Shannen Doherty, famed for her iconic roles in the hit series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and the witchcraft fantasy “Charmed,” has passed away at the age of 53 after a lengthy battle with breast cancer, which she was diagnosed with in 2015.
Table of Contents
Who was Shannen Doherty?
Shannen Maria Doherty was an American actress renowned for her role as Brenda Walsh in the TV drama “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which she starred in from 1990 to 1994. She also played a leading role in the television series “Charmed” from 1998 to 2001. Shannen was born on April 12, 1971, and died on July 13, 2024, at 53 years old.
Shannen Doherty’s early life
Shannen Maria Doherty was born in Memphis, Tennessee, to Tom and Rosa Doherty. Her father worked in a bank, and her mother owned a beauty parlor. Raised in her mother’s Southern Baptist faith, Shannen was of Irish and Native American descent.
Growing up in Memphis, she developed a passion for acting at an early age, which eventually led her to pursue a successful career in Hollywood. Her family’s support played a crucial role in nurturing her talents and aspirations.
Early Career and Rise to Fame
Shannen Maria Doherty, born April 12, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee, began her acting career at a young age. In 1982, she had guest spots on TV series such as “Voyagers!” and “Father Murphy,” the latter created and produced by Michael Landon. That same year, 11-year-old Doherty secured a recurring role as Jenny Wilder on “Little House on the Prairie,” where she appeared in 18 episodes during its final season.
Doherty also lent her voice to the animated film “The Secret of NIMH” (1982) and appeared in an episode of “Magnum, P.I.” and an early episode of “Airwolf,” earning a nomination for Best Young Actress: Guest in a Series at the 6th Youth in Film Awards in 1984. In 1985, she starred as Maggie Malene in the teen comedy “Girls Just Want to Have Fun,” alongside Helen Hunt and Sarah Jessica Parker. From 1986 to 1988, she played Kris Witherspoon in the family drama “Our House,” earning her a Young Artist Award nomination.
Prominent Roles and Continued Success
Doherty gained international fame in 1990 with her role as Brenda Walsh on the hit TV series “Beverly Hills, 90210,” produced by Aaron Spelling. The show depicted the lives of teenagers living in Beverly Hills, and Doherty’s portrayal of Brenda earned her Young Artist Award nominations in 1991 and 1992. She left the show after the fourth season in 1994.
Her first major film role was in the dark comedy “Heathers” (1988), which became a cult classic. In 1995, she starred in Kevin Smith’s film “Mallrats” and later made a cameo in “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.”
In 1998, Doherty starred as Prue Halliwell in the supernatural TV series “Charmed,” another Spelling production. She played the oldest of three witch sisters and directed several episodes during the second and third seasons. Doherty left “Charmed” in 2001 due to reported tensions with co-star Alyssa Milano.
Later Work and Projects
Throughout the 2000s, Doherty continued to appear in various TV movies, such as “Another Day” (2001) and “Hell on Heels: The Battle of Mary Kay” (2002). She hosted the Sci-Fi Channel’s candid-camera show “Scare Tactics” (2003) and starred in the prime-time soap “North Shore” (2004-2005). In 2006, she produced and starred in her reality show “Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty” on the Oxygen channel, which was canceled after one season.
In 2008, Doherty reprised her role as Brenda Walsh in the “90210” spin-off for The CW Television Network, earning $40,000–50,000 per episode. She appeared in several episodes, where her character was depicted as a successful theater actress and stage director.
In 2010, Doherty participated in the tenth season of “Dancing with the Stars” but was the first to be eliminated. That same year, she voiced the main characters in the Fearnet animated web series “Mari-Kari.”
In 2012, Doherty starred in the reality series “Shannen Says” on WE tv, which followed her and her fiancé, Kurt Iswarienko, as they planned their wedding. In 2014, she reunited with former “Charmed” co-star Holly Marie Combs for the road-trip reality show “Off the Map with Shannen & Holly,” which aired on Great American Country in 2015.
In 2016, Doherty joined the cast of the “Heathers” TV series adaptation, playing the mother of one of the new “Heathers.” The series faced delays and was eventually aired in October 2018. In 2019, she reprised her iconic role as Brenda Walsh in the six-episode sequel “BH90210.”
In 2021, Doherty starred in the film “Fortress,” released by Lionsgate Films. Despite being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, Doherty remained active in her career and continued to be an influential figure in the entertainment industry.
- RELATED: All about Barbara Walters Legendary News Anchor who Died at 93
- RELATED: Actress Kirstie Alley has died at 71
- RELATED: What Was Jon Landau’s Cause of Death?
Health Problems and Death
Shannen Doherty was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 1999. In 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer that had spread to her lymph nodes. Despite initial treatment and a period of remission in 2017, her cancer returned in 2020 as stage four. By 2023, it had spread to her brain and bones. Shannen Doherty passed away from cancer on July 13, 2024, at her home in Malibu, California, at the age of 53.
Personal Life
In 1993, Shannen Doherty was briefly engaged to Dean Jay Factor, who later filed a restraining order against her. She married Ashley Hamilton in October 1993, but they divorced in April 1994. In 2002, she married Rick Salomon, with the marriage annulled after nine months. On October 15, 2011, she married photographer Kurt Iswarienko.
In April 2023, Doherty filed for divorce from Iswarienko, finalized shortly before her death in July 2024.
Doherty lost her house to the Woolsey Fire in November 2018 and was a registered Republican. She expressed hope for mutual respect despite differing political views in a 2012 interview with Complex magazine.
FAQs About Shannen Doherty
- When was Shannen Doherty born and when did she die?
- Shannen Doherty was born on April 12, 1971, and passed away on July 13, 2024.
- What are Shannen Doherty’s most famous roles?
- Shannen Doherty is best known for her roles as Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and Prue Halliwell on “Charmed.”
- Did Shannen Doherty have any health issues?
- Yes, Shannen Doherty was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in 1999 and breast cancer in 2015, which eventually spread and led to her death in 2024.
- Who was Shannen Doherty married to?
- Shannen Doherty was married to Ashley Hamilton (1993-1994), Rick Salomon (2002, annulled), and Kurt Iswarienko (2011-2024).
- What political party did Shannen Doherty support?
- Shannen Doherty was a registered Republican. She expressed her views on political diversity within the entertainment industry in a 2012 interview with Complex magazine.
