Luke Perry hospitalized, publicist says; '90210' actor had stroke, reports say
"Riverdale" star Luke Perry has been hospitalized after an apparent stroke. Credit: Getty Images / Frederick M. Brown
Friends and old castmates of actor Luke Perry are among those posting support for the "Riverdale" and former "Beverly Hills, 90210" star who was hospitalized Wednesday with a suspected stroke.
"My friend. Holding you tight and giving you my strength. You got this," Perry's "90210" co-star Shannen Doherty wrote on Instagram Thursday. Fellow co-star Ian Ziering posted, "No words can express what my heart feels hearing today's shocking news. Let us all say a prayer for his speedy recovery."
TMZ.com was first to report that paramedics responded to a call around 9:40 a.m. Wednesday to what the website said was Perry's home in Sherman Oaks, California. In a 911 audio excerpt on both TMZ and TheBlast.com an apparent dispatcher uses the term "stroke."
Perry's representative told Newsday in a statement Thursday, "Mr. Perry is currently under observation at the hospital," specifying no locale or diagnosis.
Other celebrities also sent their recovery wishes on Thursday. Kristy Swanson, who starred with Perry in the 1992 movie "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" from which the TV series was spun off, tweeted: "I just heard the frightening news about my dear old friend Luke Perry having a massive stroke. Luke honey I am praying so hard for you right now, I love you so much, and by God’s Grace you will get through this. Please pray for Luke."
"Terribly concerned for my old friend Luke Perry, currently hospitalized," tweeted Lou Diamond Phillips, who starred with Perry in Hallmark Channel's 2009 Western remake "Angel and the Badman." "Sending healing thoughts and prayers for strength. Please send some Love his way." Actor Dean Cain said he was “Praying hard for Luke Perry today. May he have a full and fast recovery." And actress Yvette Nicole Brown wrote, "Nope. Hearing this news, I am not okay. NOT okay at all. Please get well soon #LukePerry. Please!"
Perry, 52, plays Fred Andrews, father of Archie Andrews, on The CW's comic-book based teen drama "Riverdale." A network spokeswoman did not respond to a Newsday request for comment.
The same day Perry was hospitalized, Fox announced it had ordered a metatextual, six-episode reboot of "Beverly Hills, 90210" in which most of the original stars play fictionalized versions of themselves attempting to launch a "90210" reboot. Neither Perry, who played brooding teen heartthrob Dylan McKay, nor Doherty was included in the announcement.
