Shannen Doherty, widely known for her groundbreaking role as Brenda Walsh on the iconic teen drama “Beverly Hills, 90210,” has passed away at the age of 53.
Her publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed in a statement that Ms. Doherty succumbed to breast cancer, which had re-emerged in 2020 following a period of remission that began in 2017. Ms. Doherty passed away on Saturday, July 13, surrounded by her loved ones and her dog, Bowie.
Born on April 12, 1971, Ms. Doherty started her career as a child actor, debuting on the Merlin Olsen drama “Father Murphy” in 1981 and later joining the cast of “Little House on the Prairie” as Jenny Wilder in its final season.
Her early career saw her guest-starring on various TV shows such as “Airwolf,” “Highway to Heaven,” “Life Goes On,” “The New Leave It to Beaver,” and “21 Jump Street.” She also secured a starring role in the drama “Our House” alongside Wilford Brimley. Ms. Doherty’s film career included roles in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and the cult classic “Heathers.”
Ms. Doherty’s fame skyrocketed with her role in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which premiered on Oct. 4, 1990. The show’s success was largely driven by the intense on-screen chemistry between Ms. Doherty’s character, Brenda, and her brooding boyfriend Dylan, played by the late Luke Perry.
After departing “Beverly Hills, 90210” after its fourth season, Ms. Doherty continued her career with roles in TV movies and films like “Mallrats.” She reunited with Aaron Spelling in 1998 for “Charmed,” playing Prue Halliwell. However, she left the show after three seasons amid reports of tension with co-star Alyssa Milano.
The actress’s later career included appearances in the series “North Shore,” hosting the first season of “Scare Tactics,” and reprising her role as Brenda in the “Beverly Hills, 90210” reboot and the 2019 series “BH90210.” She also participated in reality shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” although she and her partner, Mark Ballas, were the first eliminated.
Ms. Doherty’s personal life included three marriages: to Ashley Hamilton in 1993, which ended in divorce in 1994; to Rick Salomon in 2002, which was annulled within a year; and to Kurt Iswarienko in 2011, from whom she filed for divorce in 2023.
In recent years, Ms. Doherty was candid about her battle with breast cancer. She first announced her diagnosis in 2015, went into remission in 2017, but revealed in 2020 that the cancer had returned and reached stage 4. She used her platform to raise awareness, posting photos to encourage others to get mammograms and discussing her experience openly on her podcast.
