By Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – American actor Shannen Doherty, finest identified for her position as highschool pupil Brenda Walsh on hit Nineteen Nineties tv drama “Beverly Hills, 90210,” has died at age 53 following a years-long battle with most cancers.
Doherty, who had been public about her remedy for breast most cancers, died on Saturday, publicist Leslie Sloane stated in an announcement on Sunday.
“The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and good friend was surrounded by her family members in addition to her canine, Bowie,” Sloane stated within the assertion. “The household asks for his or her privateness presently to allow them to grieve in peace.”
Doherty disclosed in 2015 that she was present process remedy for the illness. In 2023, she had a mind tumor eliminated and revealed that the most cancers had unfold to her bones.
The actor, who had beforehand starred within the film “Heathers,” gained widespread recognition on “90210” for her portrayal of Brenda, an honor roll pupil from Minnesota who struggled to slot in along with her classmates within the rich zip code.
Her character on the present turned entwined in a love triangle with Dylan McKay (Luke Perry) and Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth). In actual life, Doherty clashed with Garth and different castmates and left “90210” throughout its fourth season in 1994. The present continued via 2000 with out her.
In 1998, “90210” producer Aaron Spelling solid Doherty in supernatural collection “Charmed” as Prue Halliwell, the oldest of three sisters with magical talents. The present was successful but additionally topic to experiences of behind-the-scenes turmoil.
Individuals journal known as Doherty “the enduring ‘dangerous lady’ of the nineties,” citing her fame for partying, turning up late on units and feuding with actors – and her bosses.
In 2023, on a podcast known as “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty,” the actor stated she took “full accountability for her actions” and acknowledged her habits “would get somewhat carried away” when she was frequenting nightclubs in her early 20s.
She additionally stated she spoke up greater than different ladies working in tv on the time, telling Spelling and others when she thought a script wanted enchancment.
“I used to be raised to have an opinion, and that my opinion ought to be valued, so I simply stored on urgent up in opposition to that machine, up in opposition to males who did not actually need to hear my opinion,” she stated on the podcast.
Later, “I discovered the straightforward artwork of diplomacy. I discovered that there may be a nicer technique to say some issues,” she stated.
The actor reprised the position of Brenda for “90210” reboots in 2008 and 2019 and stated she and Garth had reconciled after the 2 turned adults and left their teenage conflicts behind.
Doherty’s co-stars paid tribute to her on Sunday.
“She was a drive of nature and I’ll miss her,” Jason Priestley, who performed Doherty’s brother on “90210,” stated on Instagram. “Sending love and lightweight to her household on this darkish time.”
“Charmed” actor Rose McGowan stated Doherty “had the guts of a lion.”
“My head bows to this warrior on her journey residence,” McGowan wrote on X.
Doherty was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on April 12, 1971, and started performing as a toddler. At age 11, she performed Jenny Wilder within the last season of TV basic “Little Home on the Prairie.”
In 1988, Doherty was solid in the dead of night comedy movie “Heathers,” which went on to change into a cult basic.
Doherty was married 3 times, most just lately to photographer Kurt Iswarienko. She filed for divorce from him in 2023.
(This story has been corrected to repair the spelling of Sloane in paragraph 3 and so as to add “actor” to paragraphs 5 and 16)