Entertainment
Shannen Doherty said her mom Rosa taught her to be a ‘fighter’ before her death at age 53
Shannen Doherty spoke fondly about her mother Rosa just months before the “Beverly Hills, 90210” star’s death at age 53 on Saturday.
In November 2023, the “Charmed” alum revealed that her beloved mom — who was diagnosed with a brain aneurysm when Doherty was 8 — taught her to be tenacious in life.
“I come from a woman who was determined,” Doherty told People at the time “She impressed that upon me as a very young child like, ‘You don’t give up. You just have to work hard at it.’”
“I think I was always a fighter. I was raised that way to be very strong and that I could do anything that I put my mind to.”
Following her breast cancer diagnosis, Doherty told the outlet that she turned to her family for support.
“I don’t think that there’s a decision that I make that I don’t take [my mom] into consideration,” she said. “I love her, and I am so incredibly grateful to her for being an amazing mother. I take my brother into consideration and his children, my dog, my animals.”
Doherty made her love for Rosa known on social media.
The late actress posted several images with her mom on the platform over the years, and marked Rosa’s 76th birthday with a sweet post in December.
“Happy birthday to the best mom in the world. I love you to the moon and back times infinity. @themamarosa,” Doherty captioned the snap.
In April, the actress revealed on her “Let’s Be Clear” podcast that her mom was her “priority” as she battled cancer.
“Because it’s going to be so hard on her, I want other things to be a lot easier,” Doherty said at the time. “I don’t want her to have a bunch of stuff to deal with. I don’t want her to have four storage units filled with furniture.”
The “Heathers” actress died on July 13 at the age of 53 after a long battle with cancer.
“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” her longtime publicist Leslie Sloane said in a statement.
“The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”
Following her death, the actress was remembered by fans and friends alike, including several of her “Beverly Hills, 90210” co-stars.