13.7.2024

Shannen Doherty could convey strong emotions as an actress. She could confidently deliver confrontational lines, shed tears over heartbreak, nervously flirt, and stand up to authoritative figures. Doherty, who passed away at the age of 53 after a nearly ten-year battle with breast cancer, began her career as a child actor, notably appearing in “Little House on the Prairie.” Her role in the 1988 film “Heathers” stood out on her resume. However, she truly made her mark as Brenda Walsh on “Beverly Hills, 90210,” a massively popular show from the early ’90s that inspired many teen dramas.

The series, which premiered in 1990 when Doherty was 19, followed the story of Brenda and her twin brother Brandon as they relocated from Minnesota to Beverly Hills for high school. Brenda’s character underwent typical teenage experiences such as falling in love with the “bad boy” Dylan McKay, navigating friendships with wealthy peers, and facing various challenges. Although the show spanned ten seasons, Doherty’s character, Brenda, was part of it for only four. Doherty’s off-screen behavior started to taint her reputation as the show gained popularity, and eventually, she departed amidst reports of on-set feuds.

Shannen Doherty faced a lot of negative attention, which resulted in her being associated with her on-screen character by the public. This led to an anti-fan club with a newsletter and tip line dedicated to collecting negative gossip about her. Eventually, the tension and stories surrounding her led to her departure from the show. Despite facing difficulties, she continued to work in the industry but never regained the level of fame she had in the early ’90s.

In 2015, she announced her breast cancer diagnosis, and in November of the previous year, she started a podcast called Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty. The podcast featured discussions about cancer and involved guests like Jason Priestley, Tori Spelling, Holly Marie Combs, and Kevin Smith. More recently, she had a conversation with Katherine Heigl, another actress labeled “difficult on set.”

Doherty’s impact is hard to quantify, as the type of television star she was no longer exists. She was part of a top-rated show, with numerous episodes being aired regularly. Her character, Brenda, went through various life experiences, contributing to her memorable and admired status as an actress.