Luke Perry‘s daughter is heartbroken the sudden loss of her father. Sophie Perry shared her first statement with everyone on Instagram Tuesday, one day after the Beverly Hills, 90210 star’s sudden passing.
“A lot has happened in this past week for me,” she shared alongside the above photo. “Everything is happening so fast. I made it back from Malawi just in time to be here with my family, And in the past 24 hours I have received an overwhelming amount of love and support.”
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Perry’s 18-year-old daughter was on a charity trip in Malawi, Africa when she found out about the news he had a “massive stroke.” She quickly flew back to L.A. to be at his bedside.
Sophie added, “I cannot individually respond to the hundreds of beautiful and heartfelt messages, but I see them, and appreciate you all for sending positivity to my family and I. I’m not really sure what to say or do in this situation, it’s something you aren’t ever given a lesson on how to handle, especially when it’s all happening in the public eye. So bare with me and know that I am grateful for all the love. Just, being grateful quietly.”
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The Riverdale actor was rushed from his house to the hospital on Feb. 27 after suffering from a stroke. It appears that he never was restored to consciousness. Perry was sedated as doctors prayed his brain could recover from the trauma, but he passed away five days after his stroke.
“Actor Luke Perry, 52, passed away today after suffering a massive stroke,” a rep for the actor told Yahoo Monday. “He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, stepfather 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. No further details will be released at this time.”
Perry’s 21-year-old son, Jack, is a wrestler who goes by the nickname “Jungle Boy” in the ring. As Perry’s former 90210 co-star, Shannen Doherty, said in her statement, the actor’s greatest privilege in life was being a dad.
“I am in shock. Heartbroken. Devastated by the loss of my friend. I have so many memories with Luke that make me smile and that are forever imprinted on my heart and mind,” she told People. “Luke was a smart, quiet, humble and complex man with a heart of gold and neverending well of integrity and love. Luke reached out to me during my cancer journey and we picked right back up, albeit older and wiser, but that connection remained in tact.”
She continued, “Luke loved his family. He raved about his kids and how proud he was of them. He showed me videos of them often. They were his heart and for him, his biggest accomplishment.”
