Gil Gerard, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century star, dies aged 82

Gil Gerard, best known for starring as the hero in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, has died aged 82.

The actor, who was living in Georgia, unexpectedly died on Tuesday morning after battling cancer.

His wife Janet announced the news in a Facebook post, sharing that he had ‘lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer’.

‘From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days,’ she continued, adding: ‘No matter how many years I got to spend with him it would have ever been enough. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely.’

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century originally aired on NBC in the US from 1979 to 1981, with Gerard as the wisecracking William ‘Buck’ Rogers – initially in a TV movie that was later released in cinemas, before it was developed into two seasons of a television show.

A 20th century pilot who wakes up after 500 years of suspended animation and defends the Earth from space villains, Buck Rogers was a sci-fi hero who first appeared in a newspaper comic strip in 1929 and famously in a 1939 movie serial with Olympic swimmer Buster Crabbe.

The show was developed following the runaway success of Star Wars and also starred Erin Gray, Wilfred Hyde-White and the legendary Mel Blanc as the voice of robot Twiki, who was also played by Felix Silla.

Gerard, who was born on January 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, largely kicked off his career as an actor by starring in commercials – nearly 400 of them, including working as a spokesperson for Ford Motor Company.

He starred in daytime soap opera The Doctors from 1973 to 1976, before appearing in episodes of Little House on the Prairie and Hawaii Five-O.

Gerard also played Frank Powers in the disaster film Airport ’77 alongside veteran Hollywood actors James Stewart, Olivia de Havilland, Jack Lemon and Joseph Cotten.

After Buck Rogers, Gerard starred in several TV movies like Help Wanted: Male and Hear No Evil and as a police officer who teaches martial arts to a young boy in ABC series Sidekicks from 1986 to 1987, as well starring as Dr John Harding in E.A.R.T.H. Force (1990) for just three episodes before its cancellation.

He also appeared on Days of Our Lives in 1997 and featured in 2016 Hollywood flick The Nice Guys opposite Gladiator star Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, one of his final credits.

In 2007, Gerard was the subject of Discovery Health Channel documentary Action Hero Makeover, which followed his decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery after reaching 350 pounds due to years of struggling with compulsive eating.

In 1990 he had told People Magazine he estimated that he had lost $1million (£751K) worth of work because of overeating.

Married four times, Gerard is survived by his wife of 18 years, Janet, and his son Gib, whom he shared with ex-wife actress Connie Sellecca.

Fans paid tribute on social media, with Christopher Bailey tweeting: ‘My older brother and I had a chance to meet him at a con once and he gave us his undivided attention. Pleasure to meet him.’

‘So sorry to hear about the great Gil Gerard. Meet [sic.] him and Erin Gray. Wonderful people,’ shared Marc, while another fan added: ‘Man… I used to race to get control of the TV when Buck Rogers came on! Rest in peace Gil Gerard!!’

A message shared on Gerard’s official Facebook page read: ‘If you are reading this, then Janet has posted this 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.’

He concluded: ‘Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.’

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