Dean Butler remembers witnessing the start of something great from Shannen Doherty
The future is not set in stone, but destinies appear clear as day. The late ’70s saw Dean Butler work alongside Shannen Doherty in Little House on the Prairie, and however brief their collaboration, Doherty was already a force of nature enough to show Butler she was only going to continue to find new ways to thrive.
From 1979 to 1983, Butler held a main role as Almanzo Wilder in the NBC Western historical drama. At the time, he was in his early twenties. From 1982 to ’83, Doherty also held a main role, hers as Jenny Wilder at the start of what would be a very prolific career until her death on July 13 at the age of 53. In the wake of her passing, her co-stars have shared memories of her career and friendship. Here is what Butler recalls from such a formative time in both their lives.
Speaking with PEOPLE, Butler recalled the strong impression Doherty, who joined the cast of Little House on the Prairie before she was even a teenager. “There just was something about her — Shannen knew where she was going,” mused Butler.
“She was a very determined, and you just knew that she was going to succeed. You just knew she had something.”
“I never got the feeling that Shannen was self-conscious about anything she was doing,” Butler added, “but rather that she was fully connected to what she was trying to accomplish in the given scene. I think she had a very good instinct about the work that she was doing, and I never felt working with Shannon that she had any kind of anxiety about the work that she was doing at all.” At the end of the day, every day, “She was just all in.”
Sure enough, Doherty would go on to build an impressive television career. Not long after her time in Walnut Grove came to an end, Doherty played Maggie Malene in Girls Just Want to Have Fun. This was followed by Kris Witherspoon in Our House, Heather Duke in Heathers, Brenda Walsh in Hollywood 90210, and Prue Halliwell in Charmed.
Her castmates from these shows have also celebrated her career, which saw Doherty earn two Young Artist Award nominations, thanks to her performances in Airwolf and Our House. On social media, Holly Marie Combs, who played Doherty’s TV sister Piper in Charmed, mourned, “My better half of 31 years. There is a hollow in my chest and I can’t seem to catch my breath. A part of me is missing even though I know exactly what you would say to me right now. I know exactly what you would tell me to do right now.”
She went on, “I know your undying spirit will live in me and my kids who you loved as your own. They will walk with your sense of purpose and pride. They will be truthful and stand up for what is right. No matter what and zero f—s given. Your fire will live on in them and the many other Charmed ones you helped raise. A fierce fighter til the end. My most ardent champion. My loyal protector. My best friend. You taught me the meaning of family. You were and will be forevermore my sister. I love you.”
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