Riverdale star KJ Apa pays tribute to on-screen dad Luke Perry: 'Rest in love'

Riverdale’s KJ Apa has paid tribute to his on-screen father Luke Perry after the former 90210 star died at the age of 52.

The actor, who played Fred Andrews on the show, passed away earlier this week, days after suffering a stroke.

Apa broke his silence on the loss of his colleague yesterday, as he shared a photo of Perry smiling on a boat trip.

He captioned the post: “Rest in Love bro.”

Fans urged the star to “stay strong” as they added their own messages of condolence.

“Luke is always going to be with you, @kjapa,” one follower wrote. “Stay strong, everything is going to be fine someday, love you!”

“Lots of love and prayers,” another added.

“The saddest of news!” a third wrote. “Sending all the cast, his friends and his family my condolences. What a fantastic man. Will miss seeing him on our screens.”

Apa’s Riverdale cast mate Camila Mendes also shared an Instagram tribute to her “dear friend” Perry, sharing a candid photo of the pair at a party.

“He took care of us all,” she wrote. “An authentic man who took pleasure in offering us his guidance and wisdom. His presence was healing; he had the ability to make you feel comfortable and at ease within seconds of seeing him.”

“Rest in peace, Luke,” she continued. “Although you’re no longer around to wrap me in the warmth of your hug, I can still remember what it felt like. Whenever I think of you, I will remember that feeling.”

Perry was remembered in an In Memoriam segment at the end of Wednesday night’s episode of Riverdale, which concluded with a black screen featuring the words: “In Memoriam Luke Perry 1966-2019.”

In a statement released earlier this week, the show’s executive producers said that they were “deeply saddened” to learn of Perry’s passing, praising him as “an incredibly caring, consummate professional with a giant heart, and a true friend to all.”

Perry will appear posthumously in Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, which is slated for release in July.