Sarah Michelle Gellar has lengthy flooded her Instagram account with images of her and her shut pal Shannen Doherty goofing off. However on Sunday, her nods to her pal of “30 years” took a extra somber tone.
On Saturday, Doherty, who was finest recognized for her roles in “Charmed” and “Beverly Hills, 90210,” died from stage 4 most cancers after residing with the illness since 2015. She was 53.
Gellar paid tribute to Doherty by posting quite a few snaps of the duo hanging out collectively by way of the years on her Instagram tales.
Vivien Killilea by way of Getty Photographs
The “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” alum additionally honored Doherty in a standalone submit that included most of the identical images.
“How do you possibly find the right words to sum up 30 years of friendship?” Gellar started. “I keep reminding myself it only hurts this much because, there was so much love.”
Gellar went on to thank her and Doherty’s followers who have been conscious of their shut bond.
“I love all the messages about how @theshando was important to you,” Gellar wrote earlier than revealing one of the simplest ways to “honor her.”
“More than anything, Shan loves animals, especially dogs. In her memory let’s support our favorite animal charities. Whether that’s donating money, stopping by your local shelter and just offering cuddles and walks to animals housed there or even just tagging them in the comments so other people can learn about their work,” she wrote.
Gellar ended her submit by saying: “I know that would make our girl happy” and elicit “that deep throaty laugh we all loved) 💔💔💔.”
Diane Freed by way of Getty Photographs
Doherty usually spoke about her adoration for her canine, Bowie, and claimed in a 2016 interview with Entertainment Tonight that she believed Bowie sensed one thing was flawed together with her earlier than her 2015 most cancers analysis.
“She would obsessively sniff right here on my right side for a long time before,” Doherty mentioned on the time. “So, it made sense when I got diagnosed.”
Doherty additionally revealed on the April 1 episode of her podcast “Let’s Be Clear” that she as soon as thought-about turning considered one of her properties right into a sanctuary for deserted and abused horses, which she’d deliberate to run together with her mom. Nonetheless, she gave “up on my dream” of opening it attributable to her most cancers analysis.
Doherty was additionally vocal about her love for Gellar.
The 2 defined on the Feb. 3 episode of “Let’s Be Clear” that they met throughout a promotional shoot for the WB community. On the time, Gellar was starring on “Buffy” and Doherty was engaged on “Charmed.”
“When we met — the time period that we met — it wasn’t that much of a female-friendly time period at all,” Doherty advised Gellar. “And yet, you really took me under your wing. You kind of scooped me up like a little baby bird, and you were like, ‘We got this! We got this!’”
Doherty added of Gellar’s assist: “And that continued throughout my career, and more importantly throughout our lives.”
Amanda Edwards by way of Getty Photographs
Gellar mentioned that she was shocked by how shortly she took to Doherty, admitting that she additionally felt aggressive with different feminine actors at the moment in her profession.
“That was out of my comfort zone, to go up to another woman and try to make friends, because I always thought women didn’t like me, or want to be friends … [but] I was such a fan, I just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to talk to you,” Gellar mentioned, referring to Doherty’s work in “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Their friendship definitely endured. Gellar supported Doherty throughout her preliminary analysis in 2015, and when her most cancers returned in 2019, Gellar was one of many handful of individuals Doherty confided in, in line with a 2020 profile in Elle.
The 2 girls have been so shut that Doherty thought-about Gellar and her youngsters — daughter Charlotte and son Rocky, whom Gellar shares together with her husband, Freddie Prinze Jr. — as household.
“They are now like my children,” Doherty advised Entertainment Tonight in October 2020. “I love them madly. It’s even better than having my own children.”
