Gil Gerard, best known for starring in âBuck Rogers in the 25th Century,â has died at 82 after battling cancer. The actor is remembered for his legacy and candor. Gerard, the actor best known for bringing the wisecracking space hero to life on âBuck Rogers in the 25th Century,â has died.
He was 82. Gerard died Tuesday in Georgia after battling âa rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,â his wife, Janet, announced in a Facebook post.
The Arkansas-born actor became a familiar face on television through sci-fi and drama, and in an unusually candid later chapter of his life.
Gil Gerardâs Breakout as Buck Rogers
Gerard rose to fame as Capt. William Anthony âBuckâ Rogers, a NASA and U.S. Air Force pilot accidentally frozen in space and awakened centuries later, in NBCâs âBuck Rogers in the 25th Century.â The lighthearted sci-fi series ran from 1979 to 1981 and was preceded by a feature-length television movie that became an unexpected hit.
The role nearly passed him by. Gerard later admitted he was hesitant to take it on.
âI saw what it did to Adam Westâs career with Batman, and this was another cartoon character. I didnât want to do this campy stuff,â he said in a 2018 interview.
Ultimately, he agreed to star in the project, and the âBuck Rogersâ movie finished among the top 25 domestic box office releases of 1979.
The film was later retooled into the showâs two-hour pilot episode. The series ran for two seasons, producing 32 episodes, and ended in April 1981.
In later years, Gerard reflected on what made the character resonate with audiences.
âI thought the character had a sense of reality about him,â he said in 2017. âThe sense of humor, I liked very much, and his humanity, I liked. I thought it was kind of cool. He wasnât a stiff kind of guy. He was a guy who could solve problems on his feet, and he wasnât a superhero.â
A Career That Spanned Television, Film, and Broadway
- Before his breakthrough on âBuck Rogers in the 25th Century,â Gerard appeared in films such as âAirport â77. He starred in the Appalachian-set comedy âHooch,â which he later acknowledged was inspired by âSmokey and the Bandit.â
- According to IMDb, he went on to lead several television projects, including the 1982 telefilm âHelp Wanted: Maleâ and the ABC action series âSidekicks,â which aired from 1986 to 1987.
- Over the years, Gerard made memorable appearances on shows including âThe Doctors,â âLittle House on the Prairie,â âDays of Our Lives,â and the CBS series âE.A.R.T.H. Force.â
- His later work included hosting the reality series âCode 3â and a supporting role in the 2016 film âThe Nice Guys.â
- In addition to acting, Gerard explored producing and theater. In 1983, he produced the Broadway musical âAmen Corner,â based on the James Baldwin play.
Early Life and the Road to Hollywood
Born Gilbert Cyril Gerard on January 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was the youngest of three boys. His father worked as a knife salesman, and his mother was a teacher.
After graduating from Little Rock Catholic High, Gerard studied at Arkansas State Teacher College before moving to New York in 1969. He trained at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and supported himself by driving a cab.
One passenger helped him land an audition for âLove Story.â Though his scene was cut, Gerard worked on the film for weeks and soon found steady work in commercials, appearing in more than 400 ads by his own count, as confirmed by The Hollywood Reporter.
Inside His Health Struggles
Gerard later spoke candidly about lifelong struggles with weight and health. He became the focus of the 2007 Discovery Health Channel documentary âAction Hero Makeover,â which followed his decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery after his weight reached 350 pounds.
In a 1990 interview with People, Gerard estimated that overeating had cost him nearly $1 million in lost work opportunities over the years.
Gerard was married four times, including a high-profile marriage to actress Connie Sellecca from 1979 to 1987. He is survived by Janet, his wife of 18 years, and his son, Gib.
In a final message shared on his Facebook account, Gerard reflected on his life with gratitude and perspective.
âMy life has been an amazing journey. The opportunities Iâve had, the people Iâve met and the love I have given and received have made my 82 years on the planet deeply satisfying. ⦠Donât waste your time on anything that doesnât thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.â
For fans of classic television and science fiction, Gil Gerard leaves behind a legacy rooted in humor, honesty, and a hero who felt unmistakably human.
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