Tori Spelling Recounts ‘90210’ Costar Luke Perry, Who Had Cancer Scare Before Fatal Stroke, As ‘Good Kind Human’ On Would-Be 57th Birthday

In honor of the beloved late actor, who died from complications of a stroke, Spelling took to her social media to share a heartwarming throwback photo of her dancing with Perry.

The 50-year-old actress wrote alongside the undated photo, shared on her Instagram story Wednesday, “Could be a million people in the room but he always made you feel like you were the only one.

“Good kind humans are a rare breed. I don’t know that many sadly. He was one. Happy Birthday. Missing you always.”

The photo featured Spelling, donning a white dress and shoulder-length blonde hair, dancing with Perry at what appears to be a party.

According to People, this isn’t the first time Spelling offered some insight into her friendship with Perry.

Spelling told People in the wake of Perry’s death, “Luke was one of the kindest and most humble human beings I’ve ever known.

“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.”

Then, on the one year anniversary of Perry’s passing, Spelling recounted Perry being “so charming and very Dylan-esque with all the girls.”

“He would just make you feel so special. and it was real. He was such a genuine person,” she added.

Spelling continued, “He used to call me Camel Lashes. At first I said, ‘You’re calling me a camel,’ upset, and then he’s like, ‘No, do you know what that means? Camels have the most beautiful long eyelashes.'”

Remembering Luke Perry

Luke Perry’s first big break came in the 90s when he played Dylan McKay on “90210” and his acting career took off from there. He worked on the show between 1990 to 1995 and 1998 to 2000. Perry also played Fred Andrews in the CW hit “Riverdale,” from 2017 until he passed away in 2019.

Perry suffered a stroke in his home on Feb. 27, 2019, and after spending several days in the hospital, he passed away on March 4, 2019, according to People.

The stroke that tragically took Perry’s life at age 52 wasn’t the first health issue he dealt with. Perry had a colorectal cancer scare in 2015, when doctors found precancerous growths and removed them, according to Page Six.

“If I had waited [to be screened], it could have been a whole different scenario,” Perry told Fox News in a 2017 interview.

Perry, father of two to Sophie and Jack Perry, a 26-year-old professional wrestler currently signed to “All Elite Wrestling,” became an advocate for colorectal screenings after his diagnosis, according to The Mirror, U.K. based news outlet.

WATCH: When Should You Be Screened for Colon Cancer?

Screening for colorectal cancer is an incredibly important when it comes to prevention, and catching cancer early. Colon cancers can begin as a polyp, or small growth, in the colon that causes no symptoms.

RELATED: ‘Sex And The City’ Co-Stars Lovingly Remember Willie Garson, Who Played ‘Stanford,’ Taken By Pancreatic Cancer At Just 57-Years-Old

Polyps can’t be felt, but they can be picked up by screening tests before they cause a problem. Typically, it takes up to 10 years for a colon polyp to turn into full-blown cancer, this gives doctors time to remove polyps before they become an issue.

Colorectal Cancer Curgeon, Dr. Zuri Murrell, On How Doctors Find And Remove Polyps During a Colonoscopy

Co-Stars Reflect on Friendship with Perry

On the one year anniversary of his passing, co-star Ian Ziering shared a photo on his Instagram remembering Perry.

“Hard to believe it’s been a year since losing Luke,” the caption read. “Though time heals wounds, the pain of loss lasts forever. Miss you so much pal. #RIPLukem,” Ziering wrote in a caption.

More recently, other cast members including Shannen Doherty, a breast cancer warrior herself, remembered Perry on the four-year anniversary of his passing. She reshared a video clip in February from the show of her and Luke Perry embracing on the beach.

In the clip, Doherty is seen kissing Perry while laying in the sand as the ocean waves come crashing down on them. At one point, the waves become overwhelming and the actors jump up and laugh, before Perry runs further into the water with Doherty right behind.

“Luke was a smart, quiet, humble and complex man with a heart of gold and never-ending well of integrity and love,” Doherty previously shared. “Luke reached out to me during my cancer journey, and we picked right back up, albeit older and wiser, but that connection remained intact.”

RELATED: The Sweet Way ‘90210’ Star Jason Priestley Remembers Luke Perry Stopping By Unannounced: How the Actor’s Death Changed His Outlook on Life

Four years after Perry’s passing, his longtime friend and co-star Jason Priestley revealed the loss of Perry was “devastating for him.” He said Perry’s passing reminds him to cherish loved ones and not take them for granted.

“It’s bittersweet every March when we go by the anniversary of his passing,” Priestly told fellow “Beverly Hills, 90210” co-stars David Lascher and Christine Taylor on their podcast, People reported.

“Luke and I obviously were really good friends when we were working on the show together. We were really good friends outside of that too,” Priestly said.

Perry and Priestly worked together on the popular teen drama “Beverly Hills 90210” that began its run in 1990. The duo became teen idols during the show’s run and their on-screen chemistry extended off-screen as well. Priestly told fellow cast members that he and Perry lived near each other, which allowed for some pop-in visits.

RELATED: Joyous ‘90210’ Reunion: Actor Brian Austin Green and Shannen Doherty Celebrate, Even As Doherty Fights Breast Cancer

“He lived three blocks away from me in Los Angeles and he would just ride his bike over to my house and ring the doorbell. I’d be like, ‘who’s here?’ and I’d open the door and it’d be Luke, like ‘hey dude, what’s up!'” Priestly said.

The two also worked together on projects outside of “Beverly Hills 90210.”

“We worked together a number of times outside of the show and we really enjoyed all the years we had together but unfortunately that got cut short,” Priestly said.

In regard to how devastating Perry’s death was for him and how it changed his outlook on life, Priestly said, “It was a real freak thing that happened with him and it was a good reminder to spend time with people you love and never take any of it for granted.”

Jennie Garth, known as Kelly Taylor on ‘90210,’ also spoke out about Perry following his death, recounting working with him to Los Angeles Magazine, “The beach scenes were always fun. And there was a rooftop pool scene at The Bel Age Hotel in the middle of the night.

“The water was supposed to be warm and it wasn’t, so we requested the crew get in the pool with us, so that everybody was freezing at the same time. We had a good time!”

She also spoke of how the ‘90210’ cast would often go out to parties in their free time, adding, “There were some parties at Trader Vic’s by Century City.

“We used to go to all the clubs, but they’re not there anymore. I used to go to the Coconut Teaszer on Sunset Boulevard and Crescent Heights and it’s something else now.”

Coping With Grief

Grief is known to “come in waves” and never fully leave you after a loved one has died. To grieve is to have fully loved someone, and that’s a beautiful thing, but the process of grief, can be fulling of missing, longing, and sadness.

Coping with grief after the loss of a loved one, or after a diagnosis of a disease like cancer, can be helped by seeing a psychiatrist, counselor, or oncological social worker.

You don’t have to suffer through your grief alone. Seek outside support when you’ve lost someone close to you.

Dealing With Grief After a Cancer Diagnosis

Contributing: SurvivorNet Staff

Learn more about SurvivorNet's rigorous medical review process.

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