Shannen Doherty left grieving after her best friend of nearly 30 years dies of cancer

By Megan Stone

"Charmed" actress Shannen Doherty shared the heartbreaking news that her best friend of almost three decades, Deborah Waknin-Harwin, died of cancer.

"Around 28 years ago when I met Deborah, she made me squeeze into very tight red patent pants. It was an instant friendship," Doherty penned in an emotional tribute to her late friend in an Instagram post on Monday. "A friendship that in 28 years has endured, grown and been cherished by us both."

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Around 28 years ago when I met Deborah, she made me squeeze into very tight red patent pants. It was an instant friendship. A friendship that in 28 years has endured, grown and been cherished by us both. She taught me to play backgammon. She introduced me to the island of ST. Barth which started our girl trips there. She taught me that when she dressed me, I looked better lol. We were together thru boyfriends and husbands. Divorces, tears and laughter. We danced on tables (and fell off them- inside joke) all around the world together. I was her maid of honor at her wedding to the love of her life Craig. We cried when she called to tell me she was pregnant with her extraordinary daughter Olivia. She spoke 5 plus languages fluently. We went to the same high school we discovered. We worked on shows together. We grew up.... together. She was a constant. Thru my cancer and I for her when she got diagnosed 4 years ago. She smiled, a lot. She radiated beauty, intelligence and goodness. She was and is wedged into my heart so deeply. We were more than best friends. We were sisters. Tied to each other by the universe, by our very essences that recognized each other instantly. Deb I hope you are dancing on tables again, having a tequila and shooting the shit with God. I will miss you forever, your advice, your laughter, your frankness. I will so miss you. I already do. I already feel it, this part of my heart missing. Deborah Waknin Harwin I love you.

A post shared by ShannenDoherty (@theshando) on Mar 23, 2020 at 9:38am PDT

The 48-year-old actress uploaded a series of photos documenting their friendship through the years, from hanging out with their families to enjoying a girls-only vacation at the beach.

"She taught me to play backgammon. She introduced me to the island of ST. Barth which started our girl trips there. She taught me that when she dressed me, I looked better lol," continued Doherty. "We were together thru boyfriends and husbands. Divorces, tears and laughter."

The "Beverly Hills, 90210" actress painted a picture of who Deborah was, not only as a friend, but as a mother to "her extraordinary daughter Olivia" and wife of "the love of her life Craig."

"She radiated beauty, intelligence and goodness," Doherty revealed further. "We grew up.... together. She was a constant. Thru my cancer and I for her when she got diagnosed 4 years ago."

The two were more than friends, noted Doherty, "We were sisters. Tied to each other by the universe, by our very essences that recognized each other instantly."

"I will miss you forever, your advice, your laughter, your frankness," Doherty concluded with a promise. "I will so miss you. I already do. I already feel it, this part of my heart missing. Deborah Waknin Harwin I love you."

In February, Doherty revealed on "Good Morning America" she was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer.