Shannen Doherty’s undeniable talent has been on display since she was young. She
started on Little House on the Prairie and then became known for roles on hits
such as Beverly Hills 90210 and Heathers. Her rising star was set off course
one day when she got a devastating diagnosis. She had breast cancer and,
throughout the years, it began to spread. Shannen never stopped working and using
social media to inspire others. She always provides regular updates on her health,
and her latest one is the most devastating yet Keep watching as Shannen Doherty shares her
heartbreaking cancer update. Her Early Life and Career
Shannen Doherty was born on April 12, 1971. She was raised in Memphis, Tennessee.
Her acting career began early. In 1982, she was only 11 years old when she earned guest
spots on series made by Michael Landon such as Voyagers and Father Murphy. That led to a
recurring role on Little House on the Prairie, and she appeared in all but four episodes.
Her next roles included voice work on 1982’s The Secret of NIHM,
a guest role on an episode of Magnum PI, and Emmy-nominated appearances on Airworlf in 1984.
She starred in 1985’s Girls Just Want to Have Fun and earned several Young Artist Award nominations
for her work on Our House from 1986-1988. Shannon shot to fame after 1988’s Heathers and
the series Beverly Hills 90210 from 1990-1994. A string of made-for-TV movies came after that, with
a few lead roles such as the 1995 film Mallrats and a cameo in Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.
Shannon got a lead role on TV again in 1998 in the series Charmed. It earned her two
Saturn Award nominations for Best Actress. E-Magazine placed her at #10 on their list
of 50 Most Wicked Women of Prime Time. AOL put her character on Charmed as the 10th greatest
witch in TV history. She even directed a few episodes during its second and third seasons.
Shannon left Charmed in 2001, and her character was written off.
The reported reason for her departure was tensions with her co-star Allyssa Milano.
Shannen has worked to extend her reach in the last 20 years. She hosted the 2003 show Scare Tactics
and was a regular on the series North Shore from 2004-2005. She even produced and starred
in her reality show Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty in 2006. It showed her helping guests
end relationships. None of them lasted long. Shannen has also returned to Beverly Hills.
She joined a 90210 spin-off and earned a reported $40,000-$50,000 per episode. She
played her original character in the first six episodes and then left but said she’d be open to
returning and did for three more episodes. The six-episode sequel BH90210 brought her
back as well. She wasn’t sure if she should do it, but co-star Luke Perry’s
sudden death from a stroke convinced her. She honored him again by appearing on Riverdale.
Shannen was the perfect fit for a project satirizing Beverly Hills culture and stereotypes
called Burning Palms. It premiered in 2008. Shannen also returned to another one of her
most famous projects, Heathers. A reboot with new characters
aired over five nights in October of 2018. Shannend continued to expand the types of
projects she’d be willing to take on in the 2010s. She appeared on Dancing With the Stars in its 10th
season in 2010. She danced two-time champion Mark Ballas but was eliminated in the second week.
She appeared in the animated web series Mari-Kari on June 3 of that year and a
reality series about her wedding to Kurt Iswarienko that premiered on April 10,
2012. Another reality series called Holly Marie Combs follows her and former Charmed
co-star Holly Marie Combs on a road trip. Viewers could vote on what they’d do at
each stop. Shannen is even a spokesperson for Education Connection and a supporter of the
Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. Shannen’s Reputation and Love Life
Shannen was engaged to Max Factor heir Dean Jay Factor for a short amount of time. He filed
a restraining order on May 25, 1993, alleging physical violence and threats. Her father claimed
he was the abusive one, but the couple split up. She married Ashley Hamilton on October 11,
1993. They filed for divorce in April of 1994. She married Rick Saloman in 2002,
but the marriage was annulled after nine months. She then married Kurt Iswarienko on October 15,
2011. They filed for divorce in April of 2023. A difficult love life was only part of what Gave
Shannen a negative reputation. It’d been festering since her work on Beverly Hills
90210. People magazine even called her the “iconic Hollywood bad girl of the nineties.”
Her feuds with costars covered the headlines from 1992-1994. It didn’t help that the zine Ben Is
Dead had a “Shannen Snitch Line” allowing anyone to bring them gossip about her. She was also
alleged to be a heavy partier who often showed up late. Physical violence would even break out
between her and the other cast and crew. 90210 producers say she was difficult to work with.
Shannen admits that she made mistakes in her youth and that blames it on the pressures of fame at a
young age and personal problems. She hopes to shed her reputation now that she’s grown up.
