Shannen Doherty, star of ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’, dies at 53 after cancer fight.

Shannen Doherty, an actress best known for her appearances on “Charmed” and “Beverly Hills, 90210,” has died from cancer. She was 53.

“The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie,” according to a statement. “The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”

Shannen Doherty has been outspoken about her health in recent years, following her diagnosis with breast cancer in 2015. In November, she revealed in a People magazine cover story that the disease had spread to her bones.

The actress played Prue Halliwell, one of the sisters with magical abilities on TV’s “Charmed,” and has been on “Little House on the Prairie,” as well as in the comedy “Mallrats” and “Heathers.”

Her major debut came on Fox’s teen serial “Beverly Hills, 90210,” where she played Brenda Walsh, a high schooler who, along with her twin brother Brandon (Jason Priestley), adjusts to life among the rich after their family relocates from Minnesota to California.

Following her diagnosis in 2015, Doherty informed USA TODAY the following year that the disease had spread to her lymph nodes. For a little while, it looked like Doherty was in the clear. She had a single mastectomy in 2016 and finished radiation and chemotherapy treatment in February 2017, announcing she was in remission two months later.

Then, in February 2020, Doherty reported that her breast cancer had spread to stage 4. In June 2023, she posted on Instagram that a CT scan from months before revealed that the cancer had spread to her brain, for which she was getting radiation. “My fear is obvious,” she stated in her message. “I’m claustrophobic, and there was a lot going on in my life. “The turmoil…the timing of it all…this is what cancer looks like.”

When she revealed in November 2023 that the cancer had gone to her bones, she hoped to eliminate the notion that she was powerless.

“People don’t know much about cancer.” I guess people assume that implies you can’t move, eat, or work. “They put you out to pasture at a very young age, saying, ‘You’re done, you’re retired,’ and we’re not,” she told People. “We’re dynamic, and we have such varied perspectives on life. We’re just glad for every second, hour, and day we get to spend here. We are folks that want to work, enjoy life, and move forward.”

Shannen Doherty made her start with early appearances on ‘Little House on the Prairie’ and ‘Father Murphy’

Rosa and John Thomas Doherty’s second child, Shannen Doherty, was born on April 12, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee. Her family moved to Los Angeles when she was seven. Just a few years later, Doherty landed her first acting job, appearing in two episodes of the 1981-83 Western drama “Father Murphy,” written by Michael Landon of “Little House on the Prairie” fame. In 2021, Doherty fondly remembered the employment by posting a photo of herself in costume on Instagram.

“We worked in Tucson, Arizona, in 100-degree-plus weather wearing buckskins and I loved every minute,” she captioned the photo of her younger self grinning. “It remains one of my fondest memories.”

Landon later cast Shannen Doherty as Jenny Wilder in the ninth season of the frontier drama “Little House,” a role she reprised in three television films. Doherty also achieved success on the big screen, with roles in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” (1985), a joyful adolescent dance film, and “Heathers” (1988), a caustic comedy co-starring Christian Slater and Winona Ryder.

The actress secured her spot in mainstream culture with ‘Charmed’ and ‘Beverly Hills, 90210’.

Shannen Doherty portrayed Brenda on “Beverly Hills, 90210” from 1990 to 1994. While there were suggestions that she was dismissed for her actions, executive producer Aaron Spelling denied those claims in a 1998 interview with the Los Angeles Times.

“I tell ya the truth, all those stories about Shannen were so overblown,” remarked Spelling, who died in 2006. “Was she late to the set a few times?” Yes, but who isn’t? Shannen did not get fired from ‘90210.’ She had gotten various TV movie proposals, and we sat down and discussed it before she made her selection.”

Spelling and Shannen Doherty reconnected in 1998 for “Charmed,” for which he served as executive producer, but she left after three seasons, and her character was killed off.

Although Shannen Doherty apparently feuded with her co-stars on both Spelling-produced programs, she told Parade in an interview promoting her 2010 book, “Badass: A Hard-Earned Guide to Living Life with Style and (the Right) Attitude,” that she was ready to put her old ways behind.

“I have a rep,” she said. “Have I earned it? Yes, I did. But, after a while, you strive to shake off that reputation because you’ve changed. You’ve changed, and all of the awful things you’ve done in your life have led you to a far better position.”

Since then, Doherty has been in other TV horror films, including “Satan’s School for Girls” (2000), “Witchslayer Gretl” (2012), and “Blood Lake: Attack of the Killer Lampreys” (2014).

In 2008 and 2009, Doherty reprised her role as Brenda in many episodes of the CW’s “Beverly Hills” revival “90210.” She also participated in the short-lived show “BH90210” (2019), in which her former co-stars portrayed parodies of themselves. The show was canceled after six episodes.

Shannen Doherty battled breast cancer, while her ‘90210’ co-star Luke Perry died of a catastrophic stroke.

Shannen Doherty worked despite her health issues. During an interview on “Good Morning America” in February 2020, she stated that she joined the cast in part to pay respect to Luke Perry, who portrayed Brenda’s love interest Dylan McKay and died on March 4, 2019, after a severe stroke. Shannen Doherty also wanted to set an example for people fighting illness.

“I imagined… people would look at it and go, ‘Oh, my God, sure. “She can work, and so can other people with Stage 4 cancer,” she remarked. “Our life doesn’t end the minute we get that diagnosis.”

Shannen Doherty continued to work, appearing in television programs and films. She discussed her choice to continue performing in a Q&A with Variety published in October 2021.

“I couldn’t imagine not doing the things that I love in life,” she told me. “Whether it’s acting or directing, playing with my dog, horseback riding, or spending time with my family and friends. I can’t image being unable to perform any of these things. So when you can’t picture not doing things, you simply say, ‘Well, I’m going to keep doing it all!’ ”

Shannen Doherty was married to poker player Rick Salomon (2002 and 2003) and actor Ashley Hamilton (1993 and 1994), although she has voiced sorrow for both brief relationships.

“I probably shouldn’t have married the people I married,” she told The Washington Post back in 2011. “I haven’t exactly had the best radar for good men.”

She and photographer Kurt Iswarienko were married from 2011 to April 2023, when Doherty filed for divorce.

They did not have any children, which was due in part to Doherty’s dread of dying too young, she told Health in 2019.

“Will I endure five years? Ten years? “I certainly wouldn’t want my 10-year-old to bury his mother,” she added. “I have always desired a child. But perhaps I am destined to mother in a different way.”