Not long after hearing how Luke Perry suffered a massive stroke last week comes the tragic news that the veteran actor passed away this morning at the age of 52 at St. Joseph’s Hospital in Burbank. Perhaps best known for his roles on Beverly Hills 90210, Buffy the Vampire Slayer and, most recently, Riverdale, this’ll no doubt come as a heartbreaking shock to his fans the world over.
Here’s what TMZ had to offering regarding the situation:
“According to his rep, Luke was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiance 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.”
What makes this news doubly saddening is that Perry’s career had really been kicking into high gear as of late. Not only had Riverdale been renewed for a fourth season, but Beverly Hills 90210 was also confirmed to come back as part of a limited engagement – and on the very same day that Perry suffered the aforementioned stroke. I imagine both series will have to figure out a way to write out his respective characters, though that doesn’t measure up to the loss of him in the real world.
Maybe it’s just my own love for the Archie Comics-based prime time drama that forces me to picture Fred Andrews whenever Luke’s name is mentioned, but I’ll also forever associate him with the character of Sub-Zero. Believe it or not, he actually voiced the ninja for the short-lived Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm animated series that ran during the late 1990’s.
After offering a moment of silence, be sure to check out Riverdale on Wednesday nights on The CW in order to savor some of Luke Perry‘s final performances.