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- ‘Buck Rogers’ star Gil Gerard dies at 82 (nbcnews.com)
Gil Gerard, Star of “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” Dies at 82
Gil Gerard, the actor best known for his charismatic portrayal of Captain William “Buck” Rogers in the popular late 1970s sci-fi series, has passed away at the age of 82. Gerard died Tuesday in hospice care after a battle with a rare and aggressive form of cancer, as confirmed by his manager, Tina Presley Borek.
In a poignant message shared posthumously by his wife, Janet Gerard, on Facebook, the actor left fans with these words: “Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”
Gerard captivated audiences as the titular hero in NBC’s “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” a show that ran for two seasons from 1979 to 1981 and spawned a theatrical film. The series, known for its blend of action and camp, brought the classic sci-fi character to a new generation. The character of Buck Rogers originated from Philip Francis Nowlan’s 1928 pulp novella “Armageddon 2419 A.D.” and later became a popular comic strip.
“My life has been an amazing journey,” Gerard reflected in his social media post. “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.”
In the series, Gerard’s character, a 20th-century NASA pilot, found himself unexpectedly thawed from frozen animation 500 years into the future. He awakened in 2491 to a world dramatