Dylan Michael McKay, played by Luke Perry, is a fictional character from the television series, Beverly Hills, 90210.
[5] Throughout the first two seasons, Dylan's relationship with Brenda helps him through several traumatic events, including his struggle with alcoholism and his father's arrest (and eventual conviction) for several white-collar crimes.
Due to his feud with Jim Walsh and their new living arrangement, Dylan is annoyed to the point that he nearly ends their relationship.
At this point, Jim proposes to send Brenda to France (in lieu of Kelly Taylor) for a summer French immersion program.
With Brenda in Paris, Dylan starts spending a great deal of time with Kelly, helping her babysit her little sister and entering a doubles beach volleyball tournament with her.
It is revealed to the audience (but not to Dylan or any other character in the show) in the season finale that Suzanne and Kevin were conning him, and using his cause (and longing for family) to steal his large trust fund.
Dylan, nearly bankrupt because of the events of the previous season, has suffered a relapse and spent the summer in Mexico, mulling over issues with Brenda, Kelly and the betrayal of his "family".
After Dylan returns to Beverly Hills, he finds out that Brandon and Kelly have started dating and makes a scene at Donna's Cotillion rehearsal dinner.
After he is released from rehab with most of his confidence and self-esteem back, he redoubles his efforts to track down Erica and her mother and stepfather.
With an investigator named "Jonesy" (and with Valerie's help), they track down Kevin and Suzanne, who are hiding out in Mexico, and after a caper, recover Erica and all of Dylan's money.
A short time after, he starts hypnotherapy in order to research a role for a screenwriter friend's (who was also in rehab) next movie.
During the show's sixth season, Dylan finds out that the FBI believes a mobster named Anthony Marchette killed his father and decides to seek revenge.
The hitman ends up accidentally killing Toni, who is driving Dylan's car in a bad rain storm at the time.
He takes his Porsche out of storage and, after much thinking, sells it and decides to burn the money, where he runs into a drug dealer that gives him heroin.
In the show's final season, Dylan finds out that his father faked his death and is in the Witness Protection Program.
In the two-part series finale "The Penultimate" and "Ode to Joy", Dylan and Kelly reunite at Donna Martin and David Silver's wedding with a kiss.
In episode 10, Kelly comes back to Beverly Hills and reveals that a romantic reunion with Dylan did not work out, as he has the same commitment issues that plagued their relationship before.
He returned in 1998 and stayed for the rest of the series' run, but was credited as a "Special Guest Star"—much like Heather Locklear was on Melrose Place.