her Marriage

Shannen Doherty passed away peacefully at her Malibu home last weekend, surrounded by loved ones. Close friends were immediately concerned that her estranged husband might attempt to gain control of her estate. This worry stems from Doherty’s claims that her husband, Kurt Iswarienko, had been unfaithful to her.

Just hours before her death, their divorce was nearing finalization. Doherty, who was 53, succumbed to a nine-year battle with breast cancer that had eventually spread to her brain and bones. Her friends were particularly pained that she did not get her final wish to die as a divorced woman.

Court documents indicate that Doherty signed off on the divorce filing on Friday, July 12. Unfortunately, it was not finalized by the time of her death on the following Saturday night. A select group of people were aware that her health had deteriorated significantly in recent weeks. Hollywood attorney Laura Wasser worked diligently in the week leading up to Doherty’s death to expedite the divorce process.

A close friend remarked on Wasser’s efforts, saying she was “valiant” in trying to finalize the divorce. Friends were deeply angered by Iswarienko, considering him a “cheater” whom Doherty believed had affairs with multiple women, adding to her struggles during her cancer battle. Tara Furiani, a friend, criticized Iswarienko for causing “profound” pain and suffering to Doherty during her final days.

Reports reveal that a family law judge granted Doherty’s last wish by finalizing her divorce on Monday, just two days after her death. Normally, a mid-divorce death case would move to probate court, but probate judges do not finalize divorces. This exception in Doherty’s case was notable.

In recent court documents, Doherty accused Iswarienko of withholding financial information and waiting for her to die to avoid giving her any money. She stated that his average annual earnings were significantly higher than hers in the last three years of their marriage.

Iswarienko’s attorney, Katherine Heersema, denied the claims that he was waiting for Doherty to die, stating that he wanted the best for her and for them both to move forward. Page Six reached out to Iswarienko for a comment, but there was no immediate response.

Doherty and Iswarienko were married in October 2011 after two years of dating. They separated in April 2023 when Doherty claimed Iswarienko was having an affair with his agent, Collier Grimm. On her podcast “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty,” she shared how she found out about the affair just before going into surgery to remove a brain tumor, describing the moment as deeply betraying.

Friends of Iswarienko disputed Doherty’s version of events, claiming the two had been living separate lives for two years prior to her surgery. They alleged Iswarienko was honest about his new relationship with Grimm during this time.

Doherty entered the public eye as a child actress and later gained global fame for her role as Brenda Walsh in “Beverly Hills 90210.” She was also known for her work in the TV series “Charmed,” alongside Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs.

Doherty had previously been married to Ashley Hamilton and Rick Salomon, expressing sorrow that another marriage had ended poorly. Despite these past relationships, she emphasized that she did not take full responsibility for the demise of her marriage to Iswarienko, noting the impact her cancer had on their relationship.

Doherty dealt with her initial breast cancer diagnosis in 2015 and entered remission in 2017. Sadly, the cancer returned at Stage Four in 2020. Last June, it was discovered that the disease had spread to her brain and bones, leading to a rapid decline in her health.

As her finances became strained, Doherty requested financial support from Iswarienko, citing extravagant expenses on his part while she faced mounting medical bills. She indicated that her income from her previous work, especially “Charmed,” would cease as the show was no longer available on major streaming platforms.

Despite these financial hurdles, Doherty was eventually granted several assets, including a Salvador Dalí painting and her Malibu home. She also received half of the licensing and syndication fees from Iswarienko’s photographic and video work.

Doherty spent her final moments surrounded by close friends and her beloved German Shepherd, Bowie. Her oncologist, Dr. Lawrence D. Piro, who was also a close friend, was with her, noting the comfort and love she experienced in her last hours. Piro reflected on how she wasn’t ready to leave because she cherished life despite her long and painful battle with cancer.

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Source: Page Six, TMZ