Shannen Doherty, Star of ‘Beverly Hills 90210’ and ‘Charmed’ Dead at 53

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Shannen Doherty , the actress best known for her role as Brenda Walsh on the hit 90s teen drama “Beverly Hills, 90210” and Prue Halliwell on the fantasy series “Charmed,” has died after a battle with cancer. She was 53 years old. RELATED: Fitness and Health icon Richard Simmons Has Passed Away RELATED: Trump Rally Shooter Killed Along With One Other Attendee “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,” Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane said in a statement to People Magazine.

Upon its debut in 1991, “Beverly Hills, 90210” struggled to find its audience. That all changed in the summer of 1991, after Fox ran an extended season during the summer, when most other shows aired reruns.

Viewership skyrocketed and the series became a commercial and cultural hit, eventually becoming one of the networks top shows. Its success also shot many of its cast members into pop culture fame: Actors Jason Priestley , Luke Perry , and actresses Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth became household names across the country.

Doherty appeared in more than 100 episodes before leaving the series at the end of season four, and reports of tension with other cast members became national headlines.

In 1998, Doherty returned to television. The supernatural series “Charmed” centered around three sisters who learn they are witches and work together to fight forces of evil. Doherty starred as Prue Halliwell, the oldest sister along with Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs . In addition to acting on the show, Doherty directed three episodes before leaving the series at the conclusion of its third season.