Jason Priestley has broken his silence on the tragic passing of his Beverly Hills 90210 costar, Luke Perry.
The 52-year-old died less than a week after her suffered a stroke. According to his publicist, Perry was surrounded by his family and friends when he died.
“It’s taken me a couple of days to figure out how to write this,” Priestley wrote on Instagram. “My dear friend of 29 years, Luke Perry, was one of those truly special people who really cared… Luke was not only a star, he was an incredibly bright light that was extinguished far too soon… and that is why I, and so many others, are in so much pain today.”
“If you had the good fortune to know Luke, or to have ever crossed his path, I know you are sad today as well,” he continued. “The candle that burns twice as bright only burns for half as long… you burned oh, so brightly Luke… Goodnight Sweet Prince.”
Other 90210 stars have paid tribute to the late actor.
Ian Ziering took to Twitter to send his condolences, “Dearest Luke, I will forever bask in the loving memories we’ve shared over the last thirty 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.”
Jennie Garth told PEOPLE magazine: “My heart is broken. He meant so much to so many. Such a very special person. I share my deep sadness with his family and all who loved him. Such a terrible loss.”
Perry’s on-screen love, Shannen Doherty also took to Instagram to reveal her struggle to come to terms with his death.
“Yesterday morning I got a phone call that devastated me,” the 47-year-old wrote on Instagram. “I’m struggling with this loss and am having a hard time with my thoughts. But, my heart goes out to his family and friends who were blessed by his light in their (and mine) lives.”
She added: “Processing this is impossible right now.”
A source told PEOPLE that Perry, 52, simply never woke up from the massive stroke.
He remained under “heavy sedation” for five days while in the hospital until he died on Monday, the source says.
“He never regained consciousness,” the source explains. “Things were so dire that they put him under heavy sedation. He was gone, basically, by the time he got to the hospital.”
TMZ reported that paramedics were called to the Riverdale stars home in Sherman Oaks, California at around 9.40 am February 28, where he was then taken to the local hospital.
Perry found fame on the hit 90’s show Beverly Hills 90210 and is currently starring on Netflix’s Riverdale, playing Archie Andrews’ dad, Fred.
