Shannen Doherty, 'Beverly Hills 90210' star, dies at 53

Actress Shannen Doherty, renowned for her roles in 'Beverly Hills 90210' and 'Heathers', passed away at the age of 53, her publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed. Doherty succumbed to cancer on Saturday, July 13, following a prolonged battle with the disease, as reported by People magazine.

Doherty first faced breast cancer in 2015, undergoing a mastectomy, and in 2020, she disclosed in a Good Morning America interview that her condition had become terminal, describing it as "a bitter pill to swallow."

In June 2023, Doherty shared a poignant Instagram post revealing that cancer had spread to her brain, alongside a video of her receiving treatment, expressing her palpable fears.

Beginning her career at a young age, Doherty appeared in notable roles such as 'Father Murphy', 'Little House on the Prairie', 'The Secret of NIMH', and 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun' - all before turning 15.

In 1988, she starred in the cult classic 'Heathers' alongside Winona Ryder. Although not initially a commercial hit, the film later gained acclaim as one of the best high school movies ever made. Doherty also made a cameo appearance in its television adaptation's pilot.

Two years later, she achieved widespread fame as Brenda Walsh in the hit series 'Beverly Hills 90210', which garnered over 21 million viewers by its fourth season. Reflecting on the show's success in 1992, Doherty remarked, "We get accosted in malls... Basically, it takes over your life."

While she departed the series before its fifth season, Doherty returned for the 2008 reboot and the 2019 meta-series 'BH90210', portraying a fictionalized version of herself.

Doherty also found success in the supernatural drama 'Charmed', where she starred for three seasons and directed several episodes. Her film credits include 'Mallrats' and 'Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back', collaborations with filmmaker Kevin Smith.

Amid her health struggles, Doherty's resilience and occasional controversies shaped her public image. Labeled by People magazine as the "iconic Hollywood bad girl of the 90s", Doherty defended herself against such portrayals, asserting in 1992, "If you consider 'difficult' being a strong woman who sticks up for herself, yeah, I admit to it."

In 2010, she reflected on her reputation, stating, "I have a rep. Did I earn it? Yeah, I did. But, after a while you sort of try to shed that rep because you’re kind of a different person. You’ve evolved and all of the bad things you’ve done in your life have brought you to a much better place."

Her passing marks the end of a career that spanned decades and left an indelible mark on television and film.

[Information sourced from The Guardian]