In the days since the passing of beloved actor Luke Perry, many of his friends and costars have been trying to find the right words to honor the actor.
After a few days of processing the news, actor Jason Priestley who played the Brandon Walsh to Perry’s Dylan McKay on the iconic teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210 took to social media to share an emotional message about his “dear friend of 29 years.”
The 49-year-old actor shared a side-by-side photo of the pair from their days working together and one just recently, writing, “It’s taken me a couple of days to figure out how to write this…” the actor began. “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…”
He continued, “If you had the good fortune to know Luke, or to have ever crossed his path, I know you are sad today as well… the candle that burns twice as bright only burns for half as long… you burned oh, so brightly Luke… Goodnight Sweet Prince.”
Along with Priestly, former Beverly Hills, 90210 star Tiffani Thiessen, who joined the teen soap in season five as Valerie Malone, also shared her own emotional tribute. “My heart has been weighing heavy. The loss of a man who started as my co-star but quickly became my friend,” the actress began her post alongside a black and white photo of the pair from the ’90s. “. He welcomed me on my very first day of #90210 with open arms. A day that was not an easy one for me. I was coming in to a show, a family really, that had been together for over 4 years. But this man took me under his wing and made me feel at home. Made me feel like I belonged in his TV family.”
She added, “He was sincere, sweet, warm, kind, professional and funny as all heck. And most of all, the definition of a gentleman. Luke, our world has a hole in it now that you aren’t here. But heaven definitely gained you as an angel. #RIP#LukePerry #gonetoosoon.”
Priestley and Thiessen’s tributes are a couple of many shared throughout Hollywood honoring the actor who passed away at only 52 following a massive stroke. Several other Beverly Hills, 90210 stars who have spoken out include Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth, Shannen Doherty, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris and Christine Elise McCarthy.