Luke Perry was taken from us way too soon when he died on Monday morning at St. Joseph's Hospital in Burbank after suffering a massive stroke last week.
Doctors sedated him in the hopes his brain would recover from the trauma, but the damage proved to be too extensive. The Riverdale actor was 52.
Perry was most famous for his star-making turn as heartthrob Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills 90210 during the 90s, and heartbroken fans paid homage by revisiting the role to which he's become forever linked.
Fans are still grappling over news of his loss and have paid tribute on social media to express their sympathies for his family.
While many praised Perry's work in the industry in remembrance, Colin Hanks, Tom Hanks's son, is remembering Luke Perry as a kind-hearted hero.
The actor from FX's crime anthology Fargo and CBS's Life in Pieces never worked with Perry, but Hanks reflected on the time they met while on a flight back from Mexico.
"I only met him once but the story is too good not [to] tell given today's sad events," wrote the Hollywood scion.
The flight was a nightmare, with two unruly kids who were brothers fighting each other.
"My wife and I are on a plane back from Mexico. Couple of rows ahead of us, these two brothers, young kids, are beating the hell out of each other."
"Their poor parents are powerless to stop the crying, yelling and screaming. If you're a parent you understand. Sometimes there's nothing you can do. It was like this for close to two hours."
A fellow passenger intervened and miraculously restored peace through a simple and brilliant gesture. At the time, Hanks did not recognize the incognito hero.
"Then about 10 minutes before landing it starts to get real bad. Out of no where, a man comes from first class. Hat, beard, sunglasses, blowing up a balloon. He ties it off, hands it off like he's holding out a sword to a king. Kneeling, Head down, arms up. Kids calm down in milliseconds."
"Plane damn near bursts into applause. 15 minutes longer and it probably would have started WWIII, but we landed before that could happen."
It wasn't until they debarked that Hanks recognized the "balloon man/hero."
"We get off the plane, are waiting on line in customs. Finally get a good look at the guy and I say to my wife 'Holy shit. I think that balloon man/hero" is Luke Perry'. As luck would have it we end up standing next to each other."
"Out of the blue he turns to me and says some kind words about 'Fargo,' which kinda blew my mind. I start singing his praises about how long I've admired him and also about the move with the balloon."
"'That's a pro move! You can't teach that!' I say. He tells me he always flies with a couple of balloons for that very reason, to give to screaming kids. Don't know if that's true, but have no reason to believe it wasn't."
The brief interaction made a lasting impression on Hanks. He concluded the post by calling Perry a "true gent."
"Guy seemed like a true gent. Gone way too damn soon. Also, I'll be damned if I don't start traveling with some spare balloons."
Now we all want to carry the torch and bring balloons with us on our future travels.
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
@colinhanks/Instagram
It's no surprise Perry was good with children as he was a father to his son Jack, 22, and daughter Sophie, 19, both of whom he had with ex-wife Rachel "Minnie" Sharp.
A source told PEOPLE:
"Luke was a super great, very hands-on dad. He was always attending his kids' school and after-school functions when they were younger. He loved just hanging out with them and being present. He was so proud of everything they accomplished."
Perry's publicist confirmed that when he passed, the late actor was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophia, his fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry and sister Amy Coder.
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