Actress Shannen Doherty was best known for her long-running acting career and her most notable roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” and “Charmed,” among other TV shows and movies. Doherty had acted since she was a child and was lucky enough to work with the acclaimed actor Michael Landon for her first few acting roles.
Her first role was on the show “Father Murphy” before Landon cast her in another show of his, “Little House: A New Beginning,” which was a spin-off of “Little House on the Prairie.” Doherty posted a throwback photo of herself to Instagram in June 2021 and revealed a bit about those roles. She wrote in the caption:
“Father Murphy. My first job with the amazing Michael Landon producing. … Michael soon after cast me in Little House New Beginnings where I had the privilege of him directing me many times. #buckteeth”
Her 1989 portrayal of rebellious teenager Heather Duke in the cult film “Heathers” brought her significant attention and showcased her potential as an actress. Eventually, her acting career took off when she was cast as Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” from 1990 to 1994. Although her time on the show was marred with controversy, Shannen further solidified her place in television and pop culture when she starred in “Charmed.”
In 2015, Shannen was diagnosed with breast cancer. Although it went into remission, the cancer returned. She revealed on “Good Morning America” in February 2020 that she had not “processed it” and that it was “a bitter pill to swallow.”
Sadly, on July 15, 2024, Shannen passed away in Malibu, California, after a long battle with breast cancer that metastasized to her brain and bones. The actress’ mother, Rosa Doherty, finally spoke about her daughter’s death. Keep reading to learn more about Shannen’s passing and her mother’s statement.
Shannen’s publicist, Leslie Sloan, confirmed the 53-year-old actress’s death in a statement.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress, Shannen Doherty,” the statement read, as obtained by Variety. “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 November 2023, Shannen spoke to People and declared she didn’t “want to die.”
“I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better,” Shannen told the publication. “I’m just not — I’m not done.”
Shannen revealed in June 2023 on an Instagram post that the cancer had already spread to her brain, and she had undergone surgery in January 2023 to have it removed.
“He had to get removed and dissected to see his pathology. It was definitely one of the scariest things I’ve ever been through in my entire life,” Shannen told People.
Despite the setback, Shannen raised funds and awareness for cancer research when she was still alive. She made sure that people with terminal illnesses, like her, can still contribute to society.
“People just assume that it means you can’t walk, you can’t eat, you can’t work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age —’You’re done, you’re retired,’ and we’re not,” she continued. “We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forwad.
In July 2024, Shannen’s death rocked Hollywood after her long battle with her illness. The Mirror reported that Shannen’s last public appearance was with her friend Chris Cortazzo and her mother Rosa in Malibu, California, on June 16, 2024.
Shannen spoke fondly of her mother, Rosa, who she had turned to for support during her battle with cancer.
“I don’t think that there’s a decision that I make that I don’t take [my mom] into consideration. I love her, and I am so incredibly grateful to her for being an amazing mother,” she told People. “I take my brother into consideration and his children, my dog, my animals.”
According to the actress, she drew her tenacity and strength from her mother, who was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm when she was nine years old.
“I come from a woman who was determined,” Shannen said. “She impressed that upon me as a very young child like, ‘You don’t give up. You just have to work hard at it.’ I think I was always a fighter. I was raised that way to be very strong and that I could do anything that I put my mind to.”
On July 15, 2024, Rosa finally broke her silence and addressed her daughter’s death in a statement obtained by People.
“She is my beautiful girl and my heart,” Rosa described her daughter, Shannen. “Our family wants to thank everyone who has shown love and support for our Shannen throughout her life. We are truly appreciative.”
Shannen had previously posted photos of herself and her mother on Instagram. Her close friend Cortazzo, whom she was last seen with publicly, remembered the late actress on Instagram.
“My beloved friend and heart. What memories and laughter we have shared through this journey. You were my protector, my best friend and my divine wife. My heart is shattered. I love you forever my sweet dear friend. Your Christopher,” he captioned the video.
