The last time Shannen Doherty was photographed in public before her passing, she was spending time with a loved one. A month earlier, on June 16, the late Beverly Hills 90210 actress was seen strolling with her longtime friend Chris Cortazzo at Kristy’s Malibu. Doherty passed away on July 13, at the age of 53.
In the photos, the real estate agent was walking beside Doherty with his arm over her shoulder, while she carried a bag. Doherty wore jeans, a gray blouse, and a black messenger hat in a casual attire.
After the news of her passing, Cortazzo posted a heartfelt tribute to her, featuring a collage of their photos together. He wrote on Instagram, “What memories and laughter we have shared through this journey. You were my guardian, my closest companion, and my celestial spouse. My heart is completely broken. Always and forever, my darling and dear friend, I adore you.” He signed it, “Your Christopher.”
In a November 2023 interview with PEOPLE, Doherty spoke about her close relationship with Cortazzo and his family: “I have a best friend, a male best friend who we joke that we’re married, and his two kids and I have had massive breakthroughs and we just love each other and hang out, and I kind of view them as my children.”
Doherty often shared photos with Cortazzo on social media. In September 2023, she posted a photo with him captioned, “Dinner time @chriscortazzo.” In January, she shared another photo of them together, writing, “Date night and really really good lighting.” Cortazzo also appeared on Doherty’s podcast Let’s Be Clear in January, where they discussed her health issues and their relationship.
During the podcast, Cortazzo mentioned seeing fear in Doherty’s eyes only once, during her brain surgery. Doherty had revealed in June 2023 that her cancer had spread to her brain and she had undergone surgery. Cortazzo recounted, “Seeing you and seeing your mother look at you and you looking at your mother because it was the three of us and watching you look into each other’s eyes literally broke my heart.” He added, “You are so helpless as a friend because there is nothing you can do and you just said, ‘I love you, mommy,’ and you know, we held your hand going down the hallway, and then… your mom had to say goodbye and it was brutal.”
On June 14, it was reported by People that Doherty had passed away after a long battle with cancer. Her longtime publicist, Leslie Sloane, shared, “She lost her battle with cancer on Saturday, July 13, after many years of fighting the disease.” Doherty was surrounded by her loved ones, including her dog, Bowie. Sloane added, “The family requests that they be given privacy during this difficult time so that they can grieve in peace.”