Shannen Doherty expressed her desire to be a mother before passing away

Shannen Doherty, known for her roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, passed away at the age of 53 on Saturday, July 13. 

Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Doherty had been open about her journey, including her aspirations for motherhood. In a January episode of her podcast Let's Be Clear, she candidly discussed her attempts to conceive with her ex-husband before her cancer relapse in 2019. 

Despite undergoing multiple rounds of IVF, Doherty halted the process due to menopause and ongoing health challenges, which included a mastectomy in 2016.

Following a period of remission, her cancer returned in 2019, progressing to metastatic stage 4 by 2020. Throughout her illness, Doherty remained resilient, reflecting on life and love. 

In 2023, after her split from Kurt Iswarienko, she began exploring new relationships and hinted at the possibility of adopting or becoming a mother figure to close friends' children.

In her own words, Doherty expressed ambivalence about motherhood but remained hopeful about clinical trials that could potentially extend her life. 

She cherished time spent with loved ones, including Chris Cortazzo's children and those of her friend Sarah Michelle Gellar, who praised Doherty's support during challenging times.

Doherty's death was confirmed by her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane, who highlighted her role as a beloved family member and friend. The actress passed away surrounded by loved ones, including her dog Bowie.