Beverley Hills 90210 star Shannen Doherty passed away at 53, after a long battle with cancer – and the final photo of the star in public said a lot about her courageous battle.
News of her passing was announced on July 14 when her publicist Leslie Sloane shared a statement to People.
“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,” she told the outlet.
“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.”
Doherty was last pictured in public just shy of a month before her passing.
The star was spotted leaving a Malibu restaurant with two friends including Chris Cortazzo after a lunch at Kristy’s waterfront restaurant.
Cortazzo had his arm draped around Doherty’s shoulder, with the Charmed star’s baker boy hat and thoughtful expression the only signs of her gruelling cancer treatment.
Doherty had been determined to live as full as life as possible as her fight continued.
Poignantly, the star once said cancer had changed her life for the better, as it exposed people who were not there for her.
“It’s made me a better human being. It stripped away all the walls and the barriers. It exposes,” she said.
Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, announcing in 2017 that she was going into remission.
In 2019 the cancer unfortunately returned and the actress shared that she had stage 4 cancer in February 2020.
“It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways,” Doherty told ABC News in 2020.
“I definitely have days where I say, ‘Why me?’ And then I go, ‘Well why not me? Who else? Who else beside me deserves this?’ None of us do.”
Since the news of her passing many former co stars and fans of the actress have shared their heartbreak on social media.
Jason Priestley, who played her twin brother on Beverly Hills, 90210 shared a sweet message on Instagram, “Shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of my friend Shannen. She was a force of nature and I will miss her. Sending love and light to her family in this dark time.”
“Shan. My sister… You loved me through everything. You were a big part of my understanding of love. I’ll miss you more than I know how to process right now. Thank you for the gift of you,” another 90210 co star and ex of Doherty, Brian Austin Green wrote on his Instagram story.
The pair dated briefly while Dohery starred in Charmed, but Doherty admitted on an April episode of Tori Spelling’s MisSPELLING podcast that they were better off as friends, “There was no fireworks because we were so close and we had known each other since we were little kids essentially.”
Gabrielle Carteris, who played who played Andrea Zuckerman in the 90s show referenced another late 90210 co star Luke Perry in her post.
“So young – so sad, May you RIP Shannon. I know Luke is there with open arms to love you.”
Perry played Doherty’s main love interest on the show. He suddenly passed away in 2019 after having a stroke.
Doherty shared her shock during an appearance on Good Morning America in 2020, “It’s so weird for me to be diagnosed and then somebody who was, you know, seemingly healthy to go first, It was really, like, shocking.”
Alysa Milano, opened up about her “complicated” relationship with her former Charmed co star to Entertainment Weekly on July 14th.
“It’s no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but at its core was someone I deeply respected and was in awe of,” she said. “She was a talented actress, beloved by many, and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”
Olivia Munn also shared a sweet tribute to the actress, who she reached out to after her own breast cancer diagnosis.
“I am absolutely heartbroken over the passing of Shannen Doherty,” she wrote on her Instagram story.
“When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I remembered how she bravely let the world into her journey and reached out to her. We became instant friends- which I honestly couldn’t comprehend at times because watching her on 90210 was everything to me when I was 10. We bonded through a shared battle and a desire to help other women,” she added.
Munn continued to explain that her last text from Doherty was one asking if she can do anything for her, “Shannen was offering her support even though she was in the final stage of fighting this horrific disease,” she added.
Another 90210 co star Jennie Garth, who played Doherty’s best friend on the show shared her own thoughts on Instagram along with two sweet throwback pictures.
“I am still processing my tremendous grief over the loss of my long time friend Shannen, the woman I have often described as one of the strongest people I have ever known,” she wrote.
“Our connection was real and honest. We were so often pitted against each other but none of that reflected the truth of our real relationship which was one built on mutual respect and admiration. She was courageous, passionate, determined and very loving and generous. I will miss her and will always honor her deeply in my heart and in my memories. My heart breaks for her family and Bowie and all the people who loved her.”
Tori Spelling shared a selfie with Doherty along with heartbreak emojis and the words, “I don’t have outward words yet…but WE knew and that’s what matters.”
Rose McGowan, who replaced Doherty on Charmed called the actress a “A true lion heart,” in the comments of her last Instagram post.
“Love to your mama, your dog and all who love you fiercely. Love to Holly [Marie Combs]. Love to all of your legions of fans that I know you loved right back. If there was anyone who looked squarely at death and said no thanks, it was you dear Shannen. My head bows to you brave one. All love forever,” she added.
