Luke Perry death: '90210' and 'Riverdale' star dies, aged 52

Luke Perry, best known for his roles in TV shows such as Riverdale and 90210, has died at the age of 52.

The actor’s representative confirmed the death, telling The Independent Perry had died on Monday “after suffering a massive stroke”.

“He 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,” the representative said in a statement.

“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. No further details will be released at this time.”

Perry had been in hospital since last week. He had suffered a serious stroke last Wednesday, TMZ reported at the time.

The actor played construction company owner Fred Andrews, father of main character Archie Andrews, for three seasons on Riverdale, the CW Network series that gives a dark take on Archie comics. A fourth season has been planned.

Perry rose to fame as Dylan McKay in Beverly Hills, 90210, which ran from 1990 to 2000, and cemented his status as a teen heartthrob.

Born and raised in rural Fredericktown, Ohio, Perry had roles in a handful of films, including The Fifth Element, 8 Seconds and American Strays.

He appeared in HBO’s prison drama Oz and voiced cartoons such as The Incredible Hulk and Mortal Kombat. In recent years he starred in the series Ties That Bind and Body of Proof.

On the same day Perry was taken to hospital, Fox TV announced that it would be running a six-episode return of 90210 that features most of the original cast, but Perry was not among those announced.

The show, which originally aired on the Fox network, was about a group of attractive high school students living the sweet life amid Southern California affluence, while dealing with teen angst, as well as a raft of more serious issues such as date rape, Aids and teen pregnancy.

Perry was in his mid-twenties when he started playing high schooler McKay, a brooding loner on a motorcycle with prominent sideburns and bad-boy tendencies. An avalanche of comparisons to the late James Dean soon followed.

Beverly Hills, 90210 got off to a slow start in the ratings in 1990 but built a cult following that grew to become a cultural phenomenon with its target demographic. One of the key plot lines was Perry’s character developing a romance with Brenda, a wholesome midwestern transplant to Beverly Hills, played by Shannen Doherty, before moving on to her best friend, Kelly, played by Garth.

Along the way Perry, Doherty, Garth and co-stars Priestley, Spelling and Ian Ziering became stars.

The writers of Riverdale paid tribute to Perry on Twitter on Monday, writing: “Luke Perry ... you were a joyful and vibrant soul. You will be missed but most certainly your legacy will be remembered forever. Rest in love and peace, friend.”

Beverly Hills, 90210 alumni Ziering wrote: “Dearest Luke, I will forever bask in the loving memories we’ve shared over the last 30 years. 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.”

Additional reporting by agencies