Shannen Doherty has passed away after a long and courageous battle with cancer. The beloved actress, known for her iconic roles in shows like Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed, was 53 years old. Her death was confirmed by her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Sunday, July 14.
“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 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.”
Shannen Doherty’s battle with cancer began in 2015 when she was first diagnosed with breast cancer. In a candid interview with PEOPLE in November 2023, she opened up about her struggle with Stage 4 breast cancer, which had spread to her bones. At that time, she expressed her determination to keep fighting, saying, “I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better. I’m just not — I’m not done.”
Following her initial diagnosis in March 2015, Shannen experienced a brief period of remission in April 2017. However, the cancer returned in 2019, and by 2020, she publicly announced that she was battling metastatic stage 4 cancer. In June 2023, she revealed on Instagram that the cancer had spread to her brain, and she had undergone surgery in January to remove a brain tumor, which she had humorously named Bob.
“He had to get removed and dissected to see his pathology,” she told PEOPLE in November of that year. “It was definitely one of the scariest things I’ve ever been through in my entire life.”
Despite the challenges, Shannen remained steadfast in her determination to live life to the fullest and continue working. “People just assume that it means you can’t walk, you can’t eat, you can’t work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age — ‘You’re done, you’re retired,’ and we’re not,” she said. “We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forward.”
Her resilience and dedication to raising awareness and funds for cancer research were central to her mission. She wanted to show that people with terminal cancer still have much to contribute. “When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then ‘Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4?,’ that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life,” she said.
In a 2020 interview with Amy Robach for ABC News that aired on Good Morning America, Shannen shared her pragmatic approach to her diagnosis. “I definitely have days where I say, ‘Why me?’” she told Robach. “And then I go, well, ‘Why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this?’ None of us do.”
This interview marked the first time she publicly revealed that her breast cancer had returned as stage 4 after previously being in remission. “It’s going to come out in a matter of days or a week that I’m stage 4. So my cancer came back, and that’s why I’m here,” she said on Good Morning America. “I don’t think I’ve processed it. It’s a bitter pill to swallow in a lot of ways.”
In her 2023 PEOPLE interview, Shannen reflected on her love of life and gratitude for the time she had with her family, friends, and her beloved dog. “My greatest memory is yet to come,” she told PEOPLE. “I pray. I wake up and go to bed thanking God, praying for the things that matter to me without asking for too much. It connects me to a higher power and spirituality. My faith is my mantra.”
She explained that cancer had made her more aware of life and the world around her. “I know it sounds cheesy and crazy, but you’re just more aware of everything, and you feel so blessed. We’re the people who want to work the most, because we’re just so grateful for every second, every hour, every day we get to be here.”
Shannen Doherty’s legacy is one of courage, resilience, and an unwavering spirit. Her battle with cancer and her determination to live life to the fullest have inspired many. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and fans around the world.
