Shannen Doherty Has Died After a Years-Long Battle With Cancer
Shannen Doherty died at just 53 years old.
Jul. 14 2024, Updated 10:44 a.m. ET
Fans of Shannen Doherty will remember that she was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She went into remission in 2017, but in 2020, she shared during an appearance on Good Morning America that her breast cancer was back.
Then, in June of 2023, Shannen shared another update that left people feeling heartbroken for the actor. The actor died on Saturday, July 13, 2024 after fighting cancer for many years.
Shannen Doherty provided health updates to the public throughout her cancer journey.
"It's a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways. I definitely have days where I say, 'Why me?' And then I go, 'Well, why not me? Who else besides me deserves this?' None of us do," she explained in 2020.
Shannen spotted the first signs around the same time as the shooting of the Beverly Hills 90210 reboot began. She went ahead with the work to prove that it's possible to live a full life with the condition — and to pay a tribute to her late co-star Luke Perry.
"I thought ... people can look at that and say, 'Oh my God, yeah. She can work and other people with stage 4 can work, too.' Our life doesn't end the minute we get that diagnosis," she added.
Shannen first shared the health update with her co-star Brian Austin Green.
Brian Austin Green was the only co-star Shannen deemed trustworthy enough to share the bad news with. He quickly became her pillar of strength throughout the 90210 shooting, always lending an ear when needed.
Ian Ziering, Shannen, and Brian Austin Green
"I had moments of great anxiety where I thought, 'I can't really do this,' and Brian was the one person of that group that knew that I told pretty quickly. Prior to shooting, he would always call me and say, 'Listen: Whatever happens, I have your back,'" she said.
"We were able to talk about Luke in a way that was very positive," she added.
In March of 2023, Shannen provided a happier update regarding her health.
In March of 2023, Shannen appeared at 90s Con as part of the Charmed panel, along with her co-stars Rose McGowan, Holly Marie Combs, Brian Krause, Dorian Gregory, and Drew Fuller.
When Shannen was asked how she was doing, she replied, "I'm feeling great, thank you! … This crowd is amazing!"
In June of 2023, Shannen revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain back in January.
"On January 5, my CT scan showed Mets in my brain," Shannen shared on Instagram on June 7, 2023. " [On] January 12, the first round of radiation took place. My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life. I am fortunate as I have great doctors like Dr. Amin Mirahdi and the amazing techs at Cedar Sinai. But that fear ... The turmoil ... the timing of it all ... This is what cancer can look like."
She didn't go into any further detail, but has shared in the past that she wants to share every part of her experience in order to educate the public. "My hope in sharing is that we all become more educated, more familiar with what cancer looks like," she wrote on Instagram in 2021. "I hope I encourage people to get mammograms, to get regular checkups, to cut through the fear and face whatever might be in front of you."
Shannen died after fighting cancer for many years.
Shannen's publicist, Leslie Sloane, provided a statement to People confirming the actor's death. ""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 said. "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."