Gil Gerard, Iconic Buck Rogers Star, Dies at 82
Beloved for his role in 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century', Gil Gerard has passed away at 82 after a short battle with cancer. His wife Janet shared moving tributes reflecting on his life and legacy.
Gil Gerard, celebrated for his portrayal of the titular hero in the NBC science fiction series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, has died at the age of 82. The news was shared by his wife, Janet, who posted a heartfelt message on Facebook.
“Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,”
she wrote.
“From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days. No matter how many years I got to spend with him it would have ever been enough.”
Janet concluded her message with a poignant reminder:
“Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely.”
Final Words and Reflections
Later that day, Janet shared a second post, this time featuring a message penned by Gerard himself to be released after his passing.
“My life has been an amazing journey,”
he began.
“The opportunities I’ve had, the people I’ve met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying.”
He closed with a note of encouragement:
“Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”
From Arkansas to Stardom
Born in Arkansas and later residing in Georgia, Gerard’s path to acting was far from straightforward. He relocated to New York City in 1969, working nights as a taxi driver to make ends meet. It was during this period that he landed an audition for Arthur Hiller’s Love Story, which led to a role as an extra. His career began to gather pace in 1977 with a part in Airport ’77, where he played opposite Lee Grant. He later took on the role of a moonshiner in the comedy Hooch, before being approached for Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. Initially, Gerard was hesitant, describing the part in 2018 as
“too campy”
for his taste. Nevertheless, he agreed to star in the 1979 film that launched the franchise, which proved to be a box office hit.
Television, Film, and Personal Challenges
Gerard’s career extended beyond Buck Rogers. He appeared in the 1990 CBS series E.A.R.T.H. Force and hosted the 1992 reality programme Code 3. In 1997, he took on the role of Major Dodd in the NBC daytime soap Days of Our Lives, and made a cameo in the 2016 comedy The Nice Guys, starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe. In 2007, a Discovery Health Channel documentary, Action Hero Makeover, chronicled his decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery after it was estimated he had lost nearly $1 million in work due to overeating.
He is survived by his wife, Janet, and his son Gib, whom he had with actor Connie Sellecca.