Jason Priestley, renowned for his role alongside Shannen Doherty in the iconic 90s television series Beverly Hills, 90210, recently opened up about the profound impact of Doherty’s passing. He confessed to the difficulty in reconciling her vibrant spirit with the severity of her illness, even during his final visit just weeks before her death in July.
Doherty battled cancer for years, a fact known to those close to her. However, Priestley emphasized Doherty’s remarkable ability to conceal her suffering. “Shannen was sick for a very long time, so I think we all knew that eventually something was going to happen,” Priestley stated. “But she seemed so not sick when you would spend time with her. I’m sure it’s because she was just putting on a super brave face and didn’t want everyone to know how sick she really was.”
He described their awareness of her illness as “theoretical,” overshadowed by her seemingly unwavering health and vitality. “She was very good at masking it,” he reiterated, highlighting the disconnect between the knowledge of her condition and the perception of her well-being. This made accepting the reality of her declining health and eventual death even more challenging.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(749×0:751×2)/Jason-Priestley-Shannen-Doherty012624-32ab0de6f7094ed08c7a57971a0de557.jpg)
Priestley recounted his last encounter with Doherty, merely weeks before her passing, noting no visible signs of her deteriorating health. “I was with her just a few weeks, maybe four or five weeks before she passed away, and there was no indication that anything was wrong with her,” he shared. This unexpected turn of events left him and likely others grappling with a complex mix of grief and disbelief.
“As much as we all knew something was coming eventually, when she did pass away I think part of it was a surprise, because she didn’t seem sick. So it made it really difficult to figure out how to feel about it,” Priestley admitted. The suddenness of her passing, despite the knowledge of her illness, amplified the emotional toll on those who knew and loved her. He described the experience as knowing and yet not knowing, a paradox that underscores the complexities of grief and loss.
:max_bytes(150000):strip_icc():focal(999×0:1001×2)/Shannen-Doherty-Jason-Priestley-020324-1-48028dd2306e43fda574c244dfa384fa.jpg)
Following Doherty’s death, the 90210 cast united in their grief, sharing heartfelt tributes on social media. Priestley’s Instagram post poignantly captured the collective sentiment, expressing shock and sadness while celebrating Doherty as a “force of nature.” The outpouring of love and remembrance underscored the enduring impact Doherty had on her colleagues and fans alike. The loss of Doherty, coupled with the earlier passing of co-star Luke Perry in 2019, serves as a stark reminder of the fragility of life and the importance of cherishing those we hold dear.
