Shannen Doherty, Eric Dane and More ‘Charmed’ Actors Who Died Too Soon

Over the years, the Charmed fanbase has also experienced the deaths of Eric Dane and Julian McMahon, who played Jason Dean and Cole Turner, respectively.

Keep scrolling for a look back at stars from the original Charmed who we lost too soon.

Shannen Doherty

Shannen Doherty was one-third of the original “Power of Three” trio along with Alyssa Milano and Holly Marie Combs. She left Charmed at the end of season 3 amid reports of backstage conflict between her and Milano.

The Beverly Hills, 90210 alum announced her breast cancer diagnosis in March 2015 and initially went into remission before the disease returned in 2020. Doherty shared in June 2023 that the cancer had spread to her brain.

On July 13, 2024, Doherty’s publicist Leslie Sloane confirmed to Us Weekly that the actress had died at age 53.

“It is with a heavy heart that I confirm the passing of actress Shannen Doherty. On Saturday, July 13, she lost her battle with cancer after many years of fighting the disease,” Sloan told Us. “The devoted daughter, sister, aunt and friend was surrounded by her loved ones as well as her dog, Bowie. The family asks for their privacy at this time so they can grieve in peace.”

All of the Charmed actresses who were part of the “Power of Three” in the original series — including Milano — paid tribute to Doherty following her death.

“It’s no secret that Shannen and I had a complicated relationship, but at its core was someone I deeply respected and was in awe of,” Milano told Us at the time. “She was a talented actress, beloved by many and the world is less without her. My condolences to all who loved her.”

Rose McGowan remembered Doherty as a “warrior” with a “lion heart” while Holly Marie Combs admitted that she never expected to lose Doherty so soon.

“I’ve had a little bit of time to reflect on that and how everything worked out,” Combs said on her“House of Halliwell” podcast in July 2024. “I think she did as much as she could in the time that she had, but we did think we had more time. That’s the really sad part. We had big, big plans for this year. She didn’t think she was going anywhere anytime soon.”

Doherty was married three times — to Ashley Hamilton from 1993 to 1994, then to Rick Salomon from 2002 to 2003 and Kurt Iswarienko from 2011 to 2024 — but had no children.

Eric Dane

Future Grey’s Anatomy star Eric Dane had an early career breakthrough with a recurring role on Charmed as Phoebe’s boss-turned-boyfriend Jason Dean.

In April 2025, Dane went public with his ALS diagnosis. Per the Mayo Clinic, ALS is a nervous system disease that impacts nerve cells in both the brain and spinal cord and causes a progressive loss of muscle control.

“I have been diagnosed with ALS,” he told People at the time. “I am grateful to have my loving family by my side as we navigate this next chapter.”

Dane was chosen as the Advocate of the Year Award at the ALS Network’s Champions for Cures and Care Gala in January 2026 but could not accept in person “due to the physical realities of ALS,” the organization said. A spokesperson for Dane confirmed to Us Weekly on February 19, 2026, that the Charmed alum died at age 53. (He was survived by his two daughters, Billie and Georgia, from his marriage to Rebecca Gayheart.)

“[Eric] will be deeply missed, and lovingly remembered always,” his rep said. “Eric adored his fans and is forever grateful for the outpouring of love and support he’s received. The family has asked for privacy as they navigate this impossible time.”

Alyssa Milano — who costarred with Dane on Charmed and also briefly dated him — looked back on their long friendship following the announcement of his death.

“I can’t stop seeing that spark in Eric’s eye right before he’d say something that would either make you spit out your drink or rethink your entire perspective,” Milano wrote via Instagram. “He had a razor-sharp sense of humor. He loved the absurdity of things. He loved catching people off guard.

Milano recalled that “everything in [Dane]” softened whenever he spoke about his daughters.

“He carried them with him even in rooms where they weren’t present,” she wrote. “You could see it in the way his voice changed when he said their names. A breathtakingly beautiful family. The spark. The mischief. The tenderness he kept guarded but never totally hidden.”

Milano credited Dane with persuading her to get her iconic pixie cut during the run of Charmed.

“He also was with me on the walk when we found Lucy, my beloved rescue chihuahua. He called me ‘Milano,’ as if it was the only part of my name that mattered,” she concluded. “My heart is with the people who were lucky enough to be his home.”

Julian McMahon

Julian McMahon left an indelible impression on Charmed viewers as Cole Turner, a cunning and charismatic demon originally sent to destroy the “Power of Three.” The character became so popular that McMahon joined the cast full time and Cole became a love interest for Phoebe, while dating Shannen Doherty off set.

Julian’s wife, Kelly McMahon, announced in July 2025 that he’d died at age 56 following a private battle with cancer. (Julian shared a daughter, Madison Elizabeth McMahon, with his ex-wife Brooke Burns.)

“With an open heart, I wish to share with the world that my beloved husband, Julian McMahon, died peacefully this week after a valiant effort to overcome cancer,” Kelly told Deadline. “Julian loved life. He loved his family. He loved his friends. He loved his work, and he loved his fans.”

She went on, “His deepest wish was to bring joy into as many lives as possible. We ask for support during this time to allow our family to grieve in privacy. And we wish for all of those to whom Julian brought joy, to continue to find joy in life. We are grateful for the memories.”

Alyssa Milano remembered Julian for his “magic” on the Charmed set and acknowledged how “heartbroken” she was to lose him.

“That smile. That laugh. That talent. That presence. He walked into a room and lit it up—not just with charisma, but with kindness. With mischief. With soulful understanding,” Milano wrote via Instagram. “We spent years together on Charmed—years of scenes, stories, and so many in-between moments. He made me feel safe as an actor. Seen as a woman. He challenged me, teased me, supported me. We were so different, and yet somehow we always understood each other.”

Milano described Julian as being “more than my TV husband … he was a dear friend.”

“[He was the] kind who checks in. The kind who remembers. The kind who shares. The kind who tells you the truth, even when it’s uncomfortable—but always with love.,” she reminisced. “My heart is with Kelly, with Madison, and with Iliana—his girls, his world. He adored them. You could feel it in every conversation, every story, every text. He was a family man above all, and he loved deeply.”

The Charmed star concluded, “Losing him feels unreal. Too soon. Too unfair. Rest, my friend. I’ll carry your laugh with me. Forever Cole. Forever Julian.”

Rose McGowan eulogized Julian as a “ force of brilliance, wild talent and humor.”

“For you, your family and loving fans all over the world, I pray [for] comfort,” McGowan wrote via her Instagram Story.

Holly Marie Combs added, “One of a kind is an understatement. Your unyielding zest for life and crazy making sense of humor will be sorely missed. The joy and laughter you were the direct cause of will always be remembered. I hope you find our lady friend [Julian’s ex-girlfriend and Charmed costar Shannen Doherty) and dance in those rose petals.”

James Avery

While James Avery was best known for playing Uncle Philip Banks on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, he followed up that classic sitcom with a guest appearance on Charmed. The veteran TV actor played Zola, a member of the Council of Elders, in Charmed’s season 7 episode “A Call to Arms.”

Avery died at age 68 following complications from open heart surgery on December 31, 2013. He was survived by his wife of 26 years, Barbara Avery, and his stepson, Kevin Waters.

Billy Drago

Veteran character actor Billy Drago appeared in multiple Charmed episodes as Barbas, the demon of fear. He also starred in The Untouchables, The X-Files and Moonlighting.

Variety reported that Drago died at age 73 on June 24, 2019, due to complications from a stroke. He was survived by two sons, Darren Burrows and Derrick Burrows.

Rebecca Balding

Rebecca Balding made recurring appearances on Charmed’s later seasons as Elise Rothman, the editor of the newspaper where Phoebe worked. She appeared in the classic sitcom Soap, Melrose Place and 7th Heaven as well.

Her husband, James L. Conway, confirmed to People in July 2022 that Balding died at age 73 following a battle with ovarian cancer. She was survived by her daughters, Sarah and Kathleen, and multiple grandchildren.

David Carradine

Kill Bill star David Carradine guest starred in the Charmed season 1 episode “Deja Vu All Over Again” as the time-altering demonic sorcerer Tempus.

Carradine died under mysterious circumstances at age 72 while in Thailand to shoot a movie in May 2009. Us Weekly reported the following month that a medical examiner hired by his family determined that Carradine died of asphyxiation, not suicide as originally suspected.

He is survived by his three children — daughters Calista and Kansas and son Tom — as well as his fifth wife Annie Bierman and her four children.