Shannen Doherty, beloved star of 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and 'Charmed,' passed away on Saturday, July 13, after a long and courageous battle with cancer.

"It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty," her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, said in an exclusive statement on Sunday, July 14. "She lost her battle with cancer at 53, after many years of fighting the disease. The devoted daughter, sister, aunt, and friend was surrounded by her loved ones and her dog, Bowie. The family asks for privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace."

Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and spoke candidly to PEOPLE in November 2023 about her Stage 4 breast cancer, which had spread to her bones. "I’m not done with living. I’m not done with loving. I’m not done with creating. I’m not done with hopefully changing things for the better,” she said. "I’m just not — I’m not done."

Born Shannen Maria Doherty on April 12, 1971, in Memphis, Tennessee, she grew up in her mother’s Southern Baptist faith and was of Irish and Native American descent. Her acting career began in television and film, with notable roles such as Jenny Wilder in 'Little House on the Prairie,' Maggie Malene in 'Girls Just Want to Have Fun,' Kris Witherspoon in 'Our House,' and Heather Duke in 'Heathers.' She became a household name as Brenda Walsh in 'Beverly Hills, 90210' and later as Prue Halliwell in 'Charmed.'

After her initial diagnosis in 2015, Doherty went into remission in 2017. However, her cancer returned in 2019, and she publicly announced her metastatic Stage 4 diagnosis in 2020.

In June 2023, Doherty revealed on Instagram that her cancer had spread to her brain, and she had undergone surgery to remove a brain tumor she named Bob. She described the fear she felt ahead of the procedure as "overwhelming."

Despite her health struggles, Doherty remained determined to work and raise awareness for cancer research. "When you ask yourself, ‘Why me? Why did I get cancer?’ and then ‘Why did my cancer come back? Why am I Stage 4?,’ that leads you to look for the bigger purpose in life,” she reflected.

Her candid comments echoed her words from a 2020 interview with Amy Robach for ABC News, where she said, "I definitely have days where I say, 'Why me?' And then I go, well, 'Why not me? Who else? Who else besides me deserves this?' None of us do."

Doherty’s career spanned several decades, and she ventured into reality television with 'Breaking Up with Shannen Doherty' and as a contestant on 'Dancing with the Stars.' In 2019, she joined the reboot of 'Beverly Hills, 90210,' reprising her iconic role as an adult Brenda Walsh. Despite knowing her Stage 4 diagnosis, she kept it a secret from the cast after the unexpected death of her co-star Luke Perry in March 2019.

Shannen Doherty's legacy is marked by her resilience, talent, and dedication to her craft and cause. She will be deeply missed by her family, friends, and fans worldwide.