Shannen Doherty, 'Beverly Hills 90210' and 'Charmed' Star, dies at 53 after battle with cancer

Shannen Doherty, the actress renowned for her roles in "Beverly Hills, 90210" and "Charmed," passed away on July 13 at the age of 53 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer. Doherty’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed her death in a statement, noting, “On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie.”

Doherty gained fame in 1990 as Brenda Walsh on Fox’s "Beverly Hills, 90210." The show, which ran until 1996, became a cultural phenomenon and catapulted Doherty to stardom. Despite her success, she faced significant media scrutiny and left the series after four seasons amid reports of friction with other cast members. Doherty returned for the 2008 reboot "90210" and the 2019 revival "BH90210."

Following her departure from "Beverly Hills, 90210," Doherty starred in "Charmed," playing Prue Halliwell. She appeared in the show’s first three seasons before her character was written off. Doherty also directed three episodes of the series.

Doherty’s career began early, with a role on "Father Murphy" at age 10, followed by a part in "Little House on the Prairie." Her film credits include "Heathers," "Girls Just Want to Have Fun," "Mallrats," and "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back." She also appeared in TV shows such as "North Shore" and "Riverdale," and produced reality shows like "Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty."

Diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2015, Doherty announced remission in 2017, but the cancer returned by 2019 and spread. Despite her illness, she continued to work in TV movies and hosted the podcast "Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty," where she candidly discussed her career and health challenges. In June 2023, she revealed she was undergoing radiation treatment for cancer that had spread to her brain.

Doherty was married three times, most recently to photographer Kurt Iswarienko, with whom she filed for divorce in 2023.