After a long battle with breast cancer, Shannen Doherty recently died at the age of 53,
and her Charmed co-star Holly Marie Combs recently shared a sweet story about a promise the late actress once made to her.
Holly Marie Combs has shared several posts on Instagram about grieving Shannen, alongside personal photographs of the two throughout their friendship.
Holly’s most recent Instagram post about Shannen was extremely relatable to anyone who has endured their “first week” without a good friend,
a beloved relative, or favored co-worker, and she accurately described the way time warps and bends when we lose someone we love.
Holly Marie Combs: Shannen Promised To Haunt Me
Before we look at Holly’s post about Shannen’s promise to haunt her, it’s worthwhile to provide some context about the set of Charmed, and the many years of rumors that spread about squabbles on it.
Shannen was notoriously prevented from openly discussing problems on the Charmed set, and much of the discord was intentionally not disclosed during the peak of the show’s popularity.
But it was widely believed that Charmed’s biggest conflicts existed between two of its three initial stars – Shannen Doherty and Alyssa Milano – and co-star Rose McGowan outright claimed Alyssa’s behavior was “toxic.”
Shannen was often blamed for on-set problems, but her friendship with Holly Marie Combs remained steady.
In December, ScreenRant reported that Holly said she was “blackmailed” to stay on Charmed after Shannen’s exit, agreeing only after an executive threatened to sue her if she left:
“While appearing on the Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty podcast (via Entertainment Tonight), Combs alleged she was blackmailed when she tried to leave Charmed after Doherty’s exit.
“Combs explained that she was in an ‘uncomfortable’ and ‘awkward’ position after the firing because she had no desire to do the show without Doherty. However, when she brought her concerns to producer Jonathan Levin, he blackmailed her by threatening to sue her.”
Holly has always made her genuine loyalty to and affection for Shannen clear, and has continued to do so since Doherty’s death.
One day after Shannen’s death, Holly said (via Instagram):
Heaven got a little bit louder. You know where I’ll be waiting.
On July 21st, Holly shared another post about Shannen with a slideshow of photographs, in which she mentioned that Shannen pledged to “haunt” her.
Her initial sentiment about the passage of time while grieving was heartbreaking.
She observed that the week since Shannen’s death felt like “forever” to her, and explained that she’d been sifting through photos like the ones she’d shared:
“It’s been one week and it feels like forever. I spent all day looking for one particular picture and found just about every picture but that one.”
Holly continued:
“Shannen promised to haunt me but I thought she’d be occupied with a few others at first. Alas I’m sure it will show up when and where I least expect it. My rock. 10:18[.]”
In a separate post Holly shared the day after Shannen’s death, she lamented in part:
“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. I know your undying spirit will live in me and my kids who you loved as your own …”
” … 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.”
Holly Isn’t The Only Grieving Co-Star To Expect A Visit
Holly’s post about Shannen “haunting” her was a vulnerable one, exposing the raw edges of her bereavement in its difficult early days — and speaking to the close relationships that tend to develop on set.
Back in October, the sudden death of Matthew Perry rocked both the actors of Friends and pop culture at large, and the show’s ensemble cast members were visibly shaken by the horrific news.
Then in May, Friends’ alum Courtney Cox – whose character Monica eventually married Matthew Perry’s Chandler – “shocked the world” when she made a surprising, sweet admission about her friend.
Like Holly, Courteney’s disclosure was a personal one, and it was kind of brave of her to say it — she admitted that she suspects Matthew Perry still “visits” her.
In an interview with CBS, Cox clearly missed Perry a great deal, saying that he “[was] genuinely a huge heart, [who] obviously struggled,” tentatively adding:
He visits me a lot, if we believe in that.
Her interviewer called the admission “very interesting,” and asked if Courteney still “feels his presence,” and she responded:
“Oh yeah. You know, I talk to my mom, my dad, Matthew – I feel like there are a lotta people that are, I think, that guide us …
“I do sense, yeah, I sense Matthew’s around for sure.”
On Holly Marie Combs’ post about Shannen Doherty’s promise to “haunt” her, one commenter replied: “She will 100 [percent] haunt you, but when she knows you need it the most. She’s with you daily. Look for your ‘Ghost Winks.'”
Snooki of Jersey Shore fame also chimed in, telling Holly that Shannen will “show [her] a million signs in no time 🕊️🤍”
