Actor Luke Perry, known for roles in Beverly Hills 90210 and Riverdale, has died after suffering a stroke. He was 52-years-old.
Perry was admitted to hospital last Wednesday.
Born in Mansfield, Ohio, Perry moved to Los Angeles after high school to pursue acting. His TV career began when he was 16, and the actor cut his teeth acting in soap operas such as ABC's Loving and Another World on NBC, and doing voice work for animated series such as The Incredible Hulk and Biker Mice From Mars.
However, in 1990 Perry became a household name for playing the brooding loner Dylan McKay on the smash hit teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 on Fox.
The show became a phenomenon, catapulting Perry to full-blown teen idol status.
He appeared on a racy Vanity Fair cover in July 1992.
Perry had two runs on 90210, one from 1990 to 1995 and another from 1998 to the show's end in 2000, during which time his character struggled with alcohol abuse and drug addiction, and went through a series of tumultuous relationships with several other main characters including Brenda, played by Shannen Doherty, and Kelly, played by Jennie Garth.
Perry was hospitalised the same day Fox announced a six-episode revival of the show, featuring returning cast members Jason Priestley, Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, and Tori Spelling. Perry had not been announced to return.
While starring in 90210, Perry made a brief appearance as Billy Masterson in Luc Besson's whacky sci-fi pic The Fifth Element in 1997.
Perry in 2001. Source: AAP
More recently, Perry made a successful return to the TV drama genre with a regular role on the CW show Riverdale.
He played Fred Andrews, the conservative, old-fashioned yet soft father of the show's lead Archie Andrews, played by KJ Apa.
He will appear posthumously in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, playing the real-life Canadian-American actor Wayne Maunder who starred in the CBS Western TV show Lancer.
Perry's former 90210 co-stars have turned to social media to play tribute, with Ian Ziering - who played Steve on the show - offering a touching farewell.
"I will forever bask in the loving memories we've shared over the last thirty years," he wrote on Twitter.
"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."
Christine Elise McCarthy, who played bad girl Emily Valentine on 90210, posted a photo of the pair, adding that Perry was "a truly kind gentleman".
Luke Perry with Riverdale co-star Marisol Nichols. Source: AAP
Actor Molly Ringwald, who also has a character on Riverdale, said her "heart is broken".
In a statement, Riverdale producers said they were "deeply saddened" to learn of Perry's death, labelling him a "father figure and mentor to the show's young cast".
"Luke was everything you would hope he would be: a consummate professional with a giant heart, and a true friend to all," the statement read.
Perry is survived by his daughter Sophie and his son Jack, a professional wrestler who goes by the ring name 'Jungle Boy' Nate Coy.
