Charmed's Holly Marie Combs Reveals Shannen Doherty Promised to Haunt Her After Death

Shannen Doherty’s loved ones are finding comfort in remembering exactly who she was.

After the actress passed away from breast cancer at the age of 53 on July 13, Shannen’s Charmed costar Holly Marie Combs paid meaningful tribute to her late friend—along with a nod to Shannen’s sense of humor.

“It's been one week and it feels like forever,” Holly captioned a July 21 Instagram post which featured a video montage of images of the Heathers star. “I spent all day looking for one particular picture and found just about every picture but that one.”

She then quipped, “Shannen promised to haunt me but I thought she'd be occupied with a few others at first. Alas I'm sure it will show up when and where I least expect it. My rock.”

The following day, the Pretty Little Liars alum reflected on what has been one of the hardest parts of her friend’s death.

“I think she did as much as she could in the time that she had, but we did think we had more time,” Holly shared through tears on the July 22 episode of the Charmed rewatch podcast, House of Halliwell. “And that's the really sad part. We had big, big plans for this year. And she didn't think she was going anywhere anytime soon."

As she put it, “It sounds terribly cliche until it happens to you, but you always think you have more time. Life changes on a dime.”

After all, while Shannen had recorded a few episodes of the Charmed rewatch podcast, she was supposed to feature on many more House of Halliwell episodes, including some with Rose McGowan, who joined the show after her departure. “That's one of the saddest parts to me is that she was really looking forward to this,” Holly continued. “And she was actually really looking forward to watching the episodes with Rose.”

But while Holly mourns the fact Shannen was unable finish her plans for the podcast, she is also grateful for the memories they shared together while working on it.

“One of the last times I was with her, we actually watched the first two episodes together like we were freaking teenagers again,” Holly added. “And we sat in her office and watched the episodes together before we recorded this. And I've had a little bit of time to reflect on that, and everything worked out.”

The 50-year-old also shared how happy the podcast had made Shannen, echoing the previous sentiments of fellow House of Halliwell host and Charmed costar Brian Krause.

“I want everyone to know she was super happy to be here and she was really happy to watch it again with fresh eyes, as she kept saying,” Holly remembered. “She became like a fan. She watched it like an audience member, and it was just—I don't think anybody loved Charmed more than she.”

For more of the messages friends and loved ones have shared in her memory, keep reading. 

“How do you possibly find the right words to sum up 30 years of friendship?” the Buffy the Vampire Slayer wrote on Instagram July 15. “I keep reminding myself it only hurts this much because, there was so much love. Thank you, for all your kind words and support. I love all the messages about how @theshando was important to you. So let’s honor her.”

"I am still processing my tremendous grief over the loss of my long time friend Shannen, the woman I have often described as one of the strongest people I have ever known," the actress, who played Kelly Taylor, frenemy of Shannen's Brenda Walsh, on 90210, wrote on Instagram. "Our connection was real and honest. We were so often pitted against each other but none of that reflected the truth of our real relationship which was one built on mutual respect and admiration."

Shannen, she said, "was courageous, passionate, determined and very loving and generous."

"I will miss her and will always honor her deeply in my heart and in my memories," Jennie continued. "My heart breaks for her family and Bowie [Shannen's dog] and all the people who loved her.

"I don't have outwards words yet.," Tori wrote on her Instagram Stories, alongside a selfie of herself and Shannen and several broken heart emojis, "but WE knew and that's what matters."

“Shocked and saddened to hear about the passing of my friend Shannen,” the actor, who played Brandon Walsh, the twin brother of the actress' character Brenda Walsh on Beverly Hills, 90210, expressed on Instagram. “She was a force of nature and I will miss her. Sending love and light to her family in this dark time.”

"Shan. My sister," the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum wrote on his Instagram Stories. "You loved me through everything. You were a big part of my understanding of love. I'll miss you more than I know how to process right now. Thank you for the gift of you."

“So young – so sad,” the Beverly Hills, 90210 and former SAG-AFTRA president wrote on Instagram. “May you RIP Shannon. I know Luke is there with open arms to love you."

The actress-turned-therapist, who played Cindy Walsh, the mother of Shannen and Jason Priestley's twin characters Brenda and Brandon, wrote on Instagram she was "shocked and saddened" by news of her onscreen daughter's death.

"What a journey she has been on!" she wrote. "Gone too soon. Throughout, she stayed true to herself and gave us an example of courage and perseverance in facing her own death. May she rest in peace."

"It's no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but at its core was someone I deeply respected and was in awe of," she said of her Charmed costar in a statement to Entertainment Weekly. "She was a talented actress, beloved by many, and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her."

"A true lion heart," the actress, who replaced Shannen on Charmed in 2001 after she left the series, wrote in a comment on the late star's final Instagram post. "What a warrior. Your daddy is holding his best girl now."

She continued, "Love to your mama, your dog and all who love you fiercely. Love to Holly [Marie Combs]. Love to all of your legions of fans that I know you loved right back. If there was anyone who looked squarely at death and said no thanks, it was you dear Shannen. My head bows to you brave one. All love forever."

"You showed me what strength is," the actor, who played Leo Wyatt on Charmed, shared on Instagram. "You taught me to be fearless and live with purpose. To know your value and stick to your determination."

"Forever loved!" he added. "Truly heartbroken."

"I am absolutely heartbroken over the passing of Shannen Doherty." the Newsroom alum wrote on her Instagram Stories July 14. "When I was first diagnosed with breast cancer I remembered how she bravely let the world into her journey and reached out to her. We became instant friends- which I honestly couldn’t comprehend at times because watching her on 90210 was everything to me when I was 10."

"We bonded through a shared battle and a desire to help other women," she continued. "Looking back on the last text she sent me just a couple months ago, she asked how I was doing and if she could do anything for me… true to form, Shannen was offering her support even though she was in the final stage of fighting this horrific disease."

Olivia concluded her statement with a heartfelt message to her late friend. "Cancer is really f--king scary and Shannen faced it with such dignity, strength and grace," she expressed. "I’m sending all of my love to her mother who was her best friend, hero and champion every step of the way. Fly so high, my friend."

"Thank you for being here," the actress, who is battling multiple sclerosis, commented on Shannen's final Instagram post. "Thank you for showing us how to keep going. Rebel heart."

"Love you," the actress wrote in a comment on Shannen's last Instagram post. "Fly high lovely kind sweetheart woman. This hits hard. Your heart,courage and kindness will be so missed."

"Your bravery and ability to share your Cancer journey left something 'in' people," the Oscar winner wrote on Instagram. "Rest well. God bless your loved ones."

The actor, who guest starred on Beverly Hills, 90210 as Rick, who Shannen's character Brenda dated briefly after meeting him in Paris, wrote on X, "RIP Shannen," adding a crying emoji.

The Wicked star wrote in an Instagram comment, "Fly with the angels sweet precious soul!"

"My heart is broken," he wrote on Twitter. "It was a pleasure to meet Shannen Doherty while filming our movie Fortess a little over 2 years ago! She was full of warm energy and positive vibes. So young. So talented. May she rest well."

"RIP Shannen Doherty," he wrote on X, formerly Twitter. "I met her during the Full House days. She was lovely and had a beautiful smile. Today, I’ll also think about the women in my life who all succumbed to cancer - my mom, my sister, Sharon and my niece, Shannon, who all were so strong and so beautiful."

Alongside an article reporting Shannen's passing, the journalist wrote on Instagram, "I'm so sad to hear this news..."

"Such sad news," the Community actress wrote on Twitter. "I was hoping she would beat the disease again."