Shannen Doherty and Ashley Hamilton’s marriage was short and not always sweet.
In September 1993, the Beverly Hills, 90210 actress surprised fans when she decided to marry Hamilton after just weeks of dating.
Five months later, Doherty filed for divorce and cited irreconcilable differences as the reason behind the split.
“Towards my last season [of Beverly Hills, 90210], I was in a really horrible marriage, and there were things that were transpiring in that marriage that made it really hard for me to consistently be on time for work,” Doherty recalled in a January 2024 episode of iHeartRadio’s “Let’s Be Clear” podcast. “I know that that became a very big problem for the rest of you, as it should be because if everyone else is on time and you are waiting for one person, it sucks.”
Although Doherty died in July 2024 at the age of 53 following a breast cancer diagnosis, her past marriage was brought up again when Hamilton was reportedly hospitalized in April 2026 after suffering an apparent overdose.
According to TMZ, Hamilton was found unresponsive in an Airbnb after experiencing a medical emergency related to an unknown substance. He was reportedly rushed to the hospital for further care.
As his recovery continues, keep reading to learn more about Doherty and Hamilton’s relationship:
What Went Wrong in Ashley Hamilton and Shannen Doherty’s Marriage?
In a January 2024 episode of her “Let’s Be Clear” podcast, Shannen Doherty revealed that Ashley Hamilton’s struggles with substance abuse became “all consuming” for her.
“I didn’t even want to leave the house,” she explained, “because I was scared that [Hamilton] would go and get drugs.”
In August 2023, Hamilton reflected on the progress he had made and proclaimed that “recovery is possible.”
“16 years ago, I left this house and country, a different person than I am today. I couldn’t have done this journey alone,” he wrote via Instagram at the time. “It’s not always been easy, but it’s been worth it. Substance use disorder is an equal opportunity killer. Thank you for all of the support on this journey, you know who you are 🙏.”
How Did Ashley Hamilton and Shannen Doherty Move On After Their Divorce?
After his marriage to Shannen Doherty came to an end, Ashley Hamilton went on to welcome a daughter with Renee Karalian in November 2016. In a rare social media post, Ashley shared a glimpse into his fatherhood journey.
“Blessed to have a daughter with a heart of gold and her amazing mom,” he wrote via Instagram in January 2026.
As for Doherty, she married photographer Kurt Iswarienko in October 2011. Nearly 12 years later, Doherty filed for divorce and claimed that Iswarienko had been unfaithful during her cancer diagnosis.
“I went into that surgery early in the morning and I went in after I found out that my marriage was essentially over, that my husband had been carrying on an affair for two years,” she claimed in a December 2023 episode of her podcast. “To not go in that surgery, even though, being very clear, he wanted to go, I couldn’t go into that surgery with him there. I felt so betrayed.”
The pair were in the middle of their divorce proceedings when the actress died in July 2024.
What Did Ashley Hamilton and His Family Say About Shannen Doherty’s Death?
After news broke that Shannen Doherty had died in July 2024, Ashley Hamilton spoke out in a personal statement.
“Shannen was not only my wife, she was my guardian angel,” Hamilton shared with Us Weekly. “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. My love and admiration for her lasted far longer than our short-lived marriage.”
Hamilton’s mom, Alana Stewart, also paid tribute to the late actress in a social media post.
“She was incredibly courageous and an inspiration until the end. Shannen was part of our family at one time,” Stewart wrote via Instagram in July 2024. “When she was 22 and my son, Ashley Hamilton, was 18 they got married. It only lasted a year, but I always really liked Shannen. There was a genuine sweetness about her.”
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