Who is Chris Cortazzo? Everything about Shannen Doherty’s best friend, with whom she was spotted at her last public appearance

Trigger warning: This article contains a reference to death

Shannen Doherty, who passed away from cancer on Saturday, July 13, at the age of 53, was last photographed with her longtime best friend Chris Cortazzo at Kristy’s Malibu on June 16. In the paparazzi image, taken nearly a month before her untimely passing, Doherty appeared content and relaxed while carrying a grocery bag and with her boyfriend’s arm draped around her shoulder.

After news of the actress’ death broke, Cortazzo shared a video on Instagram with montages of his late girlfriend and wrote in the caption, “You were my projector, my best friend and my divine wife. My heart is broken.”

If at first glance you get the impression that the duo had a close bond, you are absolutely right. Below is everything we know about Chris Cortazzo, Shannen Doherty’s best friend.

Who is Chris Cortazzo: Shannen Doherty’s boyfriend who was more like family

Professionally, Chris Cortazzo is a real estate agent based in Malibu, California. His personal service website states that he was born in the coastal city itself.

Not much is known about how he met the “Charmed” actress, but she definitely viewed him as her extended family. Doherty spoke about her closeness with Cortazzo in a November 2023 interview with People, saying, “I have a best friend, a male best friend that we joke that we’re married to, and his two kids and I have had major breakthroughs, and we just love each other and hang out together, and I kind of consider them my kids.”

The actress also regularly posted photos of dinners and outings with Cortazzo on her social media, and he also appeared on Doherty’s podcast, Let’s Be Clear.

Shannen Doherty and Chris Cortazzo had a candid conversation on the former’s podcast

Cortazzo appeared on a January 2024 episode of Doherty’s podcast, where the duo discussed, among other things, what aspects they believe are similar. After a brief conversation about dealing with an illness in public, Doherty went on to note that she’s not the type of person to have a breakdown in front of other people, but she’s not adamant about it either. The Beverly Hills, 90210 actress shared that she cries in a closet, to which Cortazzo responded with a curt, “As am I.”

Doherty continued about herself and her friend: “We seem to be very strong warriors and can get through anything, but we will have breakdowns.”

For his part, Cortazzo praised Doherty for coming out about her cancer, noting that she is encouraging many people out there. In return, Doherty simply thanked her friend for teaching her that strength also means embracing one’s tears and vulnerability. “Neither of us want to say goodbye to each other,” Cortazzo noted, before cracking dark jokes about Doherty’s funeral plans. He was also reportedly with Doherty when she recently underwent brain surgery.

Shannen Doherty was first diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015, and after nearly a decade of battling, the actress gave up the fight on Saturday, July 13, her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane said in a statement.