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Actress Shannen Doherty has been open about her experience with breast cancer over the last few years as a way to help other people.
Shannen Doherty, actress known for her roles on “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” among others, has died at the age of 53 from breast cancer.
Doherty received her first diagnosis of breast cancer in 2015, then again in 2017 after she was in remission. In recent years, she has reported that the disease metastasized to her brain and then her bones.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty,” Leslie Sloane, her longtime publicist, confirmed in a statement to PEOPLE magazine on July 14. “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.”
Throughout her career, she appeared in approximately 20 films and 40 television shows. Doherty’s career started in 1982 on several shows like “Little House on the Prairie” and “Father Murphy.” Her first major film role was in the movie “Heathers” in 1988.
Doherty played the role of Brenda Walsh in the original “Beverly Hills, 90210” in October 1990, which she left in 1994. She played the role again during several guest appearances for the show’s reboot, “90210” in 2008. She also played the role of Prue Halliwell in the show “Charmed,” in addition to directing several episodes.
According to a story on E! News, she opened up about her experience with cancer as a way to inspire others.
“I want to be a beacon of light for other people, or at least somebody that people can relate to, and that we can have an honest conversation and talk about how hard it is,” Doherty said in an interview with ABC News. “I do want to be raw and honest about it.”
Several of her costars and colleagues have commented on Doherty’s death on social media.
Eric West wrote on X, formerly Twitter, “My heart is broken. It was a pleasure to meet Shannen Doherty while filming our movie Fortress a little over 2 years ago! She was full of warm energy and positive vibes. So young. So talented. May she rest well.”
“I’m so sad to hear this news,” Katie Couric wrote on Facebook.
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