Luke Perry death: Colin Hanks shares incredible balloon story about late Riverdale actor

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Kelly Rissman

US News Reporter

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As Hollywood figures share their memories of actor Luke Perry, the best must surely go to Colin Hanks.

The son of Tom, who stars in Life in Pieces, was quick to pay tribute to the 52-year-old 90210 actor who died on Monday “after suffering a massive stroke”. On Instagram, he told the story of his encounter with Perry on a flight home from Mexico. While in the air, two small children began having a fight and it became apparent their parents were unable to stop them.

Step forward, Luke Perry.

“Out of nowhere, a man comes from first class – hat, beard, sunglasses, blowing up a balloon,” Hanks wrote. “He ties it off, hands it off like he’s holding out a sword to a king. Kneeling, head down, arms up. Kids calm down in milliseconds. Plane damn near bursts into applause. 15 minutes longer and it probably would have started WWIII, but we landed before that could happen.”

Hanks revealed that, after realising it was Perry, the actor shared “some kind works” about his recent work in Fargo.

“Finally get a good look at the guy and I say to my wife, ‘Holy s***. I think that balloon man/hero is Luke Perry. As luck would have it we end up standing next to each other. Out of the blue, he turns to me and says some kind words about Fargo, which kinda blew my mind.”

It turns out that Perry’s balloon heroics weren't a one-off, either. Hanks continued: “He tells me he always flies with a couple of balloons for that very reason, to give to screaming kids,” Hanks reveals. “Don’t know if that’s true, but have no reason to believe it wasn’t. Guy seemed like a true gent. Gone way too damn soon. Also, I’m gotta start travelling with some spare balloons.”

Perhaps he was channeling his Sideshow Luke Perry character from the 1993 Simpsons episode “Krusty Gets Kancelled”?

The actor’s representative confirmed Perry’s death, telling The Independent: “He was surrounded by his children Jack and Sophie, fiancée Wendy Madison Bauer, ex-wife Minnie Sharp, mother Ann Bennett, stepfather Steve Bennett, brother Tom Perry, sister Amy Coder, and other close family and friends."