Luke Perry

Luke Perry (born Coy Luther Perry III) was an actor best known for playing Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Fred Andrews on Riverdale. Perry was raised in Fredericktown, Ohio, by his mother after his parents divorced. Perry attended Fredericktown High School and, after graduating, moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.

After struggling to land roles early in his career, Perry worked odd jobs, including paving asphalt and selling shoes, to support himself. He made early appearances in soap operas including Loving and Another World. His breakout came in 1990 when he was cast as brooding bad boy Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210. The Fox teen drama turned Perry into one of the biggest TV stars of the decade and made him a teen idol.

Beyond Beverly Hills, 90210, Perry starred on the big screen in films including Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1992), 8 Seconds (1994) and Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, which was released after his death in 2019. On television, he’s appeared on Will & Grace, Criminal Minds and Leverage. He also starred on the hit CW teen drama Riverdale, sharing the screen with Lili Reinhart and KJ Apa.

Perry married Rachel “Minnie” Sharp in 1993 and the pair welcomed son Jack (born in 1997) and daughter Sophie (born in 2000) before divorcing in 2003. He later became engaged to Wendy Madison Bauer.

Perry died on March 4, 2019, at age 52 after suffering a massive stroke.