Jason Priestley Recalls 'Sad' Call from Jennie Garth after90210Costar Luke Perry’s Stroke: 'He Was a Bright Light'

Mar. 15, 2025

The cast of Beverly Hills, 90210. From left: Gabrielle Carteris, Jennie Garth, Luke Perry, Jason Priestley, Ian Ziering, Shannen Doherty, Tori Spelling and Brian Austin Green.Photo:mikel roberts/Sygma via Getty

mikel roberts/Sygma via Getty

Jason Priestleyremembers hearing the news ofLuke Perry’s massive stroke like it was yesterday.

Priestley, 55, who was both Perry’s co-star and longtime friend, reflects in the new CW documentaryI am Luke Perrythat a fellowBeverly Hills, 90210alumnus delivered the devastating news. “The morning that Luke had his stroke, I was at home. I was in my kitchen, and my phone rang and it wasJennie [Garth],” Priestley recalls. “Jennie told me that Luke had had a stroke and they were — and he was on his way to the hospital.”

Though he was “shocked” and “stunned,” Priestley says he remained hopeful, drawing on his own experiences. “I’m an eternal optimist,” he says. “I thought, ‘Yeah, he’s had a stroke. My dad had a stroke a few years ago. He’ll be okay.’ ”

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Luke Perry (left) and Jason Priestley in 2013.Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

But tragically, one week after the stroke, Perrydiedon Mar. 4, 2019, at age 52. “He passed away and it was a shock,” Priestley says, getting emotional in the documentary. “It was sad because he was a bright light.”

Garth, 52, wasn’t the only90210star to break the news of Perry’s stroke. “I think Brian Austin Green texted me,”Dean Winters, Perry’sOzcostar, recalls of how he heard the news. “I don’t think it had hit the press yet. Yeah that f—ing sucked. F—ing terrible.”

Dean Winters (left) and Luke Perry in 2000.Scott Gries/ImageDirect

Scott Gries/ImageDirect

Unlike Priestley, Winters, 60, says he wasn’t optimistic after hearing the news. “I knew someone who passed away from a stroke before that, and so I didn’t have a whole lot of faith. I wanted to, you know?,” the actor says.

He adds while wiping tears, “I don’t think anyone used the word ‘brother’ with me the way that he did. We had really great conversations and almost nothing to do with the business. So I appreciated that about him. I just miss having him as a friend. I hope I see him again sometime.”

He added, “I want to happen to my life, I don’t want my life to happen to me.”

I am Luke Perryis now streaming on theCW website.

source: people.com