Ashley Hamilton has paid a heartfelt tribute to his former wife Shannen Doherty , calling her his "guardian angel" in an emotional statement. The Beverly Hills, 90210 and Charmed actress drew her last breath this Saturday, July 13, 2024, following a courageous battle with cancer that lasted nearly a decade, at the age of 53 years old . Actor and comedian Ashley, the son of US star George Hamilton, who was briefly married to Shannen for five months in the nineties, expressed his deep gratitude for her support during some of his most challenging times.
He also admitted that he had only watched Shannen's gruelling fight against cancer from the side-lines, saying he regretfully didn't reach out to her after her diagnosis. Speaking to TMZ, he said: "Shannen was not only my wife, she was my guardian angel. Even though things don't always work out the way we hope they will, she stood by my side during some of my darkest times.
" He then added: "My love and admiration for her lasted far longer than our short-lived marriage." Ashley, who tied the knot with Shannen in 1993 after a whirlwind two-week romance until the pair split up after six months of marriage, commended the actress for facing cancer with remarkable bravery. He shared: "Watching her battle that horrific disease with such stoicism was inspiring to many, but even more so to me since I am a cancer survivor.
The world lost a free-spirited soul and my heart aches for her and for all those who loved her. May she rest in peace..