After years-long cancer battle, famous “Beverly Hills, 90210” actress Shannen Doherty passed away at 53

California – Widely known for her performances in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” Shannen Doherty has passed away at 53 following a lengthy cancer fight, according to her spokesperson. Surrounded by her family and beloved dog, Bowie, Doherty, who first shared her breast cancer diagnosis in 2015, succumbed to the disease on Saturday, July 13.

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Doherty’s longtime publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed in an exclusive statement to PEOPLE on Sunday, July 14.

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in March 2015. She had a setback when the cancer returned and progressed to stage 4 by 2019 following entering into remission in April 2017. In 2020, Doherty openly revealed her illness to the public, stating that the disease had spread to her bones first, then to her brain. In June 2023, she disclosed having undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor she had named Bob.

Doherty kept up her acting profession and stayed an outspoken supporter of cancer awareness throughout her battle.

“People just assume that it means you can’t walk, you can’t eat, you can’t work. They put you out to pasture at a very early age —‘You’re done, you’re retired,’ and we’re not,” she said, adding “We’re vibrant, and we have such a different outlook on life. We are people who want to work and embrace life and keep moving forward.”

Doherty shot to prominence as Brenda Walsh in “Beverly Hills, 90210,” which she landed on at the start of the program in 1990. She left the program in 1994 but went back to the part in the 2008 series relaunch. Doherty also made a big impression as Prue Halliwell in “Charmed,” acting as well as directing many episodes.

Doherty’s resiliency was clear in her latter years as she attempted to show that life with terminal cancer still offers opportunity for major accomplishments.

“When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then ‘Why did my cancer come back? Why am I stage 4?,’ that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life,” she said.

Doherty’s death coincides with her open disclosures about her health issues, particularly in an ABC News “Good Morning America” 2020 interview with Amy Robach in which she first revealed her stage 4 cancer diagnosis. Regardless of Doherty’s health issues, she took part in the “Beverly Hills, 90210” revival to remember her late co-star Luke Perry and show that people with terminal illnesses can still be energetic and influential.

Shannen Doherty leaves a legacy of legendary performances, a message of hope and determination and unwavering bravery against sickness. Her family, grieving the death of a loving daughter, sister, aunt, and friend, has asked for privacy during the difficult time.