Tori Spelling is reflecting on grief and the different ways people process loss. During a recent podcast interview, the actress shared that losing her longtime friend and Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Shannen Doherty affected her in ways she never anticipated, even more than when her father, legendary television producer Aaron Spelling, died.
According to People, her candid comments offered a heartfelt look at how time, maturity, and life experience can change the way people respond to loss. Looking back, Spelling admitted she had spent years pushing aside difficult emotions before finally allowing herself to grieve openly.
The actress opens up about friendship and loss
Speaking on the podcast, Tori Spelling and Shannen Doherty reflected on how deeply Doherty’s passing impacted her. Although Aaron Spelling had always been her hero and someone she thought about every day, she explained that she was much younger when he died and had not yet learned how to process her emotions. Instead, she focused on moving forward without fully confronting her grief.
The experience felt very different after Doherty’s death. Spelling said she found herself unable to stop crying, something that surprised her because she had always believed showing emotion was a sign of weakness. She also acknowledged that losing friends around her own age made mortality feel much more personal, leading her to reflect on life in a new way.
Tori Spelling and Shannen Doherty had a friendship that found its way back
Spelling also looked back on her complicated relationship with Doherty during their years on Beverly Hills, 90210. The two actresses shared a close friendship before eventually drifting apart, though neither fully understood why. Years later, fan conventions brought them back together, allowing them to rebuild their friendship before Doherty’s passing.
For longtime viewers, Tori Spelling and Shannen Doherty represent one of television’s most memorable friendships, both on and off the screen. Spelling said reconnecting with her former co-star before losing her was something she will always treasure. Her reflections serve as a touching reminder that healing, forgiveness, and renewed friendships can become some of life’s most meaningful gifts, even during its most difficult moments.