How 'Riverdale' Paid Tribute To Luke Perry In First Episode Since His Death

Riverdale is remembering the life and legacy of Luke Perry.

The actor, who tragically passed away from a "massive stroke" at age 52 on Monday (March 4), received an honorable tribute during the hit CW series' latest episode. The final credits of Wednesday's (March 6) airing of Riverdale, on which Perry portrayed Archie's father Fred Andrews since 2016, saw the production fade to black with a commemoration in his memory which read, "In Memoriam Luke Perry 1966-2019."

The tribute arrived a week after Perry was hospitalized at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank, California following the stroke he suffered at his Sherman Oaks home last Wednesday (February 27). Despite being "under observation" for five days, the star never regained consciousness and died the following Monday.

According to Perry's rep, the performer spent his final moments "surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancée 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 CW, who postponed production for Riverdale in light of Perry's passing, provided the following statement: "We are deeply saddened to learn today about the passing of Luke Perry. 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."

Cherished for his breakout role as Dylan McKay on the '80s teen soap opera Beverly Hills, 90210 — which he was slated to reprise for the show's upcoming FOX reboot — Perry's death was met with a bevy of condolences from his former castmates and celebrities alike.

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