Shannen Doherty Dies at 53: Remembering the Star of '90210' and 'Charmed'

Los Angeles, CA — Shannen Doherty, the actress who came to fame in the early '90s through Beverly Hills, 90210 and later became a fan favorite in Charmed, has died at the age of 53. Her publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed that she passed away on Saturday, July 13, surrounded by close family and her dog, Bowie.

Shannen had been living with cancer for nearly a decade. Diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, she opened up about the experience with honesty and courage—never pretending to have all the answers, but always willing to speak the truth.

“Why me?” she once said in an interview. “But then again, why not me? Cancer doesn’t choose based on fairness.”

After a brief remission, her cancer returned in 2017. By 2020, she shared that it had advanced to stage four. Even then, she stayed active in her work and rarely sought pity, choosing instead to focus on what mattered most: her relationships, her work, and her sense of purpose.

A Career That Spanned Decades

Shannen became a cultural fixture in 1990 when she took on the role of Brenda Walsh in Beverly Hills, 90210. The show launched a new kind of teen drama, and Shannen's character—sharp, emotional, and complicated—was a big part of that. Though she left the series after four seasons, she returned for a few episodes in the 2008 reboot, giving fans a chance to reconnect with a character who had once felt like part of the family.

She followed up with another major role in Charmed, playing Prue Halliwell, the oldest of three sisters who discover they’re witches. The show was a hit, and Shannen’s portrayal of the strong, protective older sibling won her a new generation of fans. She also directed several episodes, showing another side of her creativity.

Life Outside the Spotlight

Away from scripted television, Shannen explored new territory with shows like Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty and even competed on Dancing with the Stars in 2010. She was never afraid to try something different or be seen in a new light.

In 2019, she returned once again for the BH90210 reboot. At the time, she chose not to tell most of her castmates that her cancer had returned. That decision became even more personal after the sudden passing of Luke Perry, her longtime friend and co-star. Her appearance in the reboot was, in part, her way of honoring him.

What She Leaves Behind

Shannen Doherty wasn’t just an actress—she was someone who faced difficult things head-on. Whether it was a tense Hollywood set, a public health crisis, or her own fears, she never pretended to be anything but human.

“I’m not done,” she once said. “I’m not done living, not done loving, not done creating.”

That honesty is what so many admired about her. She gave people permission to speak more openly about illness, fear, and strength—not in a grand, performative way, but in the way real people do.

She may be gone, but her presence is still felt by the fans who grew up watching her, the colleagues who worked beside her, and the people who saw their own stories in hers.