Sarah Michelle Gellar’s moving tribute to close friend Shannen Doherty

“It hurts this much”: A decades-long friendship between two of TV’s most beloved 90s stars has come to a sad end.

Sarah Michelle Gellar has paid tribute to Shannen Doherty, her death marking a sad end for a 30-year-friendship between two of the most beloved TV actresses of the 1990s.

Former Buffy The Vampire Slayer star Gellar, 47, had been close friends with Beverly Hills, 90210 actress Doherty for all of her adult life.

Doherty died over the weekend at the age of 53, following a near-decade-long battle with breast cancer.

“How do you possibly find the right words to sum up 30 years of friendship? I keep reminding myself it only hurts this much because there was so much love,” Gellar wrote on Instagram along with a collection of candid photos of the pair together over the years.

Just a coupla 90s TV icons.

‘30 years of friendship.’

She thanked fans for their “kind words and support” since her friend’s death had been announced.

Gellar also suggested a way to honour Doherty’s memory: “More than anything, Shan loves animals, especially dogs. In her memory let’s support our favourite animal charities,” she offered.

“Whether that’s donating money, stopping by your local shelter and just offering cuddles and walks to animals housed there or even just tagging them in the comments so other people can learn about their work. I know that would make our girl happy (and illicit that deep throaty laugh we all loved),” she wrote.

Gellar suggested fans donate to animal charities in Doherty’s honour.

Friends ‘til the end.

Gellar opened about her long friendship with Doherty in February this year, after Doherty had spoken publicly about her feud with former Charmed co-star Alyssa Milano.

“It was a difficult time. I was there for it,” Gellar said of Doherty’s time on the supernatural soap, which she left after three seasons due to disagreements with Milano.

“I think Shannen’s just about sharing her truths in general right now,” she told E! News.

In the same interview, Gellar spoke about her friendship with Doherty had changed over the years.

“Our relationship has grown because we’ve grown. We’ve had experiences and life is complicated. And we’ve been able to experience it together, so then you grow together,” she said.

In April, Gellar posted a simple tribute to Doherty on what would be her final birthday, writing on Instagram: “I love any reason to celebrate you.”

Doherty and Combs were TV sisters on Charmed …

… and friends for more than 30 years.

Meanwhile, another of Doherty’s longtime close friends, actress Holly Marie Combs, released a statement about her death overnight. Combs was the last of Doherty’s former Charmed co-stars to speak out about her death.

In the moving statement, Combs called her on-screen sister her “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. They will walk with your sense of purpose and pride. They will be truthful and stand up for what is right,” she wrote.

Combs called Doherty “a fierce fighter until the end” and her “best friend”: “You were and will be forevermore my sister. I love you.”

Originally published as Sarah Michelle Gellar’s moving tribute to close friend Shannen Doherty