Shannen Doherty, a beloved actress known for her roles in the popular television shows 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and 'Charmed,' passed away on July 13, 2024 at the age of 53 after a long battle with breast cancer. Doherty began her acting career at a young age, making her debut on the television series 'Father Murphy' when she was just ten years old. She gained fame for her role as Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1990 to 1994. After leaving the show due to reported on-set tensions, Doherty reunited with Aaron Spelling for the series Charmed from 1998 to 2001, where she played Prue Halliwell. She left her role after three years and went on to appear in various movies and TV shows including The Rendering, View of Terror, CW reboot 90210, and cameos on Riverdale. Doherty's costars and friends paid tribute to her following her death. Gabrielle Carteris, Jason Priestley, Brian Austin Green, and Rose McGowan all shared their condolences on social media.
Doherty's acting career was not the only thing that defined her. She was also known for her passion for animal rights activism. Doherty kept working despite her illness but never regained the big deal status she had during those years in the early '90s. Her difficult on-set behavior and reported tensions with colleagues led to an anti-fan club being formed against her, which was aptly named 'I hate you' club.
Doherty's death was a shock to many, as she had kept her health struggles private until her recovery. She went public with her cancer battle in March 2023 and revealed the spread of her cancer to her brain in June 2023. Her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed the actress's death on July 14, stating that she was surrounded by loved ones at the time.
Olivia Munn, another actress who had bonded with Doherty over their cancer battles, mourned her loss and shared a touching tribute on social media. Munn recalled how Doherty reached out to her when she was first diagnosed and how they had formed an instant friendship.
Doherty's legacy will live on through her work in television and film, as well as through the memories of those who knew and loved her.