Holly Marie Combs’ son, Finley, has honored the late Charmed actress Shannen Doherty with a deeply personal tattoo, marking a powerful tribute to the woman he knew as more than just a Hollywood star.
Finley, 20, shared the story during the July 22 episode of The House of Halliwell, a Charmed rewatch podcast that devoted the entire episode to Doherty, who passed away on July 13 after a prolonged battle with breast cancer.
“I was riding back on the bus from base with a couple of my guys when Mom called me and told me what happened,” said Finley, who is currently serving in the U.S. military.
Determined to pay homage in a meaningful way, Finley worked closely with his tattoo artist to create a unique design. “I texted him, I was like, ‘Yeah, I want to do the breast cancer ribbon, but let’s do it in a way where it doesn’t look like everybody else’s,’” he explained. The artist delivered, working in silence for over an hour before finishing the design. Finley admitted, “I didn’t start crying until it was done.”
Doherty’s passing was confirmed by her publicist Leslie Sloane, who stated the 53-year-old actress was surrounded by loved ones and her dog Bowie in her final moments. The Charmed alum was remembered not only for her iconic roles but also for the intimate relationships she built with those closest to her, including Combs’ family.
Combs, 50, and Doherty’s friendship began in the 1980s and deepened during their years co-starring on Charmed, where they played sisters. Over the decades, Doherty developed a special bond with Combs’ three sons — Finley, Riley, 17, and Kelley, 15.
“Shannen could always make Finley laugh the hardest,” Combs recalled on the podcast, fondly telling a story of Doherty teaching a toddler-aged Finley to say swear words. “She let him fall off the bench at the Malibu park and all of the paparazzi caught it… And then, she picked you up and you were laughing, and she was laughing… And that’s when he looked up and went, ‘F—k a birds.’ She made him say that for three days straight.”
Inspired by her son’s gesture, Combs revealed she plans to get a tattoo of her own in remembrance of Doherty. “I think what I’m gonna do is get the time that she transitioned,” she said. “That’s my big gripe with this whole situation — we both thought that we had more time. We had so many plans, and I hope I can carry out some of those for her.”
A week after Doherty’s death, Combs posted a heartfelt tribute on Instagram, sharing a montage of memories. “I spent all day looking for one particular picture and found just about every picture but that one,” she wrote. “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.”
Through permanent ink and powerful memories, both mother and son are preserving the legacy of a beloved friend whose impact was felt far beyond the screen.
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