On what would have been Shannen Doherty’s 54th birthday, longtime friend and fellow actress Sarah Michelle Gellar shared a heartfelt message via Instagram, paying tribute to the late Charmed and 90210 star.
Doherty, renowned for her work in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed, was originally diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. Over the years, she openly documented her medical struggles—undergoing a mastectomy, multiple rounds of chemotherapy, and additional interventions. By 2017, she had announced a period of remission.
Sadly, her battle resumed in 2020, when doctors confirmed the cancer had returned—this time as stage four. In 2023, it was revealed that the disease had reached her brain and bones. Later that same year, she had surgery to remove most of a tumor, but the actress tragically passed away on July 13, 2024.
In a statement released to PEOPLE, Doherty’s publicist said: “It is with deep sorrow that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. She died on Saturday, July 13, after a lengthy and courageous fight.”
Marking the bittersweet occasion on Saturday, April 12, Gellar posted a touching tribute. “For as long as I can remember, we’ve celebrated our birthdays together @theshando,” she wrote. “This year, I’ll carry on that tradition and honor you. I’m so grateful we shared that day last year—none of us knowing it would be the final time. Happy Birthday, Shannen.”
Doherty’s Charmed co-star, Rose McGowan, also remembered her. McGowan reposted a fan tribute on Instagram Stories, captioning it with: “You are missed, you are loved @theshando.”
In one of her final podcast interviews just weeks before her death, Doherty reflected on the emotional toll of her illness. She described June as “the hardest period” she had endured throughout her health crisis. “I’ve always stayed hopeful,” she said, “but lately I feel overwhelmingly emotional—like I could cry at any moment, whether from joy or sorrow.”
Still, she found a sense of clarity: “What’s truly beautiful is that your heart becomes so aware of everything—how people treat each other, what you can do to make an impact, and discovering your true purpose.”