Shannen Doherty, known for her roles on the wildly popular series “Beverly Hills, 90210” and on the witchcraft fantasy “Charmed,” has died after being diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. She was 53.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress, Shannen Doherty,” Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane said in a statement. “On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
Doherty rose to fame in 1990 as the fresh-faced brunette Brenda Walsh on Fox’s “Beverly Hills, 90210.” Along with her twin brother Brandon, played by Jason Priestly, the Walshes were the classic fish-out-of-water family that had recently moved from Minnesota to Beverly Hills and were constantly amazed at the antics of the L.A. rich kids.
The romance between Brenda and Dylan, played by Luke Perry, spawned controversy in the first season for the storyline where Brenda considers losing her virginity. Their later breakup, when Dylan hooked up with her best friend Kelly, played by Jennie Garth, was also big news, and the show was considered groundbreaking in its willingness to address topics like drug abuse and racism.
The show was a massive hit, and with its success came an inordinate amount of scrutiny and gossip surrounding the cast, including teen-aged Doherty. Though the show had started out with Garth’s Kelly as the less likable character, the perception soon changed and Brenda become the cast member everyone loved to hate on. She was labeled a diva in the press and there was even a pre-internet newsletter called “I Hate Brenda.” Doherty appeared in 111 episodes before leaving the series at the end of season four, amid reports of friction with other cast members, particularly Garth.
By the time the show was rebooted two more times, everyone had mellowed with age and Doherty returned as Brenda in the 2008 revival “90210” for one season and in the later revival 2019 “BH90210.”
After her stormy departure from “Beverly Hills, 90210,” Doherty found her footing on “Charmed,” the supernatural drama following three sisters who discover they are witches and must work together to fight evil. She played the oldest of the three sisters, Prue Halliwell, alongside Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs. In 2000 and 2001, she directed three episodes of the series — “Be Careful What You Witch For,” “The Good, The Bad, and The Cursed,” and “All Hell Breaks Loose,” the last episode she appeared in. Her character was killed off when she left the series at the end of the third season.
Born in Memphis, Tenn., Doherty moved to Los Angeles with her family as a child and got her start at age 10 with a role on the series “Father Murphy.” Michael Landon saw her in the series and cast her as Jenny Wilder in “Little House on the Prairie” at age 11.
Doherty then had a recurring role on the family series “Our House” with Wilfred Brimley,
In feature films, she appeared in another teen classic, “Heathers,” as well as in “Girls Just Want to Have Fun” and Kevin Smith’s “Mallrats” and “Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back.”
Among the other shows she appeared on were “North Shore,” and “Riverdale” as well as in a number of TV movies.
In 2006, she produced a reality show, “Breaking Up With Shannen Doherty,” where she helped people in relationship peril who wanted to get out but couldn’t do it on their own, and later appeared in another reality show, “Off the Map With Shannen and Holly.”
Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in February 2015, and in 2017 said she was in remission. But by 2019 the cancer had returned and spread. She continued working, with roles in TV movies including “Dying to Belong” and “List of a Lifetime.” Doherty also hosted a popular podcast, “Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty,” in which she discussed her career and talked frankly about how breast cancer had impacted her life.
In June 2023, she said she had been receiving radiation for cancer that had spread to her brain.
She was briefly married to George Hamilton’s son Ashley Hamilton and poker player Rick Salomon, and in 2011 she married photographer Kurt Iswarienko. They filed for divorce in 2023.
Why Baggage Handlers Advise Against Tying Anything to Your Suitcase
Have you ever tied a bright ribbon to your luggage handle to make it easier to spot? You might want to reconsider after hearing this surprising advice!
Many travelers personalize their suitcases with ribbons, tags, or stickers to avoid mix-ups at busy airports, but John, a baggage handler at Dublin Airport, suggests these well-intended decorations may cause more problems than they solve.
It’s understandable why you’d want to make your luggage stand out. After all, nothing’s more frustrating than searching through a sea of identical bags at baggage claim. Some even go as far as attaching cameras like GoPros to track their luggage. But according to John, tying a ribbon to your suitcase might not be as helpful as it seems.
John explains, “If someone attaches a ribbon to their bag, it could interfere with the automated scanning process at baggage claim. If the bag can’t be automatically scanned and requires manual handling, there’s a chance it might not make it onto your flight.”
In other words, a simple ribbon could cause your bag to be overlooked, which is definitely not a risk worth taking. John also advises travelers to remove any old travel stickers from their luggage. Expired stickers can confuse the scanners, potentially causing delays or misplacing your bag. Even though those travel stickers might hold sentimental value, it’s best to part with them for smoother travels.
John also shared a practical tip: always place your suitcase with the wheels facing up when you’re checking it in. This helps prevent damage to the wheels, keeping your suitcase in better condition.
And here’s one for travelers with a sweet tooth: avoid packing marzipan. While it may seem harmless, marzipan’s density is similar to certain explosives, which can trigger a detailed inspection. This could cause delays and even risk you missing your flight—all because of a little almond paste!
So, while it might be tempting to add a personal touch to your luggage or pack some sweet treats, it’s best to leave ribbons and marzipan at home to ensure a hassle-free trip.
Stick to these tips, and you’ll be on your way to a smoother, more stress-free journey!
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