'Beverly Hills 90210' Star Luke Perry Dead At 52

Luke Perry (photo: Gage Skidmore/Flickr - CC license)

Actor Luke Perry, who shot to fame and teen idol status as loner Dylan McKay in the 1990s hit TV series, Beverly Hills, 90210, has died at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke last Wednesday.

TMZ reports that the actor passed away Monday morning at a hospital in Burbank, California.

Originally from Mansfield, Ohio, Perry began his acting career with roles on daytime dramas Another World and Loving.

But he became an overnight sensation with the launch of 90210 in 1990. Over several seasons, the handsome actor handled storylines that shined a light on alcohol abuse and drug addiction, as well as relationship struggles.

Perry starred in the series for several seasons but stepped away in 1995 only to return in 1998. He remained with the show until its finale in 2000.

Most recently, Perry has been starring on the CW’s Riverdale playing the conservative father of lead character, Archie Andrews (KJ Apa).

The same day of his stroke, Fox TV announced a six-episode summer reboot of 90210 with original stars Jason Priestley, Jennie Garth, Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Carteris, Brian Austin Green, and Tori Spelling returning to play ‘larger-than-life’ versions of themselves filming a reboot of the iconic show.

Perry was not scheduled to participate, but there were reports that he might make an appearance.

Luke Perry (center) - (photo - 90210 Productions)

The actor will appear posthumously in Quentin Tarantino’s upcoming Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

Perry is survived by his daughter, Sophie, and his son, Jack.

Perry's 90210 co-stars Ian Ziering, Gabrielle Cateris, and Jennie Garth issued these statements:

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.

— Ian Ziering (@IanZiering) March 4, 2019

Dearest Luke- I am so heart broken and at a loss for words. You my friend were a mighty soul and have left your mark. My love and prayers to the family and all who loved you. RIP

— Gabrielle Carteris (@TheGabrielle_C) March 4, 2019

“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." -Jennie Garth on 'Beverly Hills, 90210' costar Luke Perry

See more tributes here: https://t.co/iM2lnvjLzz pic.twitter.com/2fRfv7GkpN

— Entertainment Weekly (@EW) March 4, 2019

Podcast: Homeless Gay Teen Survives & Thrives To Become Valedictorian; 'Riverdale' Gets A Gay Romance

In this week's podcast:

• A homeless gay teen becomes valedictorian of his class. Head to www.gofundme.com/hoyaseth to contribute to his college fund.

• Puerto Rico now allows transgender folks to change the gender on their birth certificates.

• The hit TV series Riverdale is getting a gay romance.

• The CW's Supergirl will debut television's first transgender super-hero.

• Ryan Reynolds wants to see more sexuality in his Deadpool movies

All that and more in this episode of The Randy Report.

Riverdale's Kevin Cott: Moose & Kevin Are 'Definitely A Thing'

Kevin and Moose's infamous bathroom kiss

 The CW dropped a new trailer for the upcoming third season of Riverdale at San Diego Comic Con over the weekend.

While the three-minute video recapped some of last season, there was some new footage and it appears that two male characters are headed for Romance-ville.

You may recall that in the pilot of the series, “Kevin” and “Moose” had a bit of a late-night tryst. But nothing really came of that as Moose stayed loyal to girlfriend Midge.

Well, until she was murdered, and a grieving Moose sought comfort in Kevin’s arms and a make-out session in the high school bathroom.

In May, creator and showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa told EW that a men’s room kiss between Kevin Keller and Moose could become “more than just a moment of passion:”

“My hope is that it continues. It’d be nice to see Kevin in a romance again. But they’ve got a big cloud looming over them, which is the death of Midge. Which is kind of par for the course on Riverdale. But I’m rooting for them. I hope it’s more than just a moment of passion.”

This weekend, Casey Cott, who plays Kevin, went further in Comic Con interviews saying Kevin and Moose “definitely are a thing.”

In another statement, Cott shared, “I think making out in the bathroom cemented us as a ‘thing.’ We’re trying to push Moose in the right direction [in terms of him being out].”

And there’s more in the LGBTQ news as the new trailer features a two women kissing, and Aguirre-Sacasa has teased that there will be “an unlikely romance for Reggie starting in Episode 3.”

Season 3 of Riverdale premieres Oct. 10.

News Round-Up: October 27, 2017

#FurryFriday

Some news items you might have missed:

• I wish I knew who this guy is - total Furry Friday material :)

• The CW's Riverdale puts the topic of gay cruising in a rural town front and center in this week's episode.

• Deep Dish blog is asking which is sexier: this guy's furry face or furry bum?

• Washington Blade reporter Chris Johnson asked White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders about proposed legislation in Egypt that would criminalize being gay. Sanders said she "wasn't aware of specifics" about the news but would be happy to check into it.

• Amid reports former Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney is growing restless on the sidelines comes the news that Utah Sen. Orrin Hatch may retire at the end of his current term next year stepping aside for Romney to take the seat. A recent poll showed Romney would garner 64% of the vote were that to happen.

• Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, who hails from the small town of Whitefish, Montana, says he had "absolutely nothing to do" with 2-man company Whitefish Energy Holdings being awarded the $300 million contract to rebuild Puerto Rico's electric grid. I'm sure it's pure coincidence...

• I swear to you the first thing I saw in the pic below of dancer/aerialist Davide Zongoli was his feet.

A post shared by Davide Zongoli (@acrodave) on Apr 26, 2017 at 7:55am PDT