Jason Priestley, Shannen Doherty and Luke Perry at the Emmys in 1991.Photo:Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty
Nearly five years afterLuke Perry’s sudden death, the late actor’s90210castmates still feel a “hole” in their lives without him.
Shannen DohertyandJason Priestleyreminisced aboutPerry — who died at age 52in March 2019 following a stroke — during aBeverly Hills, 90210panel at MegaCon Orlando on Saturday.
Doherty, 52, became visibly emotional onstage when Priestley, 54, mentioned Perry. Upon hearing his name, theCharmedactress immediately teared up, at first wiping away tears with her left hand before leaving her seat to grab a tissue to wipe away more tears.
Shannen Doherty and Jason Priestley on Feb. 3.Jen Juneau/PEOPLE
Jen Juneau/PEOPLE
Doherty revealed to PEOPLE in 2015 that she hadbreast cancer, which went intoremissionin 2017 butreturnedin 2019 atstage 4. In a 2023 PEOPLE cover story, Doherty saidthe cancer had spread to her bones.
Onstage at MegaCon, Doherty explained that she and Perry were close while filming the ’90s teen drama but admitted “there were moments where we were not so close” in the years after the show ended in 2000.
“But later we became extremely close,” she added. “So to lose him as our relationship was just sort of flourishing as friends, and our respect and admiration for each other was coming to its fullest potential … it was just very hard.”
After Perry’s death,Doherty appeared onRiverdale, which Perry starred in as Archie’s father Fred, topay tribute to himduring season 4 in 2019.
“I think it continues to be hard for all of us, and when we do cons or any signings and it’s all of us there, Luke’s presence is missed,” she said at MegaCon. “There’s a hole, for sure.”
Shannen Doherty and Jason Priestley at MegaCon Orlando.Gerardo Mora/Getty
Gerardo Mora/Getty
Meanwhile, Priestley reflected on Perry’s impact on the90120cast.
“Luke was a huge part of our show,” he said. “He was a total joker. He would come to work, and always break the tension, and make everybody laugh. But then he was also incredibly professional, and always there, and always committed to what he was doing.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.Priestley went on to call Perry a “big-hearted guy” with a special relationship with each of his costars.
“He was beautiful,” he concluded. ”We all miss him very much, to this day.”
source: people.com
