As she grieves overLuke Perry’ssudden death,Rosanna Arquetteis remembering theBeverly Hills, 90210actor’s 30-year friendship with her late sister, transgender activist and actressAlexis Arquette.
Rosanna Arquette and Luke Perry.
Perry, 52, was hospitalized on Feb. 27 after suffering a massive stroke and died Monday. Alexis, one of the first transgender activists in Hollywood,died in September 2016of complications stemming from HIV, which she had contracted nearly 30 years earlier. She was 47.
“I know Alexis is with him, I believe that,” Rosanna says. “They loved each other deeply and were so close. Luke never judged Alexis just loved her as she was. And it was a gift. Luke was a good man.”
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She continues: “He was generous and kind and truly a beautiful soul. I’m so horribly broken-hearted for his family, his kids. Though I haven’t seen them for awhile. Though I didn’t see him a lot, when we did, we always had a warm and connected conversation. This is a terrible loss.”
Perry was father toson Jack, 21,and 18-year-old daughter Sophie with his ex Rachel “Minnie” Sharp.
Alexis and Perry had been friends since their early days in the business; he spoke about her when introducing her other sister Patricia Arquette at the 28th Annual GLAAD Awards in 2017.
“Look when you love somebody, you love them. Bottom line,” Perry toldEntertainment Tonightat the time. “And I loved Lex and Lex loved me, and I don’t need to explain that to anybody. That’s how love works, and that’s what’s so special about the message Patricia spreads.”
Patricia, 50, also shares memories of Perry with PEOPLE.
“Luke was the most incredible friend. He was an old school man. Stand-up and straight-shooting. He was integral and fair and good and strong,” the Escape at Dannemorastar says in a statement. “His joy was being a father to kids, Jack and Sophie, and he had found true joy and happiness with his great love, Madison. It’s a true loss to all of us who knew him and to those who didn’t. He was a great talent and was a strong and stalwart man, and they will never make another like him.”
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In lieu of flowers, the Perry family ask that donations be made toFight Colorectal Cancerand St. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
source: people.com
