Shannen Doherty dead at 53 following cancer battle that saw disease spread to her bones
BEVERLY Hills, 90210, and Charmed actress Shannen Doherty has died at the age of 53.
Doherty died after her nine-year battle with breast cancer that saw the disease begin to spread to her bones last year.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty,” Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane said in a statement to People.
“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,” Sloane continued.
Doherty’s death comes after she opened up about her cancer diagnosis with People just last November.
The Charmed star revealed that after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, the disease had now spread to her bones.
“I’m not done with living,” Doherty heartbreakingly told the magazine.
“I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better.
“I’m just not – I’m not done.”
CANCER BATTLE
After her initial diagnosis, Doherty went into remission in 2017 after undergoing chemotherapy.
However, two years later, Doherty announced that the cancer had returned.
In 2020, she revealed that she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer.
In June 2023, she emotionally revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain, and she had to undergo a procedure to remove the tumor.
“When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then, ‘Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4?’ that leads you to look for the bigger purpose of life,” she told the magazine.
Shannen Doherty Cancer Battle
- In 2015, Shannen revealed she was diagnosed with breast cancer and underwent chemotherapy, radiation, a mastectomy, and reconstructive surgery.
- Two years later, the actress said she was in remission.
- In 2020, Shannen revealed her cancer had returned as stage 4.
- In early 2023, Shannen underwent surgery to have a tumor removed from her head after the cancer had spread to her brain.
- In November 2023, the actress revealed the cancer had spread to her bones.
Despite her yearslong health battles with the disease, Doherty bravely welcomed death, proclaiming she wasn’t afraid of dying.
“I think I would be afraid of death if I wasn’t a good person, but I am,” she told People.
“I’m not afraid of dying, I just don’t want to die, like, ever.”
HOLLYWOOD BREAKTHROUGH
Doherty broke into the world of Hollywood as a child actor on the TV series Little House on the Prairie.
Although she only appeared in four episodes of the show’s final season, Doherty’s career continued progressing.
She appeared in the animated film The Secret of NIMH and an episode of the TV series Airwolf.
In 1985, she starred as Maggie Malene in the teen movie Girls Just Want to Have Fun alongside Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker.
Her breakout role came in 1990, when she was cast to play the role of Brenda Walsh in the popular series Beverly Hills, 90210.
She earned a nomination for Best Young Actress Starring in a TV series at the Youth in Film Awards.
Following her exit from the show, Doherty starred in several television movies, including Mallrats, Christmas Caper, and the series Charmed.
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