The sudden death of actor Luke Perry on Monday sent shockwaves through the entertainment industry, with fans, friends, and fellow celebs taking to social media to share their remembrances of the star, and offer condolences to his loved ones. Some of the most touching tributes have come from Perry's colleagues on "Riverdale," the CW series on which he starred.

In a joint statement issued on Monday, "Riverdale" executive producers Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and Jon Goldwater, along with Warner Bros. Television and The CW, praised the late actor not only for his contributions to the series, but the impact he made on the cast and crew behind the scenes as well.

The statement said:

“We are deeply saddened to learn today about the passing of Luke Perry. A beloved member of the ‘Riverdale,’ Warner Bros. and CW family, Luke was everything you would hope he would be: an incredibly caring, consummate professional with a giant heart, and a true friend to all. A father figure and mentor to the show’s young cast, Luke was incredibly generous, and he infused the set with love and kindness. Our thoughts are with Luke’s family during this most difficult time.”

Perry had played Fred Andrews, father of Archie Andrews (KJ Apa), since the show's debut. Molly Ringwald, who plays Archie's mother and Fred's ex-wife, Mary Andrews, shared her shock and grief at Perry's sudden passing on Twitter.

"My heart is broken," Ringwald wrote. "I will miss you so much Luke Perry. Sending all my love to your family."

The "Riverdale" writers room also took to Twitter to pay tribute to the star.

The group called Perry "a joyful and vibrant soul," adding, "You will be missed but most certainly your legacy will be remembered forever."

It's not yet clear how Perry's death will be dealt with on the show, which is currently shooting. Production was shut down on the series for the day on Monday.

Perry died on Monday after suffering a massive stroke last week. He was 52.

[via: Variety]