Shannen Doherty: the tragic story of her death at 53

An icon of film and television from the 80s through the 2000s, Shannen Doherty has passed away at the age of 53.

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty," her publicist, Leslie Sloane said, confirming the death of the popular actress.

"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. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace."

In March 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. The following year, she underwent a mastectomy and received chemotherapy and radiotherapy treatments.

In 2017, she announced that her cancer was in remission. However, the cancer returned two years later.

In 2020, she revealed in a Good Morning America interview that her diagnosis was terminal, describing it as "a bitter pill to swallow."

Doherty initially kept her cancer relapse a secret, but later revealed it to her co-star Brian Austin Green during the filming of the 90210 reboot, 'BH90210'.

More recently, Doherty had been openly documenting her cancer battle on social media. The actress had posted videos of herself with the hashtag #cancerslayer, potentially in reference to one of her most popular on-screen characters.

In November 2023, Ms Doherty announced that she had been diagnosed with stage four breast cancer, which had metastasized to her bones and would eventually make its way into her brain.

In an interview with People magazine, Doherty expressed her determination to continue with her treatment, stating, "I'm not done with living. I'm not done with loving. I'm not done with creating."

On TV, Doherty was a popular face and won the hearts of many - from cult TV shows to comedies and historical dramas.

Shannen Doherty played the role of Heather Duke, a member of the high school clique, in the 1988 cult classic teen drama 'Heathers.' In the film, she starred alongside Winona Ryder, Lisanne Falk, and Kim Walker. Remakes and musicals have been made of the story.

In 1990, Shannen Doherty landed the lead role of Brenda Walsh in the popular TV series 'Beverly Hills, 90210'.

Shannen Doherty starred in the television series 'Charmed', which followed three powerful witch sisters. Doherty played the eldest sister, Prue Halliwell, alongside Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs. In addition to her acting role, Doherty also directed several episodes of the show during the 2000 and 2001 seasons.

Image: Spelling Television / The WB

Shannen Doherty was known as the original 90s 'strong female' actress and then in 2010, released 'B.dass', empowering young women to live with 'attitude and confidence'.

In 1993, Doherty married Ashley Hamilton, the son of actor George Hamilton, just two weeks after meeting him but they divorced after only six months. In 2002, Doherty married her second husband, Rick Salomon, and annulled this marriage only nine months later.

She found more stability in her third marriage to photographer Kurt Iswarienko, whom she wed in 2011 and remained with until her death - although Variety reports they had filed for divorce in 2023.

For many, Shannen Doherty was a friendly and safe face on the screen. The public may not have known the true suffering of this actress unless people followed her on social media. When receiving treatment, she posted "My fear is obvious" in a caption. Sadly, her fears came true - and we can only wish the late actress peace and tranquility away from the pain and anguish of this deadly disease.

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