Shannen Doherty’s former Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed castmates remembered the actress as “loving and generous,” a “force of nature,” a “soft-hearted badass,” and more in an array of tributes shared following her death this weekend.
Doherty — who died after a years-long battle with cancer — was one of the biggest TV stars of the Nineties thanks to her work on 90210 and Charmed. But her tenures on both shows were relatively short, and often accompanied by tabloid scrutiny and rumors of feuds and on-set difficulties. Doherty, for her part, always believed she was standing up for herself, and the outpouring of grief and tributes from her old coworkers — including some of whom she had genuine tension with — speaks to how much she was loved and respected.
Jennie Garth of 90210 called Doherty “one of the strongest people” she ever knew, and noted their “connection was real and honest,” even as they were so often “pitted against each other.” Garth continued: “[N]one of that reflected the truth of our real relationship which was one built on mutual respect and admiration. She was courageous, passionate, determined and very loving and generous. I will miss her and will always honor her deeply in my heart and in my memories.”
Meanwhile, Alyssa Milano, Doherty’s co-star on Charmed, acknowledged the on-set issues that plagued their time together on the fantasy drama. “It’s no secret that Shannen I had a complicated relationship,” she said in a statement to the New York Post. But she praised Doherty as “someone I deeply respected and was in awe of,” adding: “She was a talented actress, beloved by many and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”
Rose McGowan, who replaced Doherty on Charmed — and appeared alongside her in a classic scene from Gregg Araki’s 1997 cult favorite Nowhere — seemed to pick up on the way Doherty’s reputation was skewed in the public. “Passion for craft is often mislabeled as trouble,” McGowan wrote. “Shannen was passion.”
McGowan continued: “Our lives had been intertwined in a unique way. We laughed at dark forces who wanted us to hate each other, instead we chose love and respect. A soft-hearted badass as there ever was. A force of energy that will live forever in hearts.”
Elsewhere, Jason Priestly, who played Doherty’s on-screen brother in 90210, wrote on Instagram, “Shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of my friend Shannen. She was a force of nature and I will miss her. Sending love and light to her family in this dark time.”
And Brian Austin Green, another 90210 star, wrote, “You loved me through everything. You were a big part of my understanding of love. I’ll miss you more than I know how to process right now. Thank you for the gift of you.”
Meanwhile, Brian Krause, another Charmed castmate, said of Doherty, “You showed me what strength is. You taught me to be fearless and live with purpose. To know your value and stick to your determinations.” And Ted King, who played Doherty’s love interest on the show wrote, “We created a special television couple for the ages. My heart goes out to your family. Rest in peace Shannen, rest in peace.”
