- Shannen Doherty once believed her third marriage would be the charm, tying the knot with her photographer ex-husband.
- But as she battled cancer, the actress revealed shocking claims about her estranged husband’s extreme tactics during their divorce.
- Court documents claimed her ex intentionally delayed the divorce proceedings and revealed the shocking alleged reason behind his actions.
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Shannen Doherty, the beloved actress known for her iconic roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and “Charmed,” has tragically passed away at the age of 53 after a long and courageous battle with breast cancer.
The Hollywood star’s publicist, Leslie Sloane, revealed in a statement that she died surrounded by her loved ones and her pet dog named Bowie. Doherty faced her illness with immense strength and transparency, sharing her journey with fans and raising awareness about it.
Following her stage 4 cancer diagnosis, Doherty found herself heading for divorce. What began as a touching love story turned into a reportedly bitter separation following a heartbreaking betrayal.
Matters worsened when the actress alleged that her estranged husband was purposefully slowing down their divorce. Court documents revealed more details surrounding the ordeal, including shocking accusations that Doherty’s husband was trying to avoid his financial obligations to his dying wife.
Shannen Doherty a the “Hollywood Unites for the 5th biennial Stand Up To Cancer” event on September 9, 2016, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Their Love Story
In October 2011, Doherty married her fiancé Kurt Iswarienko at sunset in Malibu. The event was a black-tie affair held at a private estate in scenic hills. This wedding marked Doherty’s third attempt at matrimony.
The celebrity was previously married to Ashley Hamilton and Rick Salomon. However, this time, she had hope and believed her commitment would last.
In an interview nearly a year before the wedding, she expressed her perspective on marriage. “Marriage to me is such a gigantic commitment that it’s not something I’d ever go into lightly anymore. I’ve learned my lesson,” Doherty stated.
Five years after their wedding, in 2016, she shared a heartfelt throwback picture from their special day. In the photo, the couple is seen holding hands, with Doherty wearing a beaming smile.
“My friend @sarahmgellar softly suggested a challenge to @kurtiswarienko and myself to do the 7 day #loveyourspousechallenge and we accepted! She was telling me about going through old photos and the memories and emotions they evoke,” the caption read in part.
“Kurt has stood by my side through sickness and makes me feel more loved now than ever. I would walk any path with this man. Take any bullet for him and slay every dragon to protect him. He is my soul mate. My other half. I am blessed,” the Instagram post concluded in part.
A few years later, in 2019, Doherty shared another glimpse into her loving relationship with Iswarienko. The actress took to Instagram once more and posted a sweet snap of her and her photographer husband.
“My happy place got a lot happier with the arrival of my best friend. I couldn’t love this man more. He gets me. I get him. Boredom is never a factor. He continues to fascinate me with his talent, humor, and intelligence. His love and support lift me up constantly,” she captioned the post in part.
She went into remission in 2017, but it returned in 2019 and eventually spread to her brain. Despite these aggressive treatments, Doherty’s cancer had progressed to stage 4.
The public figure recounted the heart-wrenching moment she informed her husband about her diagnosis. “I called him, which was horrible of me. I was in the car with my mom when the doctor called,” she shared.
The actress was too overcome with emotion and couldn’t wait to tell Iswarienko the news. “His immediate response was, ‘Where are you?'” she recalled. Upon arriving home, the star found Iswarienko waiting for her in the driveway, ready to offer his unwavering support.
He hugged her and reassured her, saying, “We are going to get through this. You are going to be OK. We are going to get through this, you’re strong and you’re powerful and you’re not going anywhere. You have so much to do in your life. We are going to get through it as a family.”
Throughout this challenging period, Doherty was surrounded by a strong support system. That included her husband, closest friends, and mother. “Thank God she is there. She is so strong, and my mom is like a Steel Magnolia,” said Doherty.
ADVERTISEMENTSadly, her father, who had watched her compete in “Dancing With the Stars” in 2010, passed away from a stroke shortly afterward. Reflecting on her late parent, Doherty shared, “I think constantly about my dad. […] It’s breaking his heart that his daughter is going through this. It’s hard.”
Despite the gravity of her diagnosis, she remained hopeful about her future. The public figure had faith in possibly beating cancer and had hopes of having children. “Maybe there’s a chance after [chemo],” she responded. However, given her age and health, she wanted to remain realistic.
ADVERTISEMENT“My husband and I have discussed it and he’s like, ‘Let’s just get you healthy. Let’s focus on you and once you get healthy, and you’re OK, if you want to adopt, then let’s adopt,'” she said. The couple also had a difficult journey with IVF.
ADVERTISEMENTHowever, Doherty admitted that maintaining a positive outlook was a struggle. “Initially I was like, ‘I’m strong. I got this!’ And then, as time sort of went by, I started thinking that I wasn’t going to live,” she admitted.
The celebrity recalled a time when the couple was at an Italian restaurant in Brooklyn when she looked up at Iswarienko and said, “You better enjoy every single second that you have with me…’cause I’m going to be dead in five years.”
“He just burst out crying and was like, ‘You can’t say that.’That phase was short, thank God. That was a short, short phase that I think my family and my friends got me through,” the star revealed.
Through this harrowing journey, Doherty’s marriage grew even stronger. “I could not have gotten through this without my husband. My marriage was always strong, but it’s made my marriage a thousand times stronger. He’s never missed a chemo. He’s never missed a sick day,” she disclosed.
Before Death, Shannen Doherty Accused Ex of Stalling Divorce, Claiming He Was Waiting for Her to Di
