Skip to main content

90210 and Riverdale actor Luke Perry dies days after suffering stroke

Leon Bennett / Getty Images

Luke Perry, the actor who rose to fame playing Dylan McKay on the teen drama series Beverly Hills, 90210 throughout the 1990s, has died at age 52 following a stroke.

Perry had been hospitalized since Wednesday, February 27, due to the stroke.

Perry was “surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, stepfather Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close family and friends” when he died, according to a statement provided to Variety by a representative for Perry. “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 massive stroke that landed Perry in the hospital was initially reported by TMZ and later confirmed by Variety and other outlets. Perry was transported to the hospital after paramedics received a call reporting a medical emergency at the actor’s California residence.

After spending nearly a decade as a regular cast member on 90210, followed by roles in various big- and small-screen projects, the actor recently found his way back in front of television cameras with a regular role on Riverdale, The CW’s live-action drama series based on the universe of Archie Comics. Perry portrays Fred Andrews, the father of the series’ lead character, Archie Andrews.

Coincidentally, Perry’s hospitalization occurred within 24 hours of an announcement that 90210 would be the subject of a revival series that would bring back much of the show’s original cast. Perry was not included among the announced cast members returning for the revival, but his former 90210 co-star Tori Spelling — who will be returning for the revival series — indicated that Perry would return for occasional appearances as Dylan when his work on Riverdale allowed time for him to do so.

Apart from his featured roles on 90210 and Riverdale, Perry has appeared in multiple films during his long career, with 1994’s rodeo drama 8 Seconds the most prominent of his big-screen projects. Perry’s acting career has been primarily centered on television, with both on-screen roles and voice-acting performances on a long list of shows over the years.

There’s been no official word from The CW on how Perry’s death will affect Riverdale, which premiered in 2017 to positive reviews and is currently in the midst of its third season, which premiered in October 2018. The show was renewed earlier this year by The CW for a fourth season, which does not have a premiere date at this point.

Updated on March 4, 2019: This article has been updated to confirm Luke Perry’s death.

Editors' Recommendations

Rick Marshall
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
10 best R-rated movies streaming right now
A woman and her child stands next to a dead body in Anatomy of a Fall.

R-rated movies are typically expected by audiences to push the boundaries of what can be depicted on the big screen. Whether it's gory horror movies or steamy erotic thrillers, these movies were designed specifically to get an "R" rating and be shown primarily to adults.

From modern masterpieces like Christopher Nolan's Oppenheimer to classics like Alien, some of the best R-rated movies ever made are available to stream on different platforms like Netflix, Amazon Prime Video, Hulu, and Max. With bold narratives and unfiltered realism, these are great picks for an enjoyable movie night among adult friends.

Read more
Stop! Watch these Netflix movies before March 2024 ends
Robert Pattinson in The Batman.

One of the blessings of streaming services like Netflix is that, in addition to their libraries of original titles, they also have titles that come and go on a regular basis. While the introduction of new titles is always nice, the downside is that titles usually leave the service when new ones join.

As March turns into April, we're going to lose some genuinely great movies on Netflix. While you still have time, though, you should check these three very different movies out.
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore (1974)
Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore - Original Theatrical Trailer

Read more
March Madness live stream 2024: Watch every Sweet 16 game
Logo for the Sweet 16 in March Madness.

With the always-thrilling first weekend of the NCAA tournament in the books, we now move from quantity to quality. As we get ready for the Sweet 16, each matchup from here on out will be of the must-watch variety. Just four wins sit between the remaining schools and a national championship, so you know there are plenty of huge moments on the way.

There are 12 games this weekend—eight Sweet 16 matchups on Thursday and Friday, and then four Elite 8 contests on Saturday and Sunday. They'll all be televised on either CBS, TBS, TNT or truTV. Fortunately, if you don't have cable, there are a bevy of options for watching the Big Dance for free or cheap.
Is There a Free March Madness Live Stream?

Read more