A few of her co-stars even admitted that her reputation was unearned. Tori Spelling
said she got an “unfair rap” that followed her throughout her career but that everyone
in the cast of 90210 at least were friends. Shannen also had the good fortune of turning
her negative reputation into a money-making opportunity. Billy Bermingham wrote a satire
about it called Shannen Doherty Shoots a Porno: A Shockumentary. It was performed
at Chicago’s Torso Theater from 1994-1997. Like and subscribe for more about the most
heartbreaking Hollywood cancer journeys. Keep watching to learn more about Shannen Doherty’s
life and cancer struggle. Shannen’s Cancer Timeline
The Initial Diagnosis Shannen first revealed her
breast cancer diagnosis in March of 2015. She sued her former management company Tanner Mainstain.
She claimed that a mastectomy and chemotherapy could have prevented the treatment. They allegedly
refused to cover it due to a lapse in her health insurance. That prevented her from getting proper
treatment and checkups until re-enrolling with SAG insurance in 2015. A settlement in the case was
reached, allowing her to focus on her health Shannen then had to undergo one of the most
emotionally difficult parts of any cancer treatment; losing hair. Her long black
locks had been her calling card since her time on 90210. Seeing them clumped in her
brush made her run to her mother crying. She decided to turn the experience into a
supportive and inspiring one. She shared pictures of herself shaving her head on social media. She
didn’t hide the difficulty of the experience, either. She showed up to an interview with ET
wearing a scarf, and she wasn’t sure if she’d ever look like herself again.
The Cancer Spreads Then Goes Into Remission That interview was also the first time she
publicly admitted that the cancer had spread from her breast to her lymph nodes. She needed
chemotherapy and radiation to get rid of the rest. Shannen announced that her cancer was in remission
on April 29, 2017. She was “nearly finished” with chemotherapy, and Dr. Lawrence Prio said she was
“doing amazing.” The next five years would be crucial because recurrences happen so often.
Shannen got reconstructive surgery in 2018. She spoke at a Stand UP to Cancer event about how
difficult it was to lose the weight that she had to gain to stretch her skin out for the procedure.
She also said it was worth it for her health. In September of 2018, Shannen had positive news
in an interview for ET again. She said that going through her cancer battle made her appreciate the
blessings she already had in life. She also feels every emotion more deeply and says it’s
made her a better actress. Stage Four
Unfortunately, Shannen noticed aches and pains and returned to the doctor only to find
her cancer had returned on February 4, 2020, and it was in stage four. Her home had also
been recently destroyed by the 2018 Woolsey fire. She decided to go to court again and file a suit
against State Farm. The claim was that they wouldn’t cover the repairs to her home and
allow her to live out her final days there. They claimed to have already given her $1 million,
but she claimed she was entitled to more. Shannen won her lawsuit against State
Farm in October of 2021. She received $6,346,000 in damages.
Shannen then began to shift her focus on to how to live out what could be her last
years. She wants to tell her mother and husband what they’ve meant to her and perhaps even make
videos for her other loved ones. The difficulty at that moment was that she felt healthy and was
convinced she could live another 10-15 years. October was also Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
Shannen posted one of her many inspirational posts about her journey. It included pictures of her
bald head and bloody nose. She said that it wasn’t pretty but was truthful and hoped it encouraged
others to get regular mammograms and checkups. Shannen’s Goals
In December of 2021, Shannen did what most of the world does at the end of the year.
She shared her goals for the following year. She expressed her hopes for more research
into a cure for cancer and ways that she could contribute to it. She also hoped for her health
and relationships with her family to improve as well as new work opportunities to keep coming.
The Heartbreaking Cancer Update Shannen posted in March of 2023
about the injustices of SAG-AFtRA’s health insurance. She even went so far as to tag the
organization’s president Fran Drescher in a post. She wrote alongside a picture of herself getting
an IV treatment about how the union shouldn’t abandon those who need them. She said that “health
insurance shouldn’t be based on income” but should be given to all members who’ve put in their dues.
A spokesman for SAG-AFTRA said that they care deeply about all participants and
their well-being. They said they would be willing to offer coverage extensions to
anyone unable to work due to health issues. It turned out that there was a clear reason
why Shannen chose now to speak out. She announced in June of 2023 that her breast cancer had spread
to her brain and that it’s become terminal. She posted another heartfelt picture showing
herself getting fitted for a mask for a procedure to deliver radiation to her
brain. She admitted that she had great doctors but had been experiencing a rollercoaster of
emotions. She also reminded the world “this is what cancer can look like.”
Fans and fellow cancer survivors have already begun responding with support.
Shannen’s friend Selma Blair wished her peace and love to help her in the terrifying moments
she’s bound to face. Kevin Smith, director of her 1995 film Mallrats, called her a fearless fighter
with an indomitable spirit. Another friend, Sarah Michelle Geller, called her a warrior.
What’s your favorite Shannen Doherty project? Let us know in the comments below.