ACTOR STORY
How Luke Perry Almost Gave Up on Acting
“Literally within a week, he was getting ready to go back to Ohio and join the fire department.”
(arranged by AM Staff)
The acting community continues to morn the untimely death of actor Luke Perry, who died at the age of 52, after suffering a massive stroke. The Beverly Hills 90210 actor left behind two children, Jack and Sophie, a fiancé, and a legion of fans who fell in love with his portrayal of “Dylan McKay”, the heartthrob on the show.
An upcoming documentary sheds new light on the actor and some of his early struggles to find success in Hollywood. Perry’s former agent, Chris Nassif, reveals in the documentary that he almost gave up on acting to become a firefighter.
As Nassif explains in an interview with Fox News:
“He’s part of a past that I’m very fond of,” said Nassif. “It was right before my kids were born. I started the agency business in 1981, but Luke was my first big success.”
Nassif served as Perry’s agent between 1989 until 1992. He described the Ohio native as someone he quickly loved and admired.
“I loved him,” said Nassif. “He had no fear. He was very humble. Always willing to help. He used to tell me, ‘Chris, if you need any help with anything in your house, I got lots of time on my hands.’ He truly became one of our family members. Just a salt-of-the-earth type of individual.”
At the time, Perry was an up-and-coming actor looking for his big break. And while he remained hopeful as auditions came his way, Perry was already contemplating leaving Hollywood behind and taking on a completely different role.
“‘Just give it a little more time.’ And that was the week when I got him the audition for Beverly Hills, 90210.”
“His outlook on life was very positive,” recalled Nassif. “The future looked bright. He was determined to make it. Now I’m not saying he didn’t get a little bit frustrated and felt like it was never going to happen to him.
Literally within a week, he was getting ready to go back to Ohio and join the fire department. I told him, ‘You have too much going on for you here. You have that edge. Just give it a little more time.’ And that was the week when I got him the audition for ‘Beverly Hills, 90210.’”
The rest, of course, is history. Perry kept his dream alive just long enough to land the role that would change the course of his life.
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