- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Jennie Garth Reflects on 'Unrequited Love' for Late Co-Star Luke Perry
The 'Beverly Hills, 90210' actress opens up about her complicated feelings for her former on-screen love interest.
Apr. 13, 2026 at 4:38pm
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
Jennie Garth, who played Kelly Taylor on the hit '90s TV series 'Beverly Hills, 90210', has revealed in her new memoir 'I Choose Me' that she had deep, complicated feelings for her co-star Luke Perry, who played the brooding Dylan McKay. Garth says the 'lines got blurred' between their on-screen romance and real-life connection, leading to an 'unrequited love' that made navigating her own relationships difficult as a young actress.
Why it matters
Garth and Perry's on-screen chemistry as Kelly and Dylan was a major part of the show's success and cultural impact. Their characters' tumultuous relationship resonated with fans, and now Garth is shedding light on how those feelings translated into their real-life friendship and working relationship.
The details
In the memoir, Garth opens up about how she 'loved' Perry, though she acknowledges it was the type of love that 'everybody' felt for the charismatic actor. However, for Garth's 'young self', the connection felt 'very special and unique'. She says the 'lines got blurred' between their on-screen romance and real-life relationship, making it 'tricky' to navigate her own love life. Garth also addresses the backlash she faced from some fans for not immediately posting about Perry's death on social media in 2019, explaining that she wanted to honor him privately and in her own way.
- Garth's memoir 'I Choose Me' was released on April 13, 2026.
- Luke Perry passed away in 2019 after suffering a stroke.
The players
Jennie Garth
An American actress best known for her role as Kelly Taylor on the popular 1990s TV series 'Beverly Hills, 90210'.
Luke Perry
An American actor who rose to fame playing the role of Dylan McKay on 'Beverly Hills, 90210', and who passed away in 2019.
What they’re saying
“I loved him, I guess in the way everybody loved him, but to my young self, it felt like very special and unique.”
— Jennie Garth, Actress
“The lines got blurred for me a lot as a young girl, and that made navigating my real love feelings in life very tricky. And it felt like love became something that I was a little bit afraid of.”
— Jennie Garth, Actress
The takeaway
Garth's revelations about her complicated feelings for her former co-star Luke Perry provide a rare glimpse into the personal lives and relationships of TV stars, highlighting how the lines between on-screen and off-screen dynamics can become blurred, especially for young actors navigating fame and romance.
