Sci-Fi TV Icon Dies at 82

Hollywood is mourning the loss of a sci-fi icon with the death of Gil Gerard on Tuesday, December 16. The actor was 82 years old.

The Associated Press reports that Gerard, who played the title role in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, died in hospice surrounded by loved ones. Gerard’s manager, Tina Presley Borek, noted that the actor had been suffering from a rare and aggressive form of cancer. 

Gerard’s wife Janet, who clarified that she “was by his side when my husband passed away this morning in hospice care,” posted a message to his official Facebook page just hours after his passing with a message Gil had left to his fans. It reads, in part:

“If you are reading this, then Janet has posted it as I asked her to. My life has been an amazing journey. 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. My journey has taken me from Arkansas to New York to Los Angeles, and finally, to my home in North Georgia with my amazing wife, Janet, of 18 years. It’s been a great ride, but inevitably one that comes to a close as mine has. Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”

The post has already racked up more than 30,000 likes and thousands of comments from fans expressing their sadness at Gerard’s passing and appreciation of his work.

How Did Gil Gerard Get His Start?

Gerard got bit by the acting bug at a young age when he had the chance to participate in his school plays. That passion for the craft eventually took him to New York City, where he took classes during the day and drove a cab at night to support his dream. 

It was a chance conversation with one of his passengers that led to his first professional gig—an extra on Arthur Hiller’s Love Story. (He did film a slightly juicier part, which ended up on the cutting room floor.)

In the early 1970s, Gerard became a prolific commercial actor and even spent some time as a spokesperson for the Ford Motor Company. In 1973 he landed a prime role on the soap opera The Doctors, playing Dr. Alan Stewart for three years. His biggest role, however, came at the end of the decade when he was cast as Captain William “Buck” Rogers in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, for which the pilot episode was released as a feature film followed by an NBC TV series that ran through 1981.
Gerard maintained a busy career following his role on Buck Rogers, including starring in the series Sidekicks. One of the actor’s most recent roles was in Shane Black’s The Nice Guys, starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe.