Heidi Hamilton discusses death of '90210' star Luke Perry

LOS ANGELES (FOX 11) - Luke Perry, who played the beloved Dylan McKay on the hit coming-of-age series "Beverly Hills 90210," has died.

Perry, 52, died Monday after suffering a massive stroke.

"He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiance 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. 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," said a statement by Perry's publicist.

In 2013 during an appearance on the radio show "Sway in the Morning," Perry said it took him 256 auditions before he scored his first gig.

"I just kept thinking, 'You know, I just walked out of a room full of fools,'" Perry said of how he maintained the confidence to keep going. "Those people have no idea."

But it was his role as seemingly bad boy Dylan McKay on Fox's "Beverly Hills 90210" in 1990 which shot Perry into the atmosphere. The series was both wildly popular and also criticized because of its willingness to take on topics such as teens being sexually active.

Perry's character was so popular among fans that in 1991 an expected crowd of 2,000 at a Florida mall turned into a stampede of 10,000 when he appeared at an autograph signing. Several people were hospitalized and the mall was forced to shut its doors after the chaos.

"Luke Perry, Dylan McKay, I mean this was my entire high school years and even after. He was just so iconic that I was really emotional as I was driving in here," Heidi Hamilton of "Dish Nation" and the "Frosty Heidi and Frank Show" said on FOX 11.

The actor famously left the show in Season 6, seeking to break away from the Dylan character, but returned in Season 9.

Perry also appeared on the big screen with roles in films including "Good Intentions," "Red Wing" and "Buffy the Vampire Slayer," which later became a hit television series.

More recently in a nod to his teen idol past, Perry took on the role as Archie Andrews' father Fred in the hit CW drama "Riverdale," based on the characters from the Archie comics.

"We are deeply saddened to learn today about the passing of Luke Perry," the "Riverdale" executive producers, Warner Bros. TV and the CW said in a statement. "A beloved member of the Riverdale, Warner Bros. and CW family, Luke was everything you would hope he would be: an incredibly caring, consummate professional with a giant heart, and a true friend to all. A father figure and mentor to the show's young cast, Luke was incredibly generous, and he infused the set with love and kindness. Our thoughts are with Luke's family during this most difficult time.

Perry's "Riverdale" castmate Molly Ringwald tweeted Monday, "My heart is broken. I will miss you so much Luke Perry. Sending all my love to your family."