Four years after the death of actor Luke Perry, he still remains close to Tori Spelling’s heart.
Spelling, 50, marked what would have been Perry’s 57th birthday in an Instagram story with a picture of the two at a dance from years before. In the text next to the photo, Spelling remembered Perry fondly.
“Could be a million people in the room but he always made you feel like you were the only one,” she wrote. “Good kind humans are a rare breed. I don’t know that many sadly. He was one.”
She wished him a happy birthday and concluded, “Missing you always.”
Perry died on March 4, 2019, from a stroke. He and Spelling starred opposite each other in Beverly Hills, 90210, a series that ran for 10 seasons from 1990 to 2000. Perry played the bad-boy heartthrob Dylan McKay in the series.
At the time of Perry’s death, Spelling reflected to People, “Luke was one of the kindest and most humble human beings I’ve ever known.”
She continued, “I’m grateful for the years of friendship we had. He truly was family to me, a protector and a brother. I’m so sorry for the loss that everyone is experiencing.”
In the years since, Spelling has continued to ensure the actor is remembered in the public eye.
In a 2021 episode of the Whine Down podcast, Spelling spoke about Perry’s protective nature.
She told host Jana Kramer, “I was in a verbally abusive relationship when I was 19… Luke hated him and was very protective. At my parents’ Christmas Eve party one year, he was there and saw this ex-boyfriend, and they got into it.”
Spelling said that Perry tried to punch her ex at the party and was pulled away by their costar, Jason Priestley.
Even though the confrontation caused Perry and Spelling to not speak for a while, Spelling said it later made her realize he was a great friend.
She said, “I was 19, so I was mad at him instead of realizing, in hindsight, that this guy loved me and was like, ‘I don’t care. I’m gonna go to bat for her.’ ”
