Shannen Doherty, known for Charmed, 90210 roles, dead at 53
Famous actress Shannen Doherty, who starred in popular TV series such as Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, passed away on Saturday at the age of 53 after battling cancer.
"It is with great sadness that I announce the death of actress Shannen Doherty," stated her publicist, Leslie Sloane. "She was a beloved daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, and was surrounded by her family and her dog, Bowie, during her final moments."
Doherty had a career of more than 40 years as an actress. She became famous for her role as Brenda Walsh in four seasons of the TV show 90210. The show focused on a group of teenagers from Beverly Hills dealing with love and family problems.
Ms. Doherty received nominations for various awards for her performance on the show.
Afterwards, she starred as Brenda in a 2008 remake of the show, portraying her character's journey as she evolved into a successful stage performer.
The performer found out she had breast cancer in March 2015 and had surgery to remove her breast, as well as radiation and chemotherapy. She shared in 2017 that she was cancer-free, but sadly the illness came back in 2019.
She was honest about her fight against cancer, sharing updates on social media. In a video posted on Instagram in June 2023, she revealed that the cancer had reached her brain. Last autumn, she made it known that she is determined to continue fighting the illness, even though it has now spread to her bones.
"I still have more life to live. I still have more love to give. I still have more things to create," she told People magazine in November 2023.
Originally from Memphis, Ms. Doherty began her acting career at a young age. She acted in various TV shows such as Voyagers, Our House, and Father Murphy before landing the role of Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie at just 11 years old.
She landed her first big movie part in 1985, three years later, when she starred in Girls Just Want to Have Fun. The film also featured Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt.
In 1988, Ms. Doherty starred as Heather Duke in the famous teenage movie Heathers, appearing alongside Winona Ryder, Lisanne Falk, and Kim Walker.
The young actress found it challenging to cope with her early fame and often got into trouble while working on the set of 90210.
"I was really lost at that time, unsure of my own desires, and the spotlight was overwhelming," she expressed. "I didn't always deal with it in the best way."
She went on to appear in Charmed, a television series about three witch sisters.
Ms. Doherty also appeared in North Shore, which takes place in a hotel in Hawaii, and the quirky comedy Mallrats.
The actress had been through two marriages before settling down with her current husband, photographer Kurt Iswarienko, in 2011.
During the 2010s, she tried something new by taking part in reality television shows like Dancing With The Stars and the American version of Strictly Come Dancing on BBC.
Ms. Doherty was a dedicated advocate for animal rights. Her partially autobiographical book Badass, which came out in 2010, inspired young women to embrace life with boldness and self-assurance.
