Tori Spelling's Heartfelt Birthday Tribute to Beloved 'Beverly Hills, 90210' Co-Star Luke Perry Will Leave You in Tears

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Tori Spelling paid tribute to her late Beverly Hills, 90210 costar Luke Perry on what would have been his 57th birthday. 

"Even in a room full of a million people, he had the ability to make you feel like the most important person. Genuine kindness is hard to come by, and unfortunately, I haven't encountered many people like him. Today, on his birthday, I can't help but miss him. Goodbye, my friend."

"[Perry] was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancée 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," his representative stated in a press release to Us. "The family is grateful for the overwhelming support and prayers that have poured in from all over the world, and they kindly request privacy during this time of immense grief. No further information will be provided at this moment."

Perry recently portrayed Fred Andrews in the popular CW series Riverdale, but he gained fame for his iconic role as Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210, alongside Spelling, Garth, Priestley, Ziering, Green, Carteris, and Doherty. The show aired on Fox for a remarkable ten seasons, from 1990 to 2000.

Shortly after his passing, Fox announced a revival of the iconic 1990s TV series Beverly Hills, 90210, titled BH90210. In this unique reboot, the actors took on exaggerated versions of themselves, creating a tribute to the late Luke Perry during the show's premiere.

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"We are aware that our time together is limited," states Spelling in the episode, which was broadcasted in August 2019. "However, we have created something that will endure." Following this statement, Priestley, aged 49, raises a champagne glass for a toast: "To Luke." The episode concludes with Garth, aged 51, and Spelling watching a previous episode of Beverly Hills, 90210, displaying a tribute at the bottom of the screen: "In memory of our dear friend Luke Perry (1966 - 2019)."

This mention on Wednesday is not the first occasion where Spelling has expressed her admiration for her longstanding friend and co-star on social media. On Perry's 55th birthday, she referred to him as a "friend" and "brother."

"I recall our initial encounter when I was a young and uncertain teenage girl," she expressed via Instagram in October 2021. "You were the first boy who ever instilled in me a sense of value as a person, a woman, and a comedian. You acted as a loyal friend and protective older brother, steadfastly defending me. In fact, you even resorted to physical confrontation when I found myself in an verbally abusive relationship. Furthermore, you patiently guided me through the most insecure moments of my adolescent years."

She continued, "You possessed an exceptional ability to empower every individual you encountered, making them feel assured, listened to, and extraordinary from the very moment you met them. Your presence emitted pure, selfless love. In a world that often withholds, you were a true provider of affection. Your compassionate nature remained unwavering throughout the passing years."

In addition to BH90210, there were other shows that paid tribute to Perry after his passing. Doherty, aged 52, made a special appearance on the season four premiere of Riverdale in 2019, where they reflected on Perry's legacy.

"I feel incredibly privileged to commemorate Luke on Riverdale," Doherty, who is currently battling stage four cancer, wrote in the caption of an Instagram photo featuring both of them on the set of 90210 at that time. "The way this show meticulously honors his memory is truly beautiful. We miss him today, tomorrow, and always."

In this article

Luke Perry

Tori Spelling

Beverly Hills 90210