Prior to her July 2024 death, Shannen Doherty made a name for herself in film and television.
The actress, born in Memphis in April 1971, started her career as a child star on Little House on the Prairie and went on to appear in the dark comedic film Heathers. Doherty’s fame continued to grow after she earned the part of Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210. After departing the series, she joined the cast of Charmed, portraying Prue Halliwell.
Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She announced she was in remission in 2017 but revealed in 2020 that the illness had returned.
Despite her diagnosis, she returned to film the revival BH90210. “I was hesitant for all different reasons — where I was at [in] my life [and] being unsure if I wanted to revisit 90210,” she explained to Us Weekly in August 2019.
However, former costar Luke Perry’s sudden death in March 2019 following a stroke gave her a purpose. “They were always going to, with or without me,” she acknowledged. “It came back around at a time where I thought it was the right time to do it, to honor a friend and be with my friends, recreating something that was special to America, special to the world and most importantly, special to all of us.”
Scroll to revisit Doherty’s career, personal life and health struggles through the years.
1982
The Tennessee native starred as Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie when she was just 11.
1985
Doherty appeared alongside Sarah Jessica Parker in Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
1986
She portrayed Kris Witherspoon on Our House from 1986 to 1988.
1989
Doherty showed off her dark side as Heather Duke in the cult classic film Heathers.
1990
The Mallrats actress landed her breakout role as Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210. She left the show after season 4 in 1994.
1993
Doherty married Ashley Hamilton in October 1993. The pair filed for divorce less than a year later in April 1994.
1998
The 90210 alum made the move to Charmed in 1998. She starred on the series as Prue Halliwell for three seasons before exiting in 2001.
2002
Doherty was married to Rick Salomon for nine months in 2002. The duo then annulled their union.
2011
The North Shore alum wed Kurt Iswarienko in October 2011.
2015
Doherty was initially diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015. She completed chemotherapy treatments in February 2017 and revealed in April 2017 that she was in remission.
2019
The former reality star joined her Beverly Hills, 90210 costars for the 2019 revival BH90210. The show ran for one season and was then canceled.
2019
Doherty appeared on Riverdale as a tribute to Perry in October 2019, playing a stranded driver whom his character sacrificed his life to save.
2020
She announced in February 2020 that she was diagnosed with stage IV breast cancer. “It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” she admitted on Good Morning America at the time.
Doherty shared an update on her health in a September 2020 Elle profile. “I’m not signing off,” she said. “I feel like a very, very healthy human being. It’s hard to wrap up your affairs when you feel like you’re going to live another 10 or 15 years.” She noted the following month in an Entertainment Tonight interview that her diagnosis was not “a death sentence.”
2022
Doherty posted a sweet selfie via Instagram in March 2022. The actress, sporting a white knit sweater, smiled for the photo in the foreground while her pup Mrs. Bowie looked directly at the camera.
2023
Doherty made headlines in March when expressing her anger about SAG-AFTRA’s health insurance, tagging organization president Fran Drescher in the post. Her commentary quickly went viral and prompted dozens of actors to back her up with their own stories.
“@Officialfrandrescher I’m curious for people like me who have worked since they were 10 and paid dues to @sagaftra how when we aren’t able to work for health reasons why our union abandons us,” the actress wrote via Instagram alongside a photo of herself receiving an IV treatment. “I think we can do better for all our members and I think you’re [the] person to do it.”
Doherty added: “Health insurance shouldn’t be based on annual income. It’s a lifetime contribution. And for me and many others, we have paid a lifetime of dues to only be canceled because we don’t meet your current criteria. Not OK.”
2023
Doherty reunited with her Charmed costars — as well as fangirl Aubrey Plaza — at ’90s Con in Connecticut in March.
The following month, Doherty filed for divorce from Iswarienko after 11 years of marriage.
“Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted. Unfortunately, she felt she was left with no other option,” the actress’ rep, Leslie Sloane, told People at the time, claiming that Iswarienko’s agent was “intimately involved” in their split.
2024
Doherty died on July 13 at age 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,” Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane told Us Weekly in a statement the following day. “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.”
