Shannen Doherty Dies at 53
Shannen Doherty, the actress best known for her starring roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, has died. She was 53. Doherty’s death was confirmed in a statement to People…
Shannen Doherty, the actress best known for her starring roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, has died. She was 53.
Doherty's death was confirmed in a statement to People from her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane. She said, "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."
Sloane continued, "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 first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She went into remission in 2017, but in 2019, the cancer returned. In 2020, Doherty announced the cancer had evolved into metastatic stage 4. In June 2023, Doherty shared the cancer had spread to her brain, which was treated with surgery to remove a tumor from her brain.
Doherty's first major acting role came in 1982 when she played Jenny Wilder for 18 episodes on Little House on the Prairie. Her next big role came in 1985 in the movie Girls Just Want to Have Fun alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Helen Hunt. In 1988, she played Heather Duke in the black comedy Heathers alongside Winona Ryder and Christian Slater.
Then, in 1990, Doherty became a major star thanks to Beverly Hills, 90210. The popular Aaron Spelling teen soap opera made stars out of its entire cast, which featured Jason Priestley, Luke Perry, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling and Gabrielle Carteris.
Doherty played Brenda Walsh for four seasons on the series, but would return in many guest appearances. She would also reprise the role in the 2008 reboot series simply titled 90210.
Doherty's next major television role came via another Aaron Spelling show: Charmed. For three seasons, she played Prue Halliwell, the oldest of three witch sisters alongside Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs.
Doherty would revisit Brenda Walsh again in 2019 in BH90210. The show featured the Beverly Hills, 90210 actors playing fictionalized versions of themselves in a meta take on actors reuniting for a show reboot. During the making of the show, Doherty's cancer returned, but she hid it from her castmates due to the sudden death of Luke Perry in March 2019.
She told 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."
We had to say goodbye to many people in 2024 from the worlds of entertainment, sports, politics and beyond.
Among the untimely deaths in 2024 was actor Carl Weathers. The actor best known for playing Apollo Creed in the Rocky franchise died on February 1 at the age of 76.
Toby Keith was another major death in 2024. The country star died on February 1 at age 62 following a battle with stomach cancer. Countless artists from the country world shared tributes to Keith. Among them was Reba McEntire, who shared, "Toby and I are both from Oklahoma and very proud of our Oklahoma heritage. Toby worked very hard to make a mark in the country music business and did a great job doing that. I am very proud of him, and I hope he rests in peace. I was very honored to get to work with Toby and be a part of the era of country music he was in. We’ll sure miss him."
Another heartbreaking loss this year was Maggie Smith. The acclaimed British actress died at age 89. Her incredible career earned her numerous awards, including two Academy Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards.
Shannen Doherty was another big loss in 2024. Doherty died at age 53 following a public battle with cancer. She, of course, starred in Beverly Hills, 90210, which is still considered one of the most iconic teen television shows of all time.
Scroll through the gallery below to see the musicians, celebrities and other cultural figures we've lost in 2024.
Quincy Jones
Tom Cooper/Getty Images for Global Down Syndrome FoundationMaggie Smith
John Phillips/Getty Images for BFIDonald Sutherland
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesCarl Weathers
Jesse Grant/Getty Images for DisneyLOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA - FEBRUARY 28: Carl Weathers attends the Mandalorian special launch event at El Capitan Theatre in Hollywood, California on February 28, 2023. (Photo by Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney)
Kris Kristofferson
Rick Diamond/Getty ImagesJohn Amos
Craig Barritt/Getty Images for Time Warner Inc.Liam Payne
Gareth Cattermole/Getty ImagesGlynis Johns
Daily Express/Getty ImagesWelsh actress Glynis Johns enters a taxi at London Airport, UK, 15th May 1966. (Photo by Daily Express/Getty Images)
Shannen Doherty
Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hallmark ChannelJames Earl Jones
Kevin Winter/Getty ImagesPete Rose
Mark Lyons/Getty ImagesDr. Ruth Westheimer
Rachel Murray/Getty Images for HuluRichard Lewis
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - JULY 27: Comedian/actor Richard Lewis hosts the Video Software Dealers Association's award show at the organization's annual home video convention at the Bellagio July 27, 2005 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Phil Donahue
Allen Berezovsky/Getty ImagesRichard Simmons
Moses Robinson/Getty ImagesToby Keith
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty ImagesAUSTIN, TEXAS - OCTOBER 30: Toby Keith performs onstage during the 2021 iHeartCountry Festival Presented By Capital One at The Frank Erwin Center on October 30, 2021 in Austin, Texas. Editorial Use Only. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for iHeartMedia)
Shelley Duvall
Mark Renders/Getty ImagesLouis Gossett Jr.
Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TCMHOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA - APRIL 13: Special Guest Louis Gossett Jr. speaks onstage at the screening of 'A Raisin in the Sun' at the 2019 TCM 10th Annual Classic Film Festival on April 13, 2019 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Charley Gallay/Getty Images for TCM)
Terri Garr
Newsmakers/Getty ImagesO.J. Simpson
Steve Marcus-Pool/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - OCTOBER 2: O.J. Simpson leaves court after closing arguments for his trial at the Clark County Regional Justice Center on October 2, 2008 in Las Vegas, Nevada. Simpson and co-defendant Clarence "C.J." Stewart are standing trial on 12 charges, including felony kidnapping, armed robbery and conspiracy related to a 2007 confrontation with sports memorabilia dealers in a Las Vegas hotel. (Photo by Steve Marcus-Pool/Getty Images)
Phil Lesh
Michael Buckner/Getty ImagesDickey Betts
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Webster PRNASHVILLE, TN - MAY 19: Recording Artist Dickey Betts at the press confrence for the Gibson Custom Southern Rock tribute 1959 Les Paul at the Gibson Guitar Factory on May 19, 2014 in Nashville, Tennessee. (Photo by Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Webster PR)
Susan Buckner
David Livingston/Getty ImagesMorgan Spurlock
Jemal Countess/Getty Images for BFCA and BTJADavid Soul
Keystone/Getty Images2nd November 1976: Film, TV star and soul singer David Soul sits in a radio studio to broadcast an interview. (Photo by Keystone/Getty Images)
Jesse Jane
Ethan Miller/Getty ImagesLAS VEGAS - JANUARY 10: Adult film actress Jesse Jane arrives at the 26th annual Adult Video News Awards Show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center January 10, 2009 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
Aston Barrett
Stephen Lovekin/Getty ImagesNEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 27: Musician Aston "Family Man" Barrett of The Wailers performs at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on December 27, 2011 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Wayne Kramer
Donna Ward/Getty ImagesNEW YORK - APRIL 17: Wayne Kramer of MC5 performs as part of the 10th Anniversary Benefit Supporting Road Recovery at the Nokia Theater in TImes Square on April 17, 2008 in New York City. (Photo by Donna Ward/Getty Images)
Leon Wildes
Joe Corrigan/Getty ImagesNEW YORK - SEPTEMBER 25: Attorney Leon Wildes attends the "LENNONYC" premiere during the 48th New York Film Festival at Alice Tully Hall, Lincoln Center on September 25, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Joe Corrigan/Getty Images)
Joyce Randolph
Gabe Palacio/ImageDirect/Getty ImagesJoyce Randolph, "The Honeymooners", at the TV Land and Nick at Nite Upfront in "The Bat Cave" on Broadway in New York City on April 24, 2002. photo by Gabe Palacio/ImageDirect
Mary Weiss
Ron Case/Getty ImagesThree members of the singing group the Shangri-Las (previously the Bon Bons) on a visit to London. Extreme left and right sisters Margie and Mary Anne Ganser (1947 - 1971) and in the centre Mary Weiss whose sister Betty the fourth member of the group stayed at home in the USA because of illness. (Photo by Ron Case/Getty Images)
Shifty Shellshock
Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Rockefellas StudioNorman Jewison
Jerod Harris/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CA - APRIL 13: Norman Jewison arrives at AMPAS Presents 'Perfect Choice: The Art of the Casting Director' at Samuel Goldwyn Theater on April 13, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jerod Harris/Getty Images)
Dexter Scott King
Erik S. Lesser/Getty ImagesATLANTA, GEORGIA - JANUARY 20: Dexter Scott King, son of slain civil rights leader Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., speaks during the Martin Luther King Jr. Commemorative Service at the Ebenezer Baptist Church January 20, 2003 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Erik S. Lesser/Getty Images)
Paul Di'Anno
Robert Ellis/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesMelanie
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesAmerican singer and songwriter Melanie Safka posed on 20th March 1971. (Photo by Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
Melinda Wilson
Jason Merritt/Getty ImagesBEVERLY HILLS, CA - JANUARY 10: Musician Brian Wilson and Melinda Ledbetter attend the 73rd Annual Golden Globe Awards held at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 10, 2016 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Mike Pinder (R)
Theo Wargo/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of FameCLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 14: John Lodge and Mike Pinder of The Moody Blues attend the 33rd Annual Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony at Public Auditorium on April 14, 2018 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Theo Wargo/Getty Images For The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame)
JD Souther
Rick Diamond/Getty Images for Americana MusicTito Jackson
Marcus Ingram - ABA /Getty ImagesSteve Albini
Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for FYF
