TV actress Shannen Doherty, known for her roles in Beverly Hills: 90210 and Charmed, has died after a long cancer battle. She was just 53.
"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," her publicist said.
Doherty is most famous for playing Brenda Walsh in the iconic teen drama Beverly Hills: 90210. She appeared in the show's first four seasons, from 1990 to 1994.
The actress was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. In 2020, the cancer became terminal, and it spread to her brain last year.
In addition to 90210, Doherty was famous for playing Prue Haliwell, one of three witch sisters in the fantasy series Charmed.
The actress had difficult relationships with her colleagues, and she became known as Hollywood's "bad girl" in the 1990s.
"I was very confused back then about what I wanted for myself, and the attention was way too much," she said. "I didn't always handle it that well."
The tragic news has led to an outpouring of sympathy from her co-stars. Jason Priestley, who played Doherty's twin brother on 90210, said he was "shocked and saddened."
"She was a force of nature and I will miss her," he said. "Sending love and light to her family in this dark time."
Alyssa Milano, who starred alongside Doherty in Charmed, expressed admiration for the actress despite their "complicated relationship."
"She was a talented actress, beloved by many, and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her."
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Doherty took up acting at a young age after her family moved to Los Angeles. Some of her first roles included a part in Little House On The Prairie.
She had a notable role as Heather Duke in the 1988 cult comedy Heathers, starring Winona Ryder.
Until the end of her life, Doherty remained optimistic, telling a podcast last month she was focused on "living the best life that I can while I'm still alive."
"What's really beautiful about it is, I think you become so incredibly sensitive that your eyes are, like, wide open to everything around you, to people, to how they react, to what you can possibly do that's better for the world, like, what your purpose here is," she said.
RIP.
