Shannen Doherty, one of the most popular cast members of the hit TV series Beverly Hills 90210, died on July 13, 2024, at 53. In March of 2015, she was diagnosed with stage III breast cancer. On February 4, 2020, Shannen revealed that her cancer had returned after she had previously thought her cancer was in remission.
When her cancer returned, it had metastasized in her liver and had advanced to stage IV. In June 2023, the cancer had spread to her brain and was terminal, and she continued to deteriorate. Finally, in July of 2024, Shannen Doherty died in her home in Malibu and was cremated.
Shannen Doherty! The Podcast Discussion
Jennie Garth (known as Kelly Taylor on the series) finally has Jason Priestley (known as Brandon Walsh on the series) as a guest on her podcast, “I Choose Me,” on the April 30, 2025, episode. They reflect on the loss of Shannen Doherty. Jennie asks Jason, “Where are you in the grief process? “I don’t feel like I’ve gone anywhere,” she says. Jason says, “I’m in the acceptance part of it.”
Jason mentioned he made sure to spend time with Shannen Doherty when she was sick and told her all of the things he wanted to tell her, and Shannen did the same with Jason before she passed. He felt that doing that gave him some closure. The loss of Shannen Doherty, as well as Luke Perry, who was also on the show and portrayed (Dylan McKay) on the series, also died at a very young age. These unexpected deaths have brought the cast members of 90210 closer together than ever.
As a guest on Jennie’s podcast, Jason also mentioned that he felt Shannen was like a sister to him. They worked together and spent time together for over 10 years, and were brother and sister on the show (twins no less). In a way, they were brother and sister. Jennie and Jason talked about different episodes of the show, how many people it reached, and how popular it still is today with new generations.
Jennie and Jason even discussed Luke Perry’s passing during the podcast. Jennie, Luke, Shannen, and Jason were all very close, and the original cast continues to remain close and keep in touch. It was a very heartfelt and emotional podcast, especially since Shannen lost her life at such a young age.
Final Thoughts
Shannen Doherty died far too young. She battled her illnesses from 1999 until she died in 2024. She had a series of different diseases she tried to overcome, but in the end, her body just wasn’t strong enough to handle them. She will always be known as Brenda Walsh from “Beverly Hills 90210” and Prue Halliwell in the series “Charmed”.
Shannen is primarily remembered in 90210 as Brenda Walsh, the shy girl with a twin brother who moved from Minneapolis, Minnesota, to Beverly Hills, California. She even made a cameo on the six-episode sequel BH90210, which debuted in August 2019. You can stream the sequel, BH90210, on Roku, Paramount Plus, and Amazon Prime.
The show features the actors playing themselves, intertwined with them playing their original characters from 90210. The series delves into the actors’ experiences, which include their careers, relationships, and the lasting impact of their time on the original show.
To some of us, she will always be remembered as Brenda Walsh; other generations might remember her as another character in the many magnificent roles she portrayed. She was a fantastic actress and always looked for her next role. She fought hard in her battle to win her sickness, but unfortunately lost. An aspiring actress lost far too soon.
