Shannen Doherty died at age 53 on July 13 after losing a long battle with breast cancer. Doherty’s long-time publicist, Leslie Sloane, confirmed the news on July 14.
The Beverly Hills 90210 star was first diagnosed with cancer in 2015. In 2017, the actress shared she had entered remission. But in 2020, the cancer returned, with the actress stating it was Stage Four.
During the early 90s, Shannen had several messy relationships, including three engagements and a divorce. She married photographer Kurt Iswarienko in 2011 but divorced in January 2023.
Before Shannen’s death, the couple was going through a messy divorce settlement. The Charmed actress even claimed Kurt was waiting for her to die. Doherty and Iswarienko share no kids.
Shannen Doherty’s Death Brings Attention To Her Relationship With Kurt Iswarienko
Shannen Doherty’s death has brought attention to her relationship with her estranged husband, Kurt Iswarienko. The couple divorced in 2023 during Shannen’s ongoing battle with breast cancer.
The actress started dating the photographer in 2008, and their romance quickly heated up. They tied the knot in 2011, with Shannen’s rep confirming the news to Us Weekly. Kurt and Shannen’s wedding ceremony was part of the actress’s reality show, Shannen Says.
Their wedding premiered in the show’s first season in 2012. The two exchanged their vows in front of 170 guests at a private estate in Malibu, California. A few clips from Shannen’s reality TV show are available on YouTube, including “Shannen Directs Her Wedding.”
Four years into their marriage, the couple received an unfortunate news. The Beverly Hills actress began her battle with breast cancer. Doherty confirmed the news to PEOPLE in August 2015 and said, “Yes, I have breast cancer, and I am currently undergoing treatment.”
After the revelation, Shannen and Kurt started attending several cancer fundraiser events. In September 2016, Shannen and Kurt posed on the Stand Up To Cancer red carpet.
She frequently praised Kurt for his support, and in 2019, the actress shared an appreciation post for her husband. Shannen wrote, “My happy place got a lot happier with the arrival of my best friend. I couldn’t love this man more.”
On Kurt’s birthday in June 2020, Shannen shared a gallery of images with a lengthy caption attached to the post. She wrote, “So many roads we have been down. Each one was unique, filled with challenges that easily could have been roadblocks. Yet, your tenacity, strength, and support helped us navigate the roads together. Always together.
The humor that keeps me smiling. The creativeness that inspires. The intelligence that sparks my brain. You are exceptional, Kurt. For all that you are. All you have accomplished. The ALL of just being you. I love you. Happy birthday. I’ll always be The Edge to your Bono.”
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Shannen and Kurt Divorced In 2023
2020 was a difficult time in Shannen’s life, as the disease had returned despite having previously entered remission in 2017. It looked like the couple was going strong, but in 2023, they went their separate ways.
Doherty’s rep confirmed to PEOPLE about the divorce. They said, “Divorce is the last thing Shannen wanted. Unfortunately, she felt she had no other option.”
According to the divorce filing, the couple separated in January 2023, citing irreconcilable differences. Doherty requested spousal support and asked it not to be awarded to Kurt. So, they didn’t have an amicable separation.
Before her death, Shannen claimed that Kurt was waiting for her to die so he wouldn’t have to pay spousal support. In the documents obtained by PEOPLE, Shannen stated, “It is simply not right that Kurt be permitted to prolong our divorce in hopes that I die before he is required to pay me while he continues to live his life and shirk his responsibilities to his dying wife of more than 11 years.”
Iswarienko’s lawyer disputed the claim and said Kurt had offered a settlement deal in October 2023. Doherty denied the claim. The Charmed actress requested $15k per month in spousal support from the photographer, claiming she would lose her SAG health insurance for not working and her residuals were decreasing.
In her filing, Doherty also accused the photographer of living an extravagant lifestyle while she had no access to the fund, their airplane, or their marital vacation home in Texas.
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Shannen Doherty Had Married Twice Before Meeting Kurt Iswarienko
Before the 90210 alum met her ex-photographer husband, she had gone through several failed relationships. In 1991, Shannen and Chris Foufas, the real estate manager entered into a relationship. They split in 1992 after a brief engagement.
Chris Foufas spoke to PEOPLE after their split and said, “Shannen can be a great, wonderful, loving person. But she wants to be a dictator. Shannen gets people to commit to her and then says, ‘See ya!’ She is like a kid who wants a toy, gets it, and then gets tired of it.”
Shannen was engaged to Dean Factor in 1993, but the actress and Max Factor cosmetics heir split after six months. That same year, Doherty tied the knot with Ashley Hamilton only a few weeks after knowing him.
Shannen Invited Two Of Her Exes To Her Podcast In 2024
They divorced six months later. In 1995, the actress received another ring. This time to television and film producer Rob Weiss. They separated in 1998 after a rocky romance.
Despite the breakup, Shannen and Rob continued to remain friends. He even appeared in Shannen’s podcast in April 2024 and recalled Doherty speaking to him before marrying Kurt.
In 2002, Doherty tied the knot with poker player Rick Salomon. In 2003, their marriage ended—shortly before Rick’s sex tape with Paris Hilton hit the mainstream media.
Like Rob, Rick also appeared on Shannen’s podcast. In the May 2024 episode, the former couple discussed their short-lived marriage, with the two sharing the story of their wedding day.
Shannen said they went to Vegas for their wedding, and each brought a witness. Before exchanging their vows, Shannen said she couldn’t get married as her parents weren’t there. But Rick said, “If we’re going to do this, we’re going to do this right now.”
After her divorce from Rick, Shannen stayed away from the public limelight for a bit before tying the knot with Kurt in 2011.
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