Luke Perry’s on-screen son KJ Apa breaks silence on death of Riverdale castmate: ‘Rest in Love bro’

Luke Perry’s second family on The CW show Riverdale were in a state of shock following the death of their beloved onscreen dad and friend.

Now some of his co-stars have broken their silence and taken to Instagram to share heartbreaking messages about the 52-year old actor who died on Monday following a massive stroke days earlier.

‘Rest in Love bro,’ KJ Apa captioned a picture of Perry flashing a big beaming smile while riding in a boat.   

Perry and Apa played father and son duo Archie and Fred Andrews on Riverdale.

Camila Mendes, who plays Apa’s love interest on show, also paid tribute to her mentor with a picture of herself standing next to Perry, who was wearing a small celebratory cone of his head. 

‘He took care of us all. 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. I will never forget the collective shock and distress we experienced when the news broke on set. We lost a dear friend. My heart hurts for his family and anybody who had the pleasure of knowing him. 

She concluded with: ‘Rest in peace, Luke. 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.’

Second family: Perry and Apa played father and son duo Archie and Fred Andrews on Riverdale

Camila Mendes paid tribute to her mentor; ‘His presence was healing; he had the ability to make you feel comfortable and at ease within seconds of seeing him,’ the actress wrote

On Wednesday, co-star Marisol Nichols got emotional when she shared her grief over the loss of her dear friend and colleague.   

‘It’s the suddenness of him leaving. The unexpectedness and loss of this amazing person who made me and so many countless others smile, laugh, and be inspired,’ she captioned in a montage of pics from the Riverdale set.

She went on to describe Perry as ‘a true professional who epitomized generosity both on and off screen’ and ‘the heart of our show.’ 

Nichols added: ‘It’s still raw and incomprehensible that he’s gone… Luke, I hope you know how much you meant to me, to us. You left us way too soon. We miss you terribly. Take care, my friend.’   

Grief stricken: Marisol Nichols (second left) seemed to still be in shock: ‘It’s the suddenness of him leaving. The unexpectedness and loss of this amazing person who made me and so many countless others smile, laugh, and be inspired,’ she wore

The day after Perry’s death, Madelaine Petsch shared her feelings of loss and grief.

‘You were such a light in our lives; the most genuine & kind soul I will ever know. From day one of this show you were the most amazing mentor to me. Thank you for teaching me not only about this industry, but also about kindness and being a family and how to foster and nurture those important relationships…’  

The show recently announced that all episodes from now on will be dedicated to Perry. 

Look of love: ‘You were such a light in our lives; the most genuine & kind soul I will ever know,’ Madelaine Petsch (top center) shared on Instagram