Beloved TV actor Luke Perry has died today following his hospitalization Wednesday morning after suffering a massive stroke. His reps confirmed his passing this morning.
Perry rose to fame in the early ’90s as a regular cast member on the hit TV series, Beverly Hills, 90210. Since then, he’s had a long and storied career in film and television. Perry was currently starring on the CW teen drama, Riverdale, as Archie’s father Fred Andrews. According to TMZ, Perry had recently been shooting episodes for Riverdale on the Warner Brothers lot in Los Angeles.
On Wednesday, Fox announced that there would be a reboot of Beverly Hills, 90210. Perry’s co-stars from the original (Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling, and Ian Ziering) have all signed on to the reboot, and now, unfortunately, we know that Perry won’t be joining them.
Perry’s reps released the following statement this morning:
“Actor Luke Perry, 52, passed away today after suffering a massive stroke. He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close family and friends. The family appreciates the outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Luke from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning. No further details will be released at this time.” The news was first reported by Entertainment Weekly.
Love from Perry’s friends continues to pour in.
Ian Ziering, aka Steve Sanders, shared some wonderful photos of the two of them throughout their careers.
The official Riverdale writers’ room Twitter also sent their love.
They’re dedicating the current season to Luke in the wake of his death.
Their Twitter bio was updated today to read:
“Season 3 is dedicated to our lovely family member and friend, Luke Perry.”
The executive producers, Warner Bros, and the CW have also issued a statement.
“We are deeply saddened to learn today about the passing of Luke Perry. A beloved member of the Riverdale, Warner Bros. and CW family, Luke was everything you would hope he would be: an incredibly caring, consummate professional with a giant heart, and a true friend to all. A father figure and mentor to the show’s young cast, Luke was incredibly generous, and he infused the set with love and kindness. Our thoughts are with Luke’s family during this most difficult time.”
Actor Charlie Sheen
Another young actor who was coming up around the same time as Perry.
Actor Patricia Arquette shared this great photo.
She shared this story with People.
“Luke was the most incredible friend. He was an old school man. Stand-up and straight-shooting. He was integral and fair and good and strong. His joy was being a father to kids, Jack and Sophie, and he had found true joy and happiness with his great love, Madison. It’s a true loss to all of us who knew him and to those who didn’t. He was a great talent and was a strong and stalwart man, and they will never make another like him.”
Perry was an icon.
Today NBC shared a story of a time when Perry had to be escorted out of a mall in Seattle because he was being mobbed by fans.
He had to be hidden in a clothes hamper.
Such a funny visual. Just speaks for how loved Luke really was.
Or another where a fan fainted right in front of him:
“She fainted right in front of me. And I was going, ‘Hey, hey, breathe, hey, hey.’ I don’t like that. I mean, I could understand if I was the King,” he added, referring to Elvis Presley. “But I ain’t.”