Luke Perry, '90210' and 'Riverdale' star, dies at 52

Actor Luke Perry, known for roles in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Riverdale, has died after suffering a stroke on Thursday. He was 52.

"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," Perry's publicist Arnold Robinson said in a statement.

At Perry’s bedside were his children, Jake and Sophie; fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer and his former wife, Minnie Sharp, according to the Associated Press.

A source told People that Perry never recovered after being rushed to the hospital last Thursday, when paramedics were dispatched to his Sherman Oaks, California home. He was "under observation" for five days but sadly passed away today.

"He never regained consciousness," the People source said. "Things were so dire that they put him under heavy sedation. He was gone, basically, by the time he got to the hospital."

Tributes from Perry's co-stars, friends and fans have poured into social media.

Shannen Doherty, who played one of Perry's love interests, Brenda Walsh, on 90210, gave a statement to People about her shock and devastation.

"I am in shock. Heartbroken. Devastated by the loss of my friend. I have so many memories with Luke that make me smile and that are forever imprinted on my heart and mind," the 47-year-old actress said.

"Luke was a smart, quiet, humble and complex man with a heart of gold and never-ending well of integrity and love. Luke reached out to me during my cancer journey and we picked right back up, albeit older and wiser, but that connection remained in tact," continued Doherty.

She also hinted that they were planning to work together again.

"There is a special kind of love one has for each other when you are experiencing the journey we did on 90210 and of course life in general. Luke and I were working on show ideas for us. We wanted to work with each other again and create something special and meaningful for our fans at this stage in our lives," she said.

"I will miss him everyday. Every minute. Every second."

Leonardo DiCaprio, who worked with Perry in Quentin Tarantino's Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, paid tribute to the "kindhearted and incredibly talented artist."

Lili Reinhart, one of Perry's co-stars on Riverdale, broke her silence on Twitter and Instagram, and said she could not "believe" the news. "I can barely find the words," she wrote. "I am devastated. We all are."

Former Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star Ian Ziering said he would "forever bask in the loving memories we've shared over the last thirty years." 

Wrote iconic '80s actress Molly Ringwald, who played his ex-wife Mary Andrews on Riverdale: "My heart is broken. I will miss you so much Luke Perry. Sending all my love to your family."

Actor Charlie Sheen wrote of his late friend, "I am truly honoured to have known you all of these years."

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 like 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).

Coincidentally, the Perry was hospitalised the same day Fox announced a six-episode revival of the show, featuring returning cast members Jason Priestley, Jennie 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.

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 (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 is survived by his daughter Sophie and his son Jack, a professional wrestler who goes by the ring name "Jungle Boy" Nate Coy.