25 favorite ’80s and ’90s teenage heartthrobs and what they’re doing now
By Sundi Rose
Luke Perry
What made him a heartthrob: Most of us know Luke Perry as the brooding, James Dean-lite, bad-ish boy from Beverly Hills, 90210. He has a scar on his eyebrow that made him seem vaguely dangerous, but he also liked to surf and care about the environment. Perry’s Dylan was so beloved by fans that he (and his co-stars) were routinely chased by screaming, hysterical fans.
Legend has it (and a very unauthorized Lifetime movie) that Perry was doing roadwork when the call came in to confirm he’d been cast. He didn’t have much acting experience under his belt, but it didn’t take much for teenage America to fall in love with him whole-heartedly.
What he’s doing now: Most notably, Perry is playing the gruff and ruggedly handsome father, Fred Andrews, on The CW’s megahit, Riverdale. He’s still dreamy and broody, but he’s making way for the newest generation of hunky heartthrobs.
He’s also set to appear as Scott Lancer in the upcoming Quentin Tarantino film about Charles Manson’s most famous victim, Sharon Tate. The film, Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, is set to premiere in the summer of 2019 and also stars Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio.
Luke at his best: You must watch Perry as Dylan coming clean about cheating on Brenda in Beverly Hills 90210‘s “Back in the High Life Again.” His good acting continues, as he lays dying in Riverdale‘s first season, in “Chapter 13: The Sweet Hereafter.”