• News
  • Film and TV
  • Music
  • Tech
  • Features
  • Celebrity
  • Politics
  • Weird
  • Community
  • Advertise
  • Terms
  • Privacy & Cookies
  • LADbible Group
  • LADbible
  • SPORTbible
  • GAMINGbible
  • Tyla
  • UNILAD Tech
  • FOODbible
  • License Our Content
  • About Us & Contact
  • Jobs
  • Latest
  • Topics A-Z
  • Authors
Facebook
Instagram
X
Threads
TikTok
YouTube
Submit Your Content
Sarah Michelle Gellar pens heartbreaking birthday tribute to Shannen Doherty following tragic death aged 53

Home> Film & TV> News

Published 11:15 13 Apr 2025 GMT+1

Sarah Michelle Gellar pens heartbreaking birthday tribute to Shannen Doherty following tragic death aged 53

Shannen Doherty died aged 53 in July last year following a breast cancer diagnosis

Callum Jones

Callum Jones

Sarah Michelle Gellar has taken to Instagram to issue a birthday tribute to Shannen Doherty, who would have turned 54 on Saturday (April 12).

The actor - best known for her roles in 90210, Charmed and Beverly Hills 90210 - was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015.

Doherty was open about her health journey during her treatment, having underwent a single mastectomy, chemotherapy and other treatments, with the actor revealing that she was in remission two years after.

In 2020, Doherty was told that her cancer had returned and she was diagnosed with stage four breast cancer. In 2023, it was discovered that her cancer had metastasized to her brain and spread to her bones.

Advert

Later that year, she underwent surgery which removed 'almost all' of the tumor, but her publicist announced that Doherty had 'lost her battle with cancer' in July 2024.

Shannen Doherty died in July last year (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hallmark Channel)
Shannen Doherty died in July last year (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hallmark Channel)

Doherty's publicist told PEOPLE: "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."

Now, Gellar - a close friend of Doherty - took to Instagram on Saturday (April 12) to wish Doherty a happy birthday on what would have been her 54th birthday.

Advert

The Buffy the Vampire Slayer star wrote: "For as long as I can remember, we have celebrated our birthdays together @theshando This year I will keep that tradition, and celebrate you.

"I am so glad we were all together on this day last year, not knowing it would be the last like this. Happy Birthday Shannen."

She wasn't the only one, as Doherty's Charmed co-star, Rose McGowan, also did the same by resharing a fan post onto her Instagram Stories, which said: "Happy Birthday Shannen Doherty."

McGowan wrote (via PEOPLE): "You are missed, you are loved @theshando."

Advert

Sarah Michelle Gellar wished Doherty a happy birthday (@‌sarahmgellar/Instagram)
Sarah Michelle Gellar wished Doherty a happy birthday (@‌sarahmgellar/Instagram)

In a podcast episode released just a month before her death, Doherty spoke about June being 'the hardest time' that she's 'ever had with the cancer'.

She said: "I've always kind of felt very positive and like I can deal with that, and this is definitely like I'm overly emotional, Like I want to cry every single second at good or bad."

However, Doherty resolved: "[...] But what's really beautiful about it is I think you become so incredibly sensitive that your eyes are like wide open to everything around you, to people, to how they react, to what you can possibly do that's better for the world, to what your purpose here is."

Advert

If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the American Cancer Society on 1-800-227-2345 or via their live chat feature, available 24/7 every day of the year.

If you have experienced a bereavement and would like to speak with someone in confidence, contact The Compassionate Friends on (877) 969-0010.

Featured Image Credit: @‌sarahmgellar/Instagram

Topics: Shannen Doherty, Instagram, Celebrity

Callum Jones
Callum Jones

Advert

Advert

Advert

  • Charmed and 90210 star Shannen Doherty dies aged 53
  • Shannen Doherty shared heartbreaking social media post just days before she died
  • Sarah Michelle Gellar pays tribute to Buffy the Vampire Slayer co-star Michelle Trachtenberg
  • Shannen Doherty called a truce with ex-husband just one day before she died

Choose your content:

Just now
4 hours ago
5 hours ago
6 hours ago
  • Just now

    Netflix viewers gripped by little known 100% mini-series as they binge for 8.3 million hours

    The series was praised for its 'unique' ending

    Film & TV
  • 4 hours ago

    Cult classic film removed from Disney+ over controversial scene that had it banned from TV

    The British Board of Film Classification (BBFC) has long expressed its concerns about the scene in the 1989 movie

    Film & TV
  • 5 hours ago

    Netflix viewers urge Ozark fans to add 'absolute must-see series' to their watchlist

    Fans of the well-loved show starring Jason Bateman are being told to watch another series on Netflix

    Film & TV
  • 6 hours ago

    Vin Diesel hints Paul Walker could be in upcoming Fast and Furious movie and it's left fans very divided

    He's desperate to reunite Dom and Brian

    Film & TV