Leonardo DiCaprio and Luke Perry became household names in the ’90s. They both rose to fame as teen heartthrobs. Perry won fans with his role as Dylan McKay on Beverly Hills, 90210, while DiCaprio gained recognition through Titanic. Though their careers took different paths, they both had great influence on Hollywood.

DiCaprio was determined to break away from heartthrob roles, so he built a career working with top directors. He worked alongside some of the biggest names in the industry. Perry, while mainly known for television, remained a respected actor. Despite being leading figures in the ’90s, they had mutual respect for each other, and DiCaprio once revealed that he was starstruck upon meeting Luke Perry.

Leonardo DiCaprio praised Luke Perry for being the “kindest and sweetest human being”

In the documentary I Am Luke Perry, DiCaprio talked about meeting Perry for the first time on the set of Quentin Tarantino’s Once Upon a Time in Hollywood (2019). Though both actors were part of the film’s cast, DiCaprio admitted he was in awe of Perry. “There was an immediate sense of excitement in seeing Luke Perry on set,” he shared. “It was incredible.”

DiCaprio’s admiration for Perry stemmed from his teenage years when everyone was crazy about Perry. DiCaprio also described Perry as “the kindest, sweetest human being” and praised his professionalism. Though they didn’t share scenes in the film, DiCaprio made the most of their time together, they had meaningful conversations about the industry and their experiences.

Luke Perry passed away in 2019

On March 4, 2019, Luke Perry passed away after suffering a stroke at the age of 52 just four months after the premiere of the movie Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. The news shocked fans and colleagues alike and tributes poured in from every angle. DiCaprio paid respect to Perry on social media. “Luke Perry was a kindhearted and incredibly talented artist. It was an honor to be able to work with him,” he wrote.