Sarah Michelle Gellar pens heartbreaking birthday tribute to Shannen Doherty following tragic death aged 53
Topics: Shannen Doherty, Instagram, Celebrity
Callum Jones
Featured Image Credit: @sarahmgellar/Instagram
Topics: Shannen Doherty, Instagram, Celebrity
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.
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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.
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.
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."
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."
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.