It was a time before Netflix, Hulu, Sling and other online streaming entertainment services. It was a time when broadcast TV was still king.
Starting in 1990, few wore the crown brighter than Coy Luther “Luke” Perry III, a Fredericktown native who shot to fame as the moody, bad boy loner Dylan McCoy in the smash Fox series “Beverly Hills, 90210.”
Perry, who was born in Mansfield, graduated from Fredericktown High School in 1984 before leaving Ohio to pursue his acting dreams, died Monday at age 52, after suffering a massive stroke on Feb. 27.
“He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close family and friends,” a press release reads from his representatives.
“The family 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. No further details will be released at this time.”
In high school, one of Perry’s first roles as a Freddie, the school mascot. His dad was a steelworker and his mom a homemaker.
His ties to the region prompted U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown (D-OH) to release a statement about Perry. Perry, like Brown, was born in Mansfield. Brown’s father, a Mansfield doctor, delivered Perry as a baby.
Perry moved to Los Angeles shortly after high school to pursue acting, but he was far from an overnight success. In fact, Perry found work as a paver and lived in various Southern California cities. In an interview, Perry said he auditioned for 215 roles before getting work in a TV commercial.
Perry, who currently starred as Fred Andrews on the CW series Riverdale, was on “90210” from 1990 to 1995 and again from 1998 to 2000.
The actor’s film credits include Buffy the Vampire Slayer, 8 Seconds, and The Fifth Element. He also appeared on sitcoms including Will & Grace and Spin City.
In addition to chronicling the characters’ friendships and romantic relationships, “90210” addressed numerous topical issues such as sex, date rape, homophobia, animal rights, alcoholism, drug abuse, domestic violence, eating disorders, racism, teen suicide, teen pregnancy and AIDS.
After a slow start in the ratings, “90210” became one of Fox’s top shows when it returned the fall of 1991 and became a global pop culture phenomenon with its cast members, especially Perry, Jason Priestly, Shannen Doherty and Jennie Garth.
“90210” set the stage for the remarkably popular teen soap genre that followed.
