VANCOUVER—The film industry in Vancouver is reeling from the loss of Luke Perry following the announcement of his death early Monday morning.

Perry died in a California hospital after suffering a stroke on Feb. 27. The actor was a ’90s icon for his role as heartthrob Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills 90210. In recent years, he spent a lot of time in Vancouver while playing the role of Fred Andrews on Riverdale, a teen drama reboot featuring classic Archie Comics characters.

While many celebrities took to social media to express their condolences Monday, several members of the Riverdale crew told the Star they were under strict nondisclosure agreements and could lose their jobs if they spoke openly about the 52-year-old actor’s death.

A public Facebook post attributed to actor Dane B. McFadhen explained what it was like to arrive on set Monday morning, as he prepped for his role as a deputy. The Star reached out to McFadhen for comment but did not receive a response.

The post described McFadhen joking with the crew Monday morning as he walked to his trailer when “something, a sound, a feeling” made him turn around. That’s when he saw another crew member gasp and say simply, “Luke is dead.”

At that moment, the post said, everyone dropped “everything” and cast and crew began to hug each other and cry.

“This has never happened to me before on a set,” it read. “It was more than just a job, and now I understand, because Luke was open. He let me in. He had stretched out his hand on set just a couple weeks ago and we had talked all about our lives as actors. I clapped him on the back at the end of the day and said goodbye.”

The set shut down production for the day after the news, according to the publication Vulture.

One Riverdale crew member who worked on the set said Perry was by far his favourite cast member.

“We would chit-chat casually. He was very approachable,” they said. “He just came off as a lot more friendly than most celebs … which was surprising coming from a mega celebrity of the ’90s and early 2000s.”

Perry was always kind, even to those who weren’t actors, they added.

Another crew member who worked on set decorating said Perry’s death was a “tremendous loss” and that people were “genuinely shocked” to hear the news.

After Riverdale’s first season, an impact report released in 2017 estimated the CW show brought in more than $60 million in spending and created more than 1,000 jobs in the province, according to the Vancouver Sun.

IATSE 891 is the union that represents technical artists in B.C. and the Yukon, many of whom worked on the Riverdale set.

“A whole generation grew up watching Luke Perry as Dylan on 90210 and a second generation got to know him (as Fred Andrews) on Riverdale. What a loss,” said IATSE spokesperson Phil Klapwyk. “Our hearts go out to all Luke’s family and friends and to the cast and crew of Riverdale.”

The executive producers of Riverdale — Greg Berlanti, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, Sarah Schechter, Jon Goldwater, Warner Bros. Television and the CW — issued a statement on social media early Monday afternoon saying they were “deeply saddened” to learn of Perry’s death.

“Luke was everything you would hope he would be: an incredibly caring, consummate professional with a giant heart and a true friend to all. A father figure and mentor to the show’s young cast, Luke was incredibly generous and he infused the set with love and kindness,” it read.

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Perry was surrounded by family and friends when he died, publicist Arnold Robinson said. His family released a statement shortly after his death was announced, “respectfully requesting privacy.”

He is survived by his children Jack and Sophie, ex-wife Minnie Sharp and his fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer.

Correction — March 5, 2019: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said Luke Perry played Pop on Riverdale. In fact, Perry played Fred Andrews.

With files from Ilya Banares

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