Shannen Doherty’s oncologist, Dr. Lawrence D. Pirro, was by her side until her final moments. In an interview with People magazine, Dr. Pirro revealed that the “Charmed” star was surrounded by loved ones during the final hours of her life.
“In her final hours, she was sleeping and transitioning in a very comfortable place and was surrounded by very close friends,” Pirro told the outlet.
“The room was surrounded by a select group of friends who had given her so much care and support. It was solemn and sad, but beautiful and loving. The hardest thing about this is that she loved life and wasn’t ready to leave.”
Shannen Doherty’s oncologist, Dr. Lawrence D. Piro, spoke to People magazine about the star’s final moments. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for Hallmark Channel | Tibrina Hobson/Getty Images)
‘Beverly Hills 90210’ star Shannen Doherty dies at 53
Doherty passed away on Saturday, July 13, at the age of 53, after a battle with breast cancer.
Pirro, who was a long-time friend of Doherty’s, told People that she was very proactive in her treatment process and always wanted answers.
“Any time she learned any new facts or any new ideas in the course of her medical care, she would immediately call me or forward something to me and we would discuss it and see if it was relevant to her situation and where it fit in the scheme of things for her,” he recalled about the actress.
Doherty passed away on July 13, 2024, at the age of 53, after a battle with breast cancer. (Greg DeGuire/FilmMagic)
“I was always amazed at how she could separate the fact-finding part from her own feelings about being so young and having such a difficult road ahead of her. She was so focused and calm about all that.”
Doherty has frequently praised doctors publicly, advising her Instagram followers in September 2016 to “find a doctor who will listen to you and understand your concerns,” adding that “not all cancer patients are the same.”
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“It also took many meetings to find my dream team. Don’t settle,” Dougherty wrote.
Doherty was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015 and went into remission in 2017. She revealed in 2020 that the cancer had returned.
In a June 2024 episode of her podcast, “Let’s Be Clear with Shannen Doherty,” which she launched in 2023, she spoke about her decision to undergo another round of chemotherapy.
Pirro said Doherty received love and support from those close to her in her final moments. (Kiefer McKenney/FilmMagic)
“We kept going until the moment we thought we couldn’t do it anymore,” Pirro told People magazine. “The last time we spoke, she was starting to realize that things had changed so much. The conversations were about love and support and compassion and still fighting. She wanted to continue treatment and keep fighting, even though she was feeling a little bit worse, and so we did.”
Pirro told media that Doherty had “limited options” during the final weeks of her life.
Still, discussions continued about what could be done.
“She was an incredible warrior in everything she did,” Pirro said of the “Beverly Hills 90210” actress.
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“Over the past few weeks, things have gotten more difficult and it’s become clear that things are heading in a different direction,” Pirro explained to the outlet. “We’ve continued to fight, continue to love, continue to hope and continue to support with more support.”
News of Doherty’s death was announced by her publicist, Leslie Sloane.
“It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after a long battle. A devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend, she was surrounded by loved ones, including her beloved dog, Bowie,” she said in a statement.
Many of Doherty’s co-stars, including her co-stars on “Beverly Hills 90210,” paid moving tributes following the news of her death. (Aaron Rapoport/Corbis/Getty Images)
“The family requests that their privacy be respected at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
Following the news of her death, many of Doherty’s TV co-stars paid tribute to her with moving tributes.
Jason Priestley, who co-starred with Dougherty on 90210, posted a sweet message on Instagram expressing his grief.
“She was a force of nature and I will miss her. Sending love and light to her family during this dark time.”
Doherty’s 90210 co-stars, including Carol Potter, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth and James Eckhouse, also offered their love and condolences.
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Luke Perry’s daughter, Sophie Perry, shared an old photo of her father and Doherty from 90210 on her Instagram Story, along with a heart caption.
Luke was a close friend and co-star of Doherty, who passed away in 2019.
Following her death, many of Doherty’s Charmed cast members also shared words of love for her, including Alyssa Milano, Rose McGowen, Brian Krause and Ted King.
