Luke Perry death: Fans share stories of Beverly Hills 90210 star's amazing kind-hearted deeds

Bonnie Christian5 March 2019
The Weekender

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Luke Perry fans have shared stories of heartwarming encounters with the star following his shock death aged 52 from a stroke.

Perry is best known by those who grew up in the 1990s as heartthrob Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210.

For younger fans, Fred, the father of Archie Andrews, from comic book adaptation of Riverdale, is how they will remember him.

The star died on Monday in hospital, five days after he suffered a stroke.

Fans have paid tribute to the “kind hearted and thoughtful” actor online.

Actor Colin Hanks shared a story on Instagram of his only interaction with Perry on a plane travelling from Mexico.

“Couple of rows ahead of us, these two brothers, young kids, are beating the hell out of eachother,” he wrote.

“Their poor parents are powerless to stop the crying, yelling and screaming.”

Luke Perry - In pictures

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He said the children were fighting like this for two hours but had started to get “really bad” 10 minutes before landing.

“Out of nowhere, a man comes from first class. Hat, beard, sunglasses, blowing up a balloon. He ties it off, hands it off like he's holding out a sword to a king.

“Kneeling, Head down, arms up. Kids calm down in milliseconds. Plane damn near bursts into applause.”

Later, waiting in line at customs, Hanks realised the man had been Perry.

Rex Features

“As luck would have it we end up standing next to each other. Out of the blue he turns to me and says some kind words about Fargo, which kinda blew my mind.”

He added: “He tells me he always flies with a couple of balloons for that very reason, to give to screaming kids.

“Don't know if that's true, but have no reason to believe it wasn't. Guy seemed like a true gent.”

Filmmaker Josh Raby shared photos of Perry volunteering during floods in Tennessee in 2010.

He wrote: “Y’all might know Luke Perry had some land here in Tennessee.

“Maybe you don’t know that during the flood of 2010, he was out there bringing people food, bottles of water, and shoes. Just a humble, decent dude.”

Reporter Chris King shared a photo of a star at a press table at New York Comic Con, writing: “Luke Perry was one of the most genuine, kindhearted, and thoughtful actors I've ever had the chance to meet.

“When I last saw him at NYCC, he made sure to thank each reporter at my press table, saying how much he appreciated us being there. Just the nicest guy. I'll miss him. RIP.”

Actress Alexandra Daddario said she will always remember the star for how he treated her when she was working as a waitress.

“Luke Perry used to come into the restaurant I worked in over a decade ago and he was always so kind to me and friendly in an industry where most people would just dismiss me.

“Always remembered that. RIP. And be kind and compassionate to those around you y’all,” she tweeted.

Dental Hygienist Deborah Muller said the actor was one of “the most kind and humble people she's ever met,” posting a photo of her and the actor taken when she was 20-years-old.

“Met Luke Perry when I was 20. I interrupted his dinner & he kindly took a pic w/ me. One of the most humble & kind people I’ve ever met. Blessed to have had that chance. I’m heartbroken he is gone way too soon,” she wrote.

According to his publicist, Arnold Robinson, Perry was surrounded by his family when he died, including his children Jack and Sophie, fiancee Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, and his siblings, Tom Perry and Amy Coder.

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