Leonardo DiCaprio Says He Was ‘Starstruck’ Meeting Luke Perry on the Once Upon a Time in Hollywood Set: ‘It Was Incredible’

The two bonded over their experiences as actors and heartthrobs in Los Angeles in the 1990s, according to a new documentary

Steve Granitz/FilmMagic; CHRIS DELMAS/AFP via Getty.

Everyone gets starstruck sometimes — even A-listers like Leonardo DiCaprio.

In I Am Luke Perry, a new documentary about Luke Perry, produced by the late actor’s Beverly Hills, 90210 costar and real-life friend Jason Priestley, friends, family and other stars remember Perry after he died at age 52 in March 2019 of complications from a stroke.

Following the rise of the Riverdale star from his youth in small-town Ohio to becoming a Hollywood heartthrob in the 1990s, to his later career and legacy, DiCaprio, 50, recalls meeting Perry on the set of Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 Oscar-winning film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.

“I was immediately struck by his kindness,” the Titanic star said, speaking alongside Tarantino, 61, and costar Margot Robbie.

“Having been born and raised in Los Angeles, and worked in this industry my entire life, it has, in many ways, greatly shaped who I am,” he continued.

“There was an immediate sense of excitement in seeing Luke Perry on set. It was incredible.”

Sony.

Jason Priestley Recalls ‘Sad’ Call from Jennie Garth after 90210 Costar Luke Perry’s Stroke: ‘He Was a Bright Light’

Perry starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood as real-life actor Wayne Maunder, appearing in a recreation of Lancer‘s pilot episode.

DiCaprio, meanwhile, portrayed a fictional actor who starred in Westerns, Rick Dalton.

Continuing to recall the moment when he got to come face-to-face with Perry on set in I Am Luke Perry, DiCaprio said, “I remember being in my teens, and he was the manifestation of the new [James] Dean on television, and everyone was crazy about him.”

“I felt this overwhelming feeling of being starstruck,” the actor continued.

“But then he and I got to sit down and talk about Los Angeles, the ’90s, his life, where his career had gone, where my career had gone, where his life [had gone], my life [had gone].”

Added DiCaprio: “I was so, struck, how do I say this, by the kindness of his character.

[He was] just an incredibly generous human being.”

Perry died just four months before Once Upon a Time in Hollywood’s July 2019 premiere.

Luke Perry in May 2017.
See Luke Perry in a Deleted Scene from ‘Once Upon a Time… in Hollywood’

DiCaprio previously spoke of Perry on the red carpet that summer, saying, “I grew up with him on [Beverly Hills] 90210, looking up to him as literally the coolest dude on Earth, and honestly, when I was on set, I was starstruck.”

He added at the time, “We got to sit down and chat.

He couldn’t have been a more amazing human being. It’s a real tragic loss.”

DiCaprio had also posted a tribute on social media on March 4, the day Perry’s death was confirmed, writing that it was an “honor” to have worked with him.

I Am Luke Perry is now streaming.