Advocating for cancer awareness, making plans with mushrooms,
and forever being his kids’ #1 fan. Luke Perry made a lasting
impression on everyone he came into contact with. This is how his final year played out.
In his 50s, Luke Perry appeared to be at the beginning of an
interesting career resurgence — one which poignantly ended with his performance in
Quentin Tarantino's acclaimed Los Angeles fantasy "Once Upon a Time… In Hollywood."
Playing real-life Western star Wayne Maunder, the role was a well-earned triumph for the actor.
Apparently, it was really good for the cast and crew too. In an interview with
Entertainment Weekly, Tarantino recalled how impressed he was with Luke's professionalism
and skill as an equestrian. During one of his "big horse scenes," Tarantino asked the actor
if he needed a mark on the ground, but Perry didn't need any help. As the director recounted:
"He was like, 'Quentin? You could take a dime and throw it in the dirt and I will
land on that dime. The take you'll use is when everyone else gets it right.'"
Adorably, co-stars Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio told Esquire that
they were also starstruck at getting to work with someone who Pitt described as,
quote, "an icon of coolness for us as teenagers."
Upon seeing him on the set, DiCaprio told the outlet he had a "butterfly moment."
Luke Perry was a star who had long demonstrated that he could manifest
the greatest and most memorable of performances in what could often be the smallest of roles,
with standout guest appearances in shows as varied as "Oz,""Community," and "The Simpsons."
"And what are you making, Sideshow Luke Perry?" "A 19th century carousel."
In 2018, "Criminal Minds" quite rightly paid tribute to this fact when Perry's deceased cult
character Benjamin Cyrus was revived for the show's 300th episode — though thankfully, not
literally. Featured in flashbacks, the character showcased curious connections to FBI traitor
and new cult leader Ben Merva. But as executive producer Erica Messer told Entertainment Weekly,
the character's return was also part of a larger celebration in aiming
to "acknowledge the talent and history" of some of the show's best guest stars.
It's an interesting detail to note, given that Perry's career was definitely in the
midst of being re-appreciated and refreshed at the time of his death. When "Criminal Minds"
concluded in 2020, various outlets took the time to include the actor's "forgotten" 2008 episode
and performance in their roundups of the show's highlights. It was a testimony to his talent,
but also to the unlocked potential of the many roles that Perry could have gone on to play.
Notably, the final year of Luke Perry's life also saw the former teen idol
continuing his performance as Archie's beloved blue-collar dad, Fred Andrews, on "Riverdale."
He was finishing work on the third season of the edgy interpretation of the "Archie" series
when he died, where he was seemingly aware of the changing nature of his character.
As he told reporters at Comic-Con:
"My son's growing up, right? He's becoming his own man. That's what's really hard for me."
With Archie finding his own way in the world — and stumbling in and out of juvie on the way — how
would Fred continue to factor into the ongoing "Riverdale" narrative? Perry's final appearance
in episode 19 of Season 3 halted Fred's journey, but it also seemingly answered that question:
The doting dad would always be there for his son — in one form or another.
As showrunner Roberto Aguirre Sacasa wrote of the character's final scene on Twitter,
Fred is shown "doing what he does best — helping Archie."
Behind the scenes of the show, Perry was arguably just as supportive and present to the cast and
crew of "Riverdale" as his character was to the town's community. Whether he was taking
KJ Apa under his wing or goofing off in Lili Reinhart's Dark Betty wig, the actor's role
in the show may have been small, but he was a devoted and intrinsic part of it nonetheless.
"It's not everyday you come across a guy like Luke."
Luke Perry's "Riverdale" contract may have prevented him from joining the "Beverly Hills,
90210" reboot. At the end of 2018, a production source on the hit CW show told ET that the
actor's "Riverdale" deal meant he wouldn't be able to be a "90210" series regular.
By all accounts, however, Perry was definitely interested in being part of it.
In a 2017 interview with the Daily Mail, Perry shared:
"To get back together with all these guys I would love it. [...] I would get this hair up,
we would get the spray out and get it all going."
Curiously, in February 2019, Tori Spelling confirmed to Access that a "Beverly Hills, 90210"
reunion was definitely happening and that, despite his busy "Riverdale" schedule, Perry was involved.
"Luke will do as many as he can do."
Speaking to People, Spelling further claimed that her co-star was supportive of the show
behind the scenes and even joined their first meeting "on speakerphone." Tragically,
the official announcement of the show's meta revival — wherein the cast played exaggerated
versions of themselves — arrived on the same day that Perry experienced his first massive stroke.
It wasn't just Luke Perry's professional life which seemed to be entering a new and joyful
phase, however. In 2018, the actor was also planning a wedding to his long-term partner,
Madison Bauer, a therapist and former actor,
according to People. The outlet reported that the two enjoyed such a private and
low-key relationship that it was unknown how long they had been together or when they got engaged.
When Perry died, however,
his fiancée shared a touching tribute which revealed the depth and duration of their romance.
In a statement shared with Today, Bauer called her late partner an "extraordinary man" and said:
"The past 11 1/2 years with Luke were the happiest years of my life,
and I am grateful to have had that time with him."
In 2018, Luke Perry teamed up with Fight CRC,
an advocacy group with an aim to educate and inform people about colorectal cancer.
Speaking to FOX 11 Los Angeles, the star revealed that he became an advocate for raising awareness
about the disease after his own health scare with it in 2015, following a screening test.
"They found precancerous polyps, and had I waited until I was 50,
very good chance I would have had full-blown cancer."
While in conversation with Fox News, he reiterated that early detection was crucial
in fighting the disease and that he wanted to raise awareness of it to people of all ages.
Understandably, the scare pushed Perry to make healthy adjustments to his lifestyle,
including cutting down on red meat — which studies have linked to an increased
colorectal cancer risk — and eating more fish, natural grains, and fiber.
"This was a good, good man."
"I've never had a conversation with him without talking about his kids."
In the last year of Luke Perry's life, the actor was able to enjoy
and support the wrestling career of his son, Jack Perry,
aka "Jungle Boy." Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, Jack described how his father adored
wrestling, and attended every "dingy building" wrestling match he did as he worked his way up.
"He used to always come to the shows, and he kinda, he wanted to disguise himself so that
people wouldn't be asking for pictures and all that. And he'd put a mask on a lot of the times."
On Instagram, Jack further outlined how his father inspired him to be his best, writing:
"I've learned so much from you. [...] I'll do whatever
I can to carry on your legacy and make you proud."
Two months after Luke's death, Jack paid tribute to his father by joining his friend,
David Arquette in the ring for a match. After Jungle Boy pinned his opponent,
the "Scream" actor declared on the microphone,
"I loved your father dearly. I love you."
And then, he pulled the young wrestling star in for a hug.
At the very least, Luke Perry had made clear plans
for worst-case scenarios regarding the end of his life. Fellow "Beverly Hills,
90210" star Ian Ziering explained on the podcast "Hustling with Vivica A. Fox"
that his friend had, quote, "put all his ducks in a row in the event that he would pass."
"His advance directive was very clear. He did not want to be supported on life support."
As reported by Forbes, Perry's execution of such legal documents would have ensured that his family
could make the decision to enact his request. As the outlet suggested, it's hopeful but unknown
whether the actor also had his documents in order for his estate. According to Radar,
following his 2015 cancer scare, Perry reportedly had the foresight to organize his assets to
ensure that his two children were to receive everything he had in the event of his death.
This has never been verified, however, and as Forbes mused there was a lingering question
as to whether adjustments had been made to likewise financially protect his fiancée,
in the event of his death. Perry's estate was said to be worth $10
million at the time of his death, according to Celebrity Net Worth.
One other arrangement that Luke Perry had organized for his death involved his burial
request. Side-stepping any traditional resting place instructions, the actor
instead requested that he be laid to rest in an eco-friendly mushroom burial suit. On Instagram,
his daughter, Sophie Perry, explained that he had discovered the environmentally friendly
option, and was, quote, "more excited" by the idea than she'd ever seen him. She wrote:
"He was buried in this suit, one of his final wishes.
They are truly a beautiful thing for this beautiful planet."
On "Hustling with Vivica A. Fox," Ian Ziering affectionately recalled laughing at Luke's
enthusiasm for the suit. The real-life Dylan McKay had seen it talked about during a Ted Talk and
even told Ziering that he wanted to invest in the biodegradable burial suit business.
However, the "Sharknado" actor forgot about the conversation until the funeral. He explained:
"When his family brought him out of the hearse, he was in that suit."
"To Luke."