Jason Priestley speaks out for first time about Luke Perry’s death: "I am in so much pain"
Jason Priestley has opened up about the loss of his Beverly Hills, 90210 co-star and friend Luke Perry.
Perry, who died on Monday at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke, played opposite Priestley on the iconic 1990s TV drama.
On Thursday, Priestley shared his tribute to the late actor on Instagram with a message and a throwback picture of the two stars together.
“It’s taken me a couple of days to figure out how to write this... My dear friend of 29 years, Luke Perry, was one of those truly special people who really cared,” the 49-year-old wrote.
“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.
“The candle that burns twice as bright only burns for half as long... you burned oh, so brightly Luke... Goodnight Sweet Prince.”
Perry’s other 90210 co-stars, including Shannen Doherty, Tiffani Thiessen and Ian Ziering, have also expressed heartbreak over his death. “Processing this is impossible right now,” Doherty wrote on Instagram.
Priestley has been slated to join a new Beverly Hills, 90210 reboot along with old co-stars Ziering, Brian Austin Green, Tori Spelling, Jennie Garth and Gabrielle Carteris, but it was not known whether Perry would be returning as well.
Previously, Spelling told Access Live that Perry aimed to “do as many [episodes] as he can do”.
Perry is survived by children Sophie and Jack, fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer and ex-wife Rachel “Minnie” Sharp. Us Weekly reported that the family made the tough decision to take Perry off life support on Monday after his condition failed to improve.
“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,” Perry’s representative said in a statement. “No further details will be released at this time.”