Luke Perry’s death sparks shutdown of Netflix show

PRODUCTION on teen drama Riverdale has been shut down temporarily after the shock death of star Luke Perry.

The Hollywood actor – who rose to fame in the ’90s playing bad boy Dylan McKay on teen drama 90210 – died after suffering a massive stroke, his publicist has confirmed. He was 52.

Perry, who starred as Fred Andrews on Netflix’s Riverdale, had been in an LA hospital since last Wednesday, where he was in an induced coma.

In a statement, Perry’s heartbroken family said it “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”.

His children, Jake, 21, and Sophie, 18, his ex-wife, Minnie Sharp, and his fiancee, therapist Wendy Madison Bauer, were with him when he passed away, his representative said. Prior to his stroke, Perry was said to be experiencing bad back problems, which had to be surgically fixed, according to the actor’s neighbour.

Hollywood is in shock over Perry’s death, with his Once Upon a Time In Hollywood costar Leonardo DiCaprio, who described Perry as “kindhearted and incredibly talented”, among those mourning.

Riverdale producers Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter and Jon Goldwater, as well Warner Bros and The CW, described Perry as a “father figure”.