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Shannen Doherty — who played a Beverly Hills High student, a Heather and a Charmed student — died this week. In 2015, she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which spread to her brain in 2023. Friends and cast members expressed their sadness for one of the women who defined the ’90s. Holly Marie Combs, Doherty’s co-star in Enchanted and ally in the show’s long afterlife, said there was a hole in her heart. “My most ardent champion. My loyal protector. My best friend,” she wrote on Instagram. “You taught me the meaning of family. You were and will always be my sister. I love you.” Sarah Michelle Gellar, one of Doherty’s closest friends, wrote, “I keep reminding myself that it only hurts so much because there was so much love.”
Her Wild rats director called Doherty “an American icon” and claimed she broke the internet before the internet. Her on-screen brother, Jason Priestley, wrote, “She was a force of nature and I will miss her.” Many of these co-stars paid tribute to Luke Perry when he died suddenly of a stroke in 2019. Rose McGowan, who replaced Doherty in Enchanted, wrote that she had “the heart of a lion. Passion for the profession is often wrongly labeled as problems. Shannen was passion.”
A tribute from Fox Entertainment said the actress elevated the network with her craft. “All of us at Fox are mourning the loss of our friend Shannen Doherty and are grieving alongside her family, friends and fans,” Fox said in a statement. “We are grateful for Shannen’s undeniable talent and light, especially through her unforgettable, groundbreaking role in Beverly Hills, 90210the iconic series that cemented her place among television royalty and helped define the bold, provocative identity that Fox became known for. Though Shannen was far too young to leave us, her decades-long career carved out a legacy that will be remembered and celebrated forever.” Enchanted co-star Brian Krause simply wrote, “You showed me what strength is.” Below are more memories from Brian Austin Green, Gabrielle Carteris, Dan Savage and more.
This post has been updated.