It’s been almost two months since the shocking news that Perry died at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke.
Luke Perry’s final appearance on Riverdale is here.
It’s been almost two months since the shocking news that Perry, who portrayed Archie's father, Fred Andrews, on the popular CW show, died at the age of 52 after suffering a massive stroke.
Just like Riverdale showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa promised, Perry’s last scene was a "beautiful" moment with his on-screen son, KJ Apa.
In the all-new episode "Chapter 54: Fear the Reaper," Archie was reeling from the news that his boxing opponent, Randy, died during their last match. Although Randy technically died from a drug overdose, Archie was convinced that the town would try to frame him for another murder and he turned to his father, Fred, for some guidance.
“Son, from everything you’ve said, it’s clear that Randy died from those drugs,” Fred said calmly to Archie at the beginning of the episode while his son paced back and forth in their dim kitchen. “An autopsy will support that. You’re innocent.”
“But I’m not, Dad,” Archie snapped back. “I knew. I knew Randy was juicing. I could’ve stopped the fight, but I didn't want to forfeit. If I had… I’m never stepping into that ring ever again. I can’t.”
And with that short but sweet scene, Luke Perry’s screen time on Riverdale is heartbreakingly over.
With just three new episodes left in Riverdale’s third season, it’s still unclear how the writers will choose to address Fred Andrews' absence from the rest of the series. However, when ET caught up with Aguirre-Sacasa last month, the executive producer opened about how the series will eventually explain the narrative.
"You know, honestly, we are I think all still in shock and are all still processing and grieving," Aguirre-Sacasa said exclusively to ET at the Chilling Adventures of Sabrina ATAS Official Event in Los Angeles. "We know that we have to address it in some way, but we’re giving ourselves a little bit of time and space before we figure out the best way to honor him."
Just days after Perry’s death, Aguirre-Sacasa took to Twitter to announce that all remaining episodes of the CW drama will be dedicated to the late actor and that same week, Riverdale shared an on-screen in memoriam message.
Now the showrunner confirms that Perry’s "wise and vivacious" spirit will continue to live on through the show.
"Luke was, is, and will always be a big part of Riverdale," he said. "We’re kind of a family and when a loss like this happens, you carry it always. It changes and it hopefully becomes a little less painful as time goes by, but you’re changed."
"When I was with the crew, I said, 'It will never be the same,' and that’s true because Luke was such a part of the show," Aguirre-Sacasa continued. "His spirit -- which was so generous and wise and vivacious -- we hope will infuse every episode, so in my mind, every episode for the rest of time on Riverdale will have a bit of Luke in it."
For a look at Perry's best Riverdale moments, watch the video below:
