Cancer

The Power of Three was as strong as ever at '90s Con, a Connecticut-based convention that celebrates all things '90s pop culture. Fans of classic programs like Full House, Beverly Hills 90210, and Clueless got to see their favorite stars reunite at one venue. For fans of Charmed, they got to see series leads Holly Marie Combs, Rose McGowan, and Shannen Doherty among the themed panelists, making dreams come true. Airing from 1998 to 2006, Charmed was created by Constance M. Burge and produced by Aaron Spelling's company, Spelling Television. It told the story of three sisters who discover they are witches and must use their powers to thwart the forces of evil. The lineup changed over the years, with Doherty staying through the first three seasons, while McGowan filled in the third slot from season four onward. A reunion of this sort is something Charmed fans never got to see in the main series and it is especially poignant after everything the actresses have been through; Doherty has been battling breast cancer for years but felt "great" during this special occasion. '90s Con reunites much of the cast of 'Charmed,' including Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, and Rose McGowan View this post on Instagram A post shared by Alyssa Milano (@milano_alyssa) March 17, 18, and 19 marked '90s Con, a weekend of nostalgic celebration. Representing Charmed were Combs, Doherty, and McGowan, along with Brian Krause, Dorian Gregory, and Drew Fuller, who had recurring roles in the series. While Combs was present as one of the three Charmed sisters through the show's entire runtime, McGowan filled in the empty slot left by Doherty's absence, so a lineup with them and their characters was never seen before. Doherty and Combs / Byron Purvis/AdMedia RELATED: Shannen Doherty Stuns In Makeup-Free Selfie, Slams Hollywood For Overlooking ‘Women Without Botox’ Another series mainstay, Alyssa Milano, was not present for '90s Con. But she expressed nothing but excitement at the whole event. "This makes me happy for the OG Charmed fans," she praised in an Instagram post featuring a photo of Doherty, McGowan, and Combs. "What a gift!" The 'Charmed' reunion was meaningful for everyone CHARMED, Alyssa Milano, Holly Marie Combs, Shannen Doherty, Season 3, episode #046, "The Magic Hour", 1998-2006, photo: © Viacom / courtesy Everett Collection It's been a while since Doherty stepped into the Halliwell manor, or anything related to it. Her departure brought with it rumors of a feud with Milano. "There was too much drama on the set and not enough passion for the work," said Doherty in 2001. Speaking of the conflict, Milano said "I could take responsibility for a lot of our tension that we had," pointing to "feeling that I was in competition" instead of in a "sisterhood." CHARMED, from left: Shannen Doherty, Holly Marie Combs, 1998, 1998-2006. ph: Fergus Greer / TV Guide /© The WB Television Network / Courtesy Everett Collection However, Doherty and Milano ended up reconnecting after Doherty was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015. "I will send her DMs every couple of months to just check in," shared Milano, a tradition that's continued through Doherty's remission in 2017 and her cancer's 2020 return as stage 4. Drew Fuller, Brian Krause, Dorian Gregory, Shannen Doherty, Rose McGowan, and Holly Marie Combs / YouTube screenshot Even in the face of this distressing news, participating in '90s Con was invigorating and fun for Doherty. "I'm feeling great," she assured with a word of thanks, "This crowd is amazing!" For Doherty, her character Prudence was also great - and a great source of inspiration. "Prue was a very, very, very strong woman. I was a really strong woman. I played her as that. And I think that did have a definitive impression upon a lot of younger women who were watching the show, to grow up with that sort of inner strength and to help their families and take care of their families. We're very much about empowering women and empowering women within the show." CHARMED, Rose McGowan, (season 5), 1998-2006, photo: © Viacom / courtesy Everett Collection RELATED: Shannen Doherty Unveils The ‘Ravages’ Of Breast Cancer In New Honest Photos