From bad boy to protective father: These were Luke Perry's most memorable roles

Luke Perry started off as a teen heartthrob and was most recently seen as a protective dad on "Riverdale."

But it was his role as seemingly bad boy Dylan McKay on Fox’s “Beverly Hills 90210” in 1990 which shot Perry into the atmosphere. The series was both wildly popular and also criticized because of its willingness to take on controversial topics such as teens being sexually active.

“We have done some shows that dealt with pretty some touchy topics and people weren’t altogether happy with how we dealt with it,” Perry said during an appearance on “The Arsenio Hall Show” in the 1990s. “I thought we handled it pretty intelligently and we were willing to answer the questions we brought up.”

Perry’s character was so popular among fans that in 1991 an expected crowd of 2,000 at a Florida mall turned into a stampede of 10,000 when he appeared at an autograph signing.

See a few of his memorable roles:

Celebrities are reacting to the news of the death of Luke Perry, who died Monday after suffering massive stroke. He was 52.

Here's what they are saying:

Joss Whedon

Baywatch star Nicole Eggert

Actress Molly Ringwald

Actor Scott Foley

Luke Perry, who played the beloved Dylan McKay on the hit coming-of-age series "Beverly Hills 90210," has died, his publicist Arnold Robinson tells CNN.

He was 52.

Perry died Monday after suffering a massive stroke, his publicist Arnold Robinson told CNN.

"He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancé Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, step-father Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close family and friends. The family appreciates the outpouring of support and prayers that have been extended to Luke from around the world, and respectfully request privacy in this time of great mourning. No further details will be released at this time," a statement from Robinson read.