Ian Ziering finally broke his silence about Shannen Doherty’s death with a deeply personal explanation for why he waited an entire year to share his grief publicly.
The “Beverly Hills, 90210” star posted his first tribute to his late co-star on Monday, July 14, exactly one year after Doherty passed away from cancer at age 53. In a heartfelt Instagram post featuring a photo of the two embracing, Ziering opened up about his decision to grieve privately rather than immediately sharing his feelings with the world.
“When she died a year ago, I didn’t post anything. And yes, some people criticized that,” Ziering wrote. “To them I say: grief isn’t a performance. It’s personal. Let people grieve how they grieve.”
The 61-year-old actor explained that Doherty’s death came as a complete shock despite her long battle with cancer. He had maintained hope throughout her illness, believing in her strength and fighting spirit that had defined her both on and off screen.
“When I first heard she was sick, we had nearly a decade more with her. And even then, most of the updates sounded less like ‘Shannen’s fighting cancer’ and more like ‘cancer picked the wrong woman.’ That was her wayâstrong, defiant, take-no-prisoners tough,” Ziering shared in his Instagram tribute.
The impact of losing Doherty hit him harder than expected. “Every time I saw her during those years, she was still Shanâfierce, funny, full of life. That’s why her passing hit me like a freight train. I was shocked. I truly believed she was going to pull off one more miracle,” he explained.
Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed her death in July 2024, stating that she passed away “surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie,” after a brave fight against stage IV breast cancer that had spread to her brain.
Remembering Their Complex But Respectful Relationship
Ziering’s tribute offered an honest look at his relationship with Doherty during their time together on the iconic teen drama series that ran from 1990 to 2000. He acknowledged that their strong personalities sometimes created tension but emphasized the mutual respect that always existed between them.
“I miss Shannen. We clashed now and then in the early years of 90210âtwo strong personalities will do thatâbut we always had respect,” Ziering wrote. “I was the wisecracking comic relief; she was the beautiful chaos, the after-hours headline, the girl who could trash a hotel room and make the tabloids love her for it. (Stop laughing, Shan. You know it’s true.)”
The actor reflected on how their relationship evolved over the years as they both matured and gained perspective on their shared experience. He noted that despite any early conflicts, Doherty always performed professionally when it mattered most.
“Whatever antics happened off-set, when the camera rolled? She delivered. Always,” Ziering shared. “As we got older, we mellowed. Grew up. Understood what we’d been part of and what we each brought to the table.”
One particularly fond memory Ziering shared involved Doherty and fellow castmate Jennie Garth surprising him at a Chippendales show in Las Vegas. “God, we laughed so hard. It was one of those nights that stays with you,” he recalled.
The Ongoing Impact of Loss on the 90210 Family
Ziering revealed that reuniting with other “Beverly Hills, 90210” cast members over the past year has been particularly difficult, as they continue to feel the absence of both Doherty and Luke Perry, who died in 2019 after suffering a stroke at age 52.
“Over the past year, I’ve seen my old castmates a few times. It’s been hard being together without herâand Luke. That kind of loss doesn’t fade. It just rearranges the furniture in your heart,” Ziering wrote.
His tribute concluded with a touching message directly addressed to Doherty, highlighting the qualities he most admired about her beyond her public persona. “So, my dear ShannenâI think of you often. Your grit. Your fire. Your kind heart that so few really got to see. I still carry all of it with me. Rest easy, Shan,” he wrote.
Ziering wasn’t the only 90210 cast member to mark the anniversary of Doherty’s passing. Tori Spelling also shared a lengthy tribute reflecting on how she’s tried to live according to Doherty’s advice about embracing her power and speaking up for herself.
“You always told me to stop apologizing for myself. To stop playing small. To stop trying to be palatable when I was born to be powerful,” Spelling wrote in her own Instagram post.
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