Shannen Doherty, who is seriously ill with cancer, remembered the late former “Bonanza” star Michael Landon in her podcast.
In the latest issue of her magazine, former “Beverly Hills, 90210” star Shannen Doherty (53) raves about cult actor Michael Landon (1936-1991). Doherty worked with the star of the popular western family series “Little House on the Prairie” as an eleven-year-old when she played the character Jenny Wilder in the final, ninth season of the US series. Doherty said of Landon, who died of pancreatic cancer in 1991: “I adored him. He was a mentor. He taught me so much.”
How Michael Landon influenced “Charmed” star Shannen Doherty
“This show, ‘Little House on the Prairie,’ shaped me in so many ways and is still the best experience of my entire career,” the “Charmed” star continued in the podcast episode released on May 27.
Landon’s influence clearly went beyond the boundaries of the TV series “Little House on the Prairie” for Doherty. The actress says she still feels the influence of the former “Bonanza” actor today. “When I think about the long span of my career, but also how hard some of the jobs were – and how uncomfortable it was to be there, a little toxic – then it was really the experience on ‘Little House on the Prairie’ that fueled this passion for acting, and also having a mentor like Michael Landon,” explained Doherty.
World fame with “Beverly Hills, 90210”
She described Landon as “so, so, so talented, so kind, so thoughtful, and that really impacted me. And he was incredibly caring for my whole family.”
Doherty played the character Jenny Wilder in the ninth season of Little House on the Prairie and in the subsequent TV movies. Following this appearance, the iconic actress played Brenda Walsh in the teen series Beverly Hills, 90210 from 1990 to 1994 and enjoyed further success with shows such as Charmed.
Shannen Doherty is seriously ill with cancer
Shannen Doherty suffers from stage four, or final, breast cancer. She was first diagnosed with the disease in 2015. The actress is open about her illness and gives her fans regular updates on her condition. In June 2023, she announced to the public that metastases had formed in her brain, and in November 2023, she announced that the cancer had also attacked her bones. In January 2024, she spoke of a medical “miracle” that would buy her some time.
Source: Stern
I am an author and journalist who has worked in the entertainment industry for over a decade. I currently work as a news editor at a major news website, and my focus is on covering the latest trends in entertainment. I also write occasional pieces for other outlets, and have authored two books about the entertainment industry.
