Shannen Doherty bio, age, cancer, height, husband, children, career path

Biography of Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty was an American actress with dozens of film and TV credits to her name. But most fans remember her as witch Prue Halliwell in the hit series "Charmed" from 1998 to 2001. In early 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer and fought the disease courageously until it progressed to a terminal stage with brain metastases in 2023. In July 2024, the actress passed away.

Childhood and Teenage Years

Shannen Maria Doherty was born on April 12, 1971, in the American city of Memphis, Tennessee, to a mortgage consultant and a beauty salon owner. With Scottish, English, and Irish roots, she seemed destined for the strong-willed characters she'd later portray. As a young child, though, she was gentle and easygoing, loved horseback riding, and adored dogs.

Everything changed when her family—including older brother Sean—moved from small-town Memphis to glamorous Los Angeles. New friends encouraged her to join a local theater group. Though her parents weren't thrilled with the idea, Shannen insisted and threw herself completely into this new world.

She started performing in amateur productions, quickly found her footing on stage, and soon felt like a real star. At eleven, she landed a role on the TV show "Father Murphy." Though she appeared in just two episodes, she impressed TV producers and soon landed a role in the beloved series "Little House on the Prairie."

Acting Career

By nineteen, Doherty had already racked up appearances in a dozen TV shows and saw herself as a seasoned, accomplished actress. So when producer Aaron Spelling offered her the role of Brenda in "Beverly Hills, 90210," she practically expected it. Little did Shannen know what real fame would bring—or how dramatically it would change her life.

Fans couldn't separate the actress from her character, following her everywhere. This drove Shannen crazy—she was nothing like the sweet, modest Brenda. To prove her point, Doherty went completely off the rails: showing up late to shoots, throwing wild parties, then driving drunk afterward. She infuriated the crew, stirred up scandals, and became tabloid gold. The last straw was a revealing photoshoot for "Playboy" magazine, after which Spelling decided to part ways with the unruly actress.

Shannen Doherty in the series "Beverly Hills, 90210"

But a few years later, he brought Shannen back for a starring role in "Charmed," acting like their past drama was water under the bridge. The show was a hit: audiences worldwide became obsessed with the adventures of three witch sisters Prue (played by Shannen), Phoebe (Alyssa Milano), and Piper (Holly Marie Combs).

But Doherty only made it through three seasons: feuds with co-star Alyssa Milano, DUI charges, and constant tabloid drama took their toll. Milano flat-out refused to work with the troublemaker anymore. Forced to choose between Alyssa and Shannen, producers picked Alyssa, leaving writers to kill off Prue. The writers had demon Shax kill off the character, bringing in half-sister Paige (Rose McGowan) as her replacement.

Doherty tried to spin it like leaving was her idea all along. "I accomplished everything I wanted with this show. After three years and 66 episodes, the producers graciously gave me the chance to explore other projects," she told reporters. Later, she admitted she just couldn't deal with Milano anymore.

Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano never got along

After that, she appeared in several more shows, but none could match the massive success of Spelling's dramas. In 2008, Shannen came back for the "Beverly Hills" reboot, guest-starring in several episodes.

Charmed, Prue's Death Scene

Shannen Doherty's Personal Life

Despite fans' adoration and worldwide fame, Doherty's personal life was far from peaceful. She first married musician and aspiring actor Ashley Hamilton at 22. They separated a year later after constant arguments fueled by his jealousy over her massive popularity. Her second marriage to Rick Salomon was even shorter—just seven months—ending when he had an affair with Paris Hilton.

In 2011, Shannen's father passed away. She found comfort when she married photographer Kurt Iswarienko. He seemed like reliable support for Doherty through the tough challenges ahead. When Shannen was first diagnosed with cancer, he was by her side, and they celebrated her remission together.

But when her cancer returned, Kurt suddenly pulled away. Shannen discovered he'd been cheating with another woman for almost two years—right before her brain tumor surgery. At first, she was too shocked and "numb" from medication to act decisively, but she eventually filed for divorce. Her agent stated:

Divorce was the last thing Shannen wanted. Unfortunately, she felt she had no other choice

Cancer, Last Years of Life, and Death

In March 2015, the actress was diagnosed with breast cancer. She underwent several courses of chemotherapy, but the cancer progressed, and she had to undergo a mastectomy.

In 2015, Shannen Doherty was diagnosed with cancer

After her mastectomy, the star refused to give up. She turned to social media to support others facing similar battles, lifting their spirits during the grueling journey to recovery.

The tumor metastasized to her lymphatic system. Shannen underwent another round of chemotherapy, followed by radiotherapy, enduring every stage of this brutal fight, where hair loss became the least of her worries.

Despite the illness, the actress continued to act: in the horror film "Bethany," "Undateable John," and the action movie "Fortress."

In April 2017, the actress announced her cancer was in remission. "The next 5 years will be crucial – during this period, the tumor might return." But fate had other plans. In February 2020, the actress revealed that in 2019 she was diagnosed with stage four, the last stage of breast cancer.

Despite her health condition, she didn't refuse to participate in the reboot of the series "Beverly Hills, 90210." Instead, she was determined to return as Brenda, no matter what, to inspire viewers battling cancer.

I will work 16-hour days so people can see and say: 'If she can work, then other patients with the last stage of cancer can too.'

In October 2020, Shannen revealed to journalists that she was preparing for the end, recording heartfelt video messages for her loved ones. Her husband shared that despite everything, Shannen remained incredibly strong, determined not to let her family see her break.

The cast of the reboot of "Beverly Hills, 90210"

In January 2023, doctors found metastases in her bones and brain. Time was running out. Shannen admitted she had accepted thoughts of death but refused to give up:

I'm not done with life. I'm not done with love. I'm not done creating. I'm not finished yet, and I hope to change things for the better. I'm just not finished.

Shannen Doherty passed away on June 13, 2024. Just weeks before her death, she'd started another round of chemotherapy. She passed peacefully, surrounded by her closest loved ones and her beloved dog Bowie.

Shannen Doherty shortly before her death

The tragic news was announced by the actress's representative, Leslie Sloane:

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. 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 bequeathed to be cremated, with her ashes later mixed with her father's and her dog's ashes, then scattered over Malibu, where they "spent many wonderful times."

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Photos: Shannen Doherty