Shannen Doherty’s Ex-Husband Rushed to Hospital After Apparent Overdose, Report Says
Actor Ashley Hamilton, Shannen Doherty’s ex, is recovering after an apparent overdose, TMZ reports. Found unresponsive at a Southern California Airbnb on April 2, he was rushed to the hospital and is now in stable condition.
I wish this one came with a happier setup: Ashley Hamilton, actor and Shannen Doherty's ex, reportedly had a medical emergency tied to an unknown substance and is now recovering. Here is what happened, and how it fits into the long, messy, very human arc of his life.
What happened
TMZ reports Hamilton was found unresponsive on Thursday, April 2, at an Airbnb in Southern California after what authorities believe was an overdose involving an unknown substance. He was rushed to the hospital and, as of publication, is in stable condition. Us Weekly says they reached out to his rep for comment.
How this connects to Shannen Doherty
Hamilton, now 51, married Doherty in 1993 after a whirlwind two weeks of dating. The marriage lasted five months. When Doherty died in July 2024 at 53, following her battle with breast cancer, Hamilton publicly praised her as someone who stood by him through some of his worst moments; he said his love and respect for her outlived their brief marriage.
Not long before her passing, Doherty looked back on that era on her iHeartRadio show 'Let's Be Clear with Shannen Doherty.' In a January 2024 episode, she talked about how a bad marriage during her final 'Beverly Hills, 90210' season bled into work, including her punctuality, and she owned that it was unfair to the rest of the cast and crew.
Family and the sobriety battle he has talked about for years
Hamilton is Hollywood legacy: his parents are George Hamilton and Alana Stewart. He has a daughter, born in November 2016, with Renee Karalian. In a rare personal post this past January, he called himself lucky to co-parent a kid with a heart of gold.
If you have followed him at all, none of today’s news is totally out of left field. He has been candid about substance use for years. In August 2023, the 'Iron Man 3' actor wrote about spending half his life in the U.K., hitting rock bottom in the very house where he grew up, blowing up a career he had worked hard to build, and then leaving the country 16 years earlier to start turning it around. The line that stuck with me then still does now:
"Substance use disorder is an equal opportunity killer."
He also stressed that recovery is possible and thanked the people who helped him get there. It was a raw, specific snapshot of someone trying to do better without the performative gloss.
Quick timeline
- 1993: Marries Shannen Doherty after two weeks of dating; they split five months later.
- November 2016: Welcomes a daughter with Renee Karalian.
- August 2023: Reflects on addiction and recovery in a U.K.-set Instagram post, noting he left the country 16 years earlier to change course.
- January 2024: Doherty discusses how a bad marriage affected her late-'90210' work life on her podcast.
- July 2024: Doherty dies at 53 after a breast cancer diagnosis; Hamilton pays tribute to her support during his darkest periods.
- Thursday, April 2: Found unresponsive at a Southern California Airbnb after a medical emergency tied to an unknown substance; hospitalized in stable condition.
If you or someone you know needs help with substance use, the SAMHSA National Helpline is 1-800-662-HELP (4357). It is free, confidential, and available 24/7.