Rose McGowan pays tribute to her ‘Charmed’ co-star Shannen Doherty following her death

July 14, 2024

Rose McGowan has released a touching tribute to Shannen Doherty after she died of cancer at the age of 53.

The Companion Charmed The actress posted an emotional video compilation of photos and videos of Doherty from over the years on Instagram on July 14. In the caption, McGowan recalled her long-standing friendship with Doherty and described her as a “soft-hearted go-getter” amid her battle with breast cancer.

“Shannen Doherty had the heart of a lion. Passion for the craft is often mistakenly labeled as a problem. Shannen was passion,” she began the post. “I met her in the 90s and was impressed. To really get to know her later in life was a beautiful gift. This woman was fighting for life.”

“Shannen knew how to be a star because she had been one since she was a child. Her work ethic was inspiring to the end. Shannen’s great love for directing, acting, Holly, her friends, her parents, her dog and her beloved fans was legendary,” McGowan continued. “Our lives were intertwined in a unique way. We laughed at dark forces that wanted us to hate each other, but instead we chose love and respect.”

“A soft-hearted daredevil like never before. An energy that will live on in hearts forever. May angels and God carry her to the holy kingdom where she will be healthy, young and fierce forever,” she concluded the post. “Rest now warrior, we will never forget you dear sister.”

After her roles in the 1988 cult film Heather and her four-season role as Brenda Walsh in the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210Doherty was cast in Charmed — a series about three sisters who are witches. Doherty played Prue Halliwell in the first three seasons of Charmedfrom 1998 to 2001, alongside Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs. She left the series after season three, which led to her character’s death, and was replaced by McGowan.

McGowan is not the only one Charmed Star to pay tribute to Doherty following her death. Milano – who has been at the centre of long-standing rumors of a feud with Doherty – issued a statement on her death to the New York Post.

“It’s no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but at the core, it was someone I deeply respected and was in awe of,” Milano said of her Charmed co-star on Sunday. “She was a talented actress, loved by many and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”

Alyssa Milano, Shannen Doherty and Holly Marie Combs pose in front of “Charmed” in 1999 (Getty Images)

After Doherty’s departure from CharmedIt was reported that she left the show due to behind-the-scenes tensions with Milano. However, the cast remained tight-lipped about the rumored feud until Doherty spoke openly about the issue on her podcast. So that we understand each other.

In December 2023, Doherty said she thought Milano was “competitive” and accused her of creating a “weird rift” between her and Combs. Meanwhile, Combs claimed on the podcast that Milano fired her co-star after giving producers an “ultimatum.” Milano later denied the allegations earlier this year.

Speaking at MegaCon Orlando in February 2024, Doherty stressed that, given her health issues, it was “incredibly important to her that the truth is actually told and not the fairy tale that others tell me.”

Doherty died of breast cancer on Saturday, July 13, after being diagnosed with the disease in 2015. She went into remission in 2017, but confirmed in February 2020 that the cancer had returned at stage four. In June 2023, Doherty announced that her cancer had spread to her brain, just four months before telling her fans that it had also spread to her bones.

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the death of actress Shannen Doherty,” her spokeswoman Leslie Sloane said in a statement to People on Sunday. “The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones and her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”