Shannen Doherty’s passing has deeply shocked many. Despite her openness about her cancer diagnosis, her sudden death has caught everyone off guard.
On Saturday, Shannen Doherty’s longtime publicist Leslie Sloane issued a statement to People confirming the news.
“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.”
Last year, Doherty disclosed that her cancer had spread to her brain. The actress shared this emotional news on June 7 in a video posted on Instagram. In the video, dated January 12, 2023, Doherty could be seen undergoing radiation treatment.
“On January 5th, my ct scan showed Mets in my brain,” she detailed. “January 12, the first round of radiation took place.”
“My fear is obvious. I am extremely claustrophobic and there was a lot going on in my life. I am fortunate as I have great doctors like Dr Amin Mirahdi and the amazing techs at cedar sinai. But that fear…. The turmoil….. the timing of it all…. This is what cancer can look like.”
Doherty began her television career at the age of 11, starting with guest roles on Voyagers! and Father Murphy, both created and produced by Michael Landon. She later collaborated with Landon again when she portrayed Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie.
In the late 1980s, she made the transition to film and achieved prominence with her role in the 1988 film, Heathers. By 1990, she returned to television, starring as Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills 90210.
Following her initial success, she featured in numerous made-for-TV movies before landing a role in the popular series Charmed.
After Charmed concluded, she continued to pursue acting, although most of her appearances were on reality shows.
In late 2023, she launched her podcast titled ‘Let’s Be Clear.’ The podcast features interviews with various individuals, including former co-stars and industry colleagues. Her final Instagram post also coincided with her podcast.
In the video, she informs her followers about her cancer treatment plan, stating that she will undergo chemotherapy. ‘I have no idea how long I’m going to be on chemo for,’ she shares.
“I have no idea if it’s going to be three months, or if it’s going to be six months. Or if after three months it’s not working, if we’re going to change again. ‘That’s not something that I can predict. It’s not something my doctors can predict. It’s scary. It’s a big wake up call,” the continues.
But what may linger with fans is her next statement: “At the same time there is some positivity there, that because my molecular structure of my cancer cells changed recently, it means there’s a lot more protocols for me to try. For the first time in a couple of months I feel hopeful. Because there are so many more protocols now, whereas before I was hopeful but I was still getting prepared,” she shares.
Her optimism in the last video she shared, just two weeks before her passing, is truly heart-wrenching. One fan reflected on the video, saying, “I really thought she was doing ok. I saw her last podcast and she spoke about being hopeful….Then all of a sudden the cancer took over”
Another viewer remarked, “Breaks my heart that she had hope and was still fighting just a few weeks ago. She is an inspiration. ❤️”
Another supporter mentioned, “Watching her being so hopeful in this video broke me. I was so exited about her joining House of Halliwell podcast! Cannot imagine what her family is going through.”
Witnessing Shannen express such hope, only for her time to be cut short, left many devastated.