Actor Luke Perry, known for his starring roles on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale, was remembered in heartfelt messages from former castmates, friends, and actors after his sudden passing Monday.
Perry suffered a massive stroke last week at his home in Sherman Oaks, California, and passed away Monday morning at the age of 52.
“I will forever bask in the loving memories we’ve shared over the last thirty years,” Perry’s 90210 co-star Ian Ziering wrote soon after the announcement. “May your journey forward be enriched by the magnificent souls who have passed before you, just like you have done here for those you leave behind.”
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Perry rose to fame as heartthrob Dylan McKay on 90210, and most recently played Archie’s father on the CW hit series Riverdale.
He died surrounded by family, including his children Jack and Sophie Perry, ages 21 and 18, respectively, and fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer.
“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,” his rep told E! News in a statement.
90210 castmate Christine Elise McCarthy, who played Emily Valentine, reacted to the news via Instagram. “I am still in shock and I have no words beyond saying he was a truly kind gentleman,” McCarthy wrote.
Riverdale shut down production for the day after Perry’s death. The show’s executive producers, WBTV, and The CW said they were “deeply saddened” to learn of his passing.
“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,” they wrote. “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.”
Actress Lili Reinhart, who plays Betty Cooper on Riverdale, wrote on Twitter that she was praying for his family and children to “heal and find peace.”
“I’m finding it hard to grasp that he will no longer be around to give long hugs and share his wisdom and kindness with all of us,” she wrote.
Friends and admirers of Perry’s work also took to social media to express their sadness.
Buffy the Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon remembered him as “funny, committed, and always gracious.”
And actor Jon Cryer called him a “character actor in the body of a heartthrob.”
Actor Seth Green said he was “crushed” by the news, calling him “warm, kind, generous and hard working.”
