Who Is Shannen Doherty’s Ex-Husband, Ashley Hamilton? His Addiction Struggles Ruined Their Marriage

The late American actress, Shannen Doherty’s first husband, Ashley Hamilton, is leading the headlines after being hospitalised due to an overdose. The 51-year-old was rushed to a hospital after he was found unresponsive in an Airbnb in Los Angeles. He had a medical emergency related to an unknown substance. Beyond his short-lived marriage to Shannen Doherty, not many people know that he himself hails from a well-known family. Let us read on to know more about him and his relationship with Doherty.

Shannen Doherty’s ex-husband, Ashley Hamilton, hails from a popular Hollywood family

Ashley Hamilton is the son of actor George Hamilton and his actress wife, Alana Stewart. George is an American actor who has received a Golden Globe Award and has worked in film and television. On the other hand, Ashley’s mother, Alana Stewart, was a former model and actress who also hosted her own talk show. Ashley was once the stepson of British singer Rod Stewart.

Ashley Hamilton’s career as an actor, singer and songwriter

Ashley Hamilton made his acting debut in 1993 with the film Beethoven’s 2nd. He then starred in films like Lost in Africa (1994), Off Key (2001), Lost Angeles (2012), Iron Man 3 (2013), and Cats Dancing on Jupiter (2015). He also played the role of ‘Cole Deschanel’ in the first season of Sunset Beach.

Apart from his acting career, Hamilton is also a singer and a songwriter. He fronted the Los Angeles-based rock band, Fine. Hamilton released a single titled Wimmin, which reached No. 27 on the UK Singles Chart. Apart from acting and singing, Hamilton has been performing stand-up comedy in Los Angeles. He appeared in Iron Man 3 in 2013, and in 2019, Hamilton directed and starred in the film, Gothic Harvest.

Ashley Hamilton’s struggle with addiction

Ashley Hamilton has been to rehab over 30 times and has openly talked about his battle with addiction to drugs and alcohol, which began when he was very young. Despite years of sobriety, Hamilton has experienced relapses. Hamilton has also been candid about his battle with bulimia and anorexia, which began in his teens.

The actor also stated that he used drugs and alcohol to control his craving and addiction to food. Hamilton has even become a sober companion to others coping with substance abuse. In an interaction with People, Hamilton revealed how his father helped him cope with addiction and shared:

“I had some really hard times. But my dad never gave up on me no matter what. My dad always said, ‘You’ll get a second chance.’ And now I have one.”

Ashley Hamilton’s addiction ruined his high-profile marriage to Shannen Doherty

At the mere age of 18, Hamilton garnered a lot of attention when he got married to Shannen Doherty in 1993 after knowing her for only two weeks. The marriage lasted for only five months, and the two got divorced in 1994. As per Doherty, the reason for their split was his struggle with addiction. During her Let’s Be Clear With Shannen Doherty podcast, she revealed:

“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. I didn’t even want to leave the house because I was scared that [Hamilton] would go and get drugs. I know that that became a very big problem … as it should be, because if everyone else is on time and you are waiting for one person it sucks.”

After their divorce in 1994, Hamilton got married to actress Angie Everhart in 1996. However, just like his first marriage, his second marriage was short-lived. Within four months, Hamilton and Everhart got divorced.

In 2024, Shannen passed away after her long battle with breast cancer. After her death, Hamilton paid a heartfelt tribute to her. In a statement to Us Weekly, he revealed that despite their short marriage, Shannen had been with him during his darkest times. Hamilton revealed that he could not reach out to Doherty when she was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2015 and in 2019. But being a cancer survivor himself, watching her battle that horrific disease was inspiring. Stating how his heart aches for her, Hamilton shared:

“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.”

What do you think about Ashley Hamilton’s struggle with addiction, leading to his broken marriage with Shannen Doherty?

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