Actress Shannen Doherty succumbs to breast cancer at 53

By 
 July 15, 2024

Fans of 90s television were saddened this past weekend to learn that beloved star Shannen Doherty had died of breast cancer. 

According to Variety magazine, the 53-year-old actresses' death was announced in a statement released by her publicist Leslie Sloane.

Doherty began acting at age 10

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease," Sloane wrote.

"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," she added.

The publication noted that Doherty was originally from Tennessee but moved to Los Angeles as a child where she began acting at an early age.

Her first onscreen performance came at age 10 on the television show "Father Murphy," which led to a role the following year on "Little House on the Prairie."

Actress rose to fame on "Beverly Hill, 90210"

While Doherty later worked alongside veteran actor Wilfred Brimley on the show "Our House," her rise to fame began in 1990 when she landed the role of Brenda Walsh on "Beverly Hill, 90210."

The drama ran for a decade, following a group of young people from wealthy backgrounds as they attended high school and college. Doherty reprised her character for a reboot of the show in 2008 and again in 2019.

Doherty is also known for appearing on "Charmed" as Prue Halliwell, one of three witch sisters who embark on supernatural adventures.

In addition to acting on the program, Doherty also directed the episodes "Be Careful What You Witch For," "The Good, The Bad, and The Cursed," and "All Hell Breaks Loose."

Colleague remembers Doherty fondly

News of Doherty's death was quickly met with tributes online, including from actress Holly Marie Combs, who also appeared in "Charmed."

"There is a hollow in my chest and I can't seem to catch my breath. A part of me is missing even though I know exactly what you would say to me right now," Combs wrote in a social media post.

"I know exactly what you would tell me to do right now. I know your undying spirit will live in me and my kids who you loved as your own," she added.

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