Luke Perryknew how to pay it forward.
Speaking to PEOPLE in Los Angeles on Thursday,David Arquetterevealed that the late actor played a hand in helping him score his role in the 1992 cult classic movieBuffy the Vampire Slayer.
“He actually helped me get that role inBuffy,” said David, 47, atVisionary Women‘s Second Annual International Women’s Day Award honoring his sistersPatriciaandRosanna Arquette. “He campaigned for me and put in a good word. I had to audition and still get it, but it really helped that he was in my corner.”
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PerrydiedMonday, five days aftersuffering a massive stroke. He was 52. In addition to starring inBuffywith David, theBeverly Hills, 90210star was extremely close with David’s late sister, transgender activist and actressAlexis Arquette.
“Luke was just such a tremendous friend and just an incredible person,” David said. “Everyone loved him. He had such incredible wit and humor. I have so many memories of him. I mean, when he got cast for90210, he was renting a room in my mother’s house where we grew up, so it was a really exciting time for him.”
“And lastly, I’d like to say just that everyone’s really going to miss him,” he added. “He’s just such a sweet, unique person. But henever let Hollywood get to him. He was alwaysthe kid from Ohiothat just really made it big in Hollywood but never took it too seriously.”
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Patricia, 50, also shared her memories of Perry with PEOPLE at Thursday’s event.
“He was such an incredible person,” she said. “In 30 years, I never heard Luke say one bad word about one person. He was just a kind, gentle human being.”
In lieu of flowers, the Perry family asks that donations be made toFight Colorectal CancerandSt. Jude’s Children’s Hospital.
source: people.com
