On Feb. 27, 2019, beloved film and television actor Luke Perry suffered a massive stroke at his home in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles, California. TMZ reported that paramedics received a call about Luke Perry’s stroke from someone in the residence. When EMTs arrived, the Beverly Hills, 90210 alum was reportedly “responsive and talking,” however, “his condition deteriorated.” Following a second stroke, his family decided to remove him from life support and he died from complications on March 4, 2019 at the age of 52. Perry’s death certificate, released by TMZ, reveals the cause of death as an ischemic cerebrovascular accident, the most common type of stroke, which occurs when a blood clot blocks a blood vessel and prevents blood and oxygen from getting to the brain.
“[Luke] was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancée 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,” a representative for Luke Perry revealed about his death in a statement to People. “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.”
Perry’s passing comes as a shock to many. Tyler Ginsberg, a freshman sociology major at Queens College, said, “I’m in awe. How can someone that young die like that? He was acting on Riverdale and seemed perfectly normal and healthy. It’s crazy.”
The Riverdale star was cremated and his ashes were scattered on his farm in Vanleer, Tennessee. Perry bought the 380 acres plot of land in 1995 after starring in the movie, 8 Seconds, where he played a young rodeo champion and cultivated an interest in cattle raising.
Production on the set of Riverdale stopped for two days following the death of Luke Perry. The actor played Fred Andrews, a prominent role on the Archie comics-based show on The CW. According to Deadline Hollywood, the writers are believed to have been re-working the scripts for the remaining couple of episodes from season three following Perry’s death.
His daughter, Sophie Perry, shared on Instagram, “A lot has happened in this past week for me. Everything is happening so fast. I made it back from Malawi just in time to be here with my family, and in the past 24 hours I have received an overwhelming amount of love and support. I cannot individually respond to the hundreds of beautiful and heartfelt messages, but I see them, and appreciate you all for sending positivity to my family and I. I’m not really sure what to say or do in this situation, it’s something you aren’t ever given a lesson on how to handle, especially when it’s all happening in the public eye. So bear with me and know that I am grateful for all the love. Just, being grateful quietly.”
