Luke Perry Daughter's Finally Breaks Silence About Her Father's Death

Mar 14, 2019

Pop culture aficionados were shaken by the unexpected passing of actor Luke Perry earlier this week. Perry, best known as the lovable bad boy Dylan on Beverly Hills, 90210 and Archie’s father Fred on Riverdale, died on March 4th 2019 after suffering a massive stroke.

As tributes and memorials come pouring in from those who worked with Perry over the years, one of the people who knew him best, his daughter Sophie, took to Instagram to memorialize her father.

According to the Inside Edition, Sophie was aghast to hear that her father had suffered a stroke, having to cut short a charity trip to Malawi to be with him at the hospital. Sophie, along with her brother Jack, mother Minnie Sharp, and several other relatives, were with Luke as their beloved family member died from complications of the stroke. In her Instagram post, Sophie shared a photograph of her with her father at a farm.

Her arm draped over Luke’s shoulders, one can tell that the two had a very strong bond. In a message attached with the photo, Sophie talked of the whirlwind of emotions she and her family had experienced over the course of the past week. Noting that she had difficulty fully expressing her feelings, Sophie told her followers how grateful she was for their many prayers and words of support in this incredibly trying time in her life.

"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," the 18-year-old writes in her Instagram post. "So bear with me and know that I am grateful for all the love. Just, being grateful quietly."

Sophie’s post was liked over 100,000 times and generated thousands of comments. While most simply offered their condolences, many remarked on how her father had changed their lives. One user noted that she is only a few years younger than Luke and that his death prompted her to get a medical checkup.

The user says that even in death, Luke will make people’s lives better by encouraging the world to know the warning signs of a stroke. Another user said that Luke was the embodiment of goodness and positivity.

A family friend spoke to Entertainment Weekly about the impact of Luke’s death on his family, telling of how Luke’s stroke seemingly came out of nowhere. Although the tightknit family prayed for a miracle, the stroke was physically devastating for Luke, leading to a decline in his quality of life and eventual death.

While most of the world will remember Luke Perry as a famous actor, those close to him know that the greatest role he ever played was a father to Sophie and Jack. When Riverdale premiered in 2017, the actor told of how his life as a father influenced his portrayal of Fred Andrews. Like his character, Luke said that his family is the most important thing in his life.

The actor continued that while he is no expert at childcare, to raise your kids, you have to know them. As such, Luke makes as much time as possible for his kids, talking to them and listening to them.

What do you think of Sophie’s post following the death of her father? Do you have any favorite Luke Perry movies or television shows? Let us know in the comments - and make sure you pass this along to your friends and family!