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It was with profound sadness that we learned this Sunday of the death of Shannen Doherty, the unforgettable star of iconic series such as Little House on the Prairie (1982-1983), Beverly Hills, 90210 (1990-1994), and Charmed (1998-2001).
Six months before her death, Shannen Doherty had courageously devoted an episode of her podcast to her own funeral. Gone at just 53, she shared her final wishes there.
During her decade-long, hard-fought battle with cancer, Shannen often spoke about the end of her life. In an episode of her podcast Let’s Be Clear, released in January, the actress described the kind of farewell she wanted.
The actress who played Prue Halliwell in Charmed insisted on her desire to be cremated and for her ashes to be mixed with those of her father and her dog. She wanted her loved ones to scatter them in a healthy way at Malibu Beach, where she had spent precious moments with her late father.
She also wanted her funeral to be held with few guests and no tears, to avoid the presence of people she considered hypocrites. She preferred for her ashes to be used to plant a tree, symbolizing life after death.
During her podcast, Doherty also spoke about the impact her future passing would have on Rosa, her mom, for whom she wanted to make things easier by anticipating the consequences of her death to come. The multimillionaire had even arranged the sale of her personal furniture to lighten her mother’s load and allow her to take a vacation.
Shannen Doherty’s death deeply affected the public and her co-stars from series like Beverly Hills 90210 and Charmed. Numerous tributes were paid, and her friends and castmates shared their grief.
Jason Priestley described Shannen as “a force of nature” and expressed his sadness and shock. Brian Austin Green paid tribute to his friend by emphasizing the importance of their relationship. Jennie Garth spoke about their sincere and authentic relationship despite their conflicts. Tori Spelling expressed her sorrow, finding no adequate words. Gabrielle Carteris compared the loss of Shannen to that of Luke Perry, while Carol Potter, her on-screen mother, praised her courage and perseverance.
On Charmed, Alyssa Milano acknowledged her complicated relationship with the strong-willed actress, but expressed all her respect and admiration for the sincere Shannen. Rose McGowan and Brian Krause also shared moving tributes, highlighting the strength and impact of this actress who will forever remain, for millions of fans around the world, their Brenda Walsh or their Jenny Wilder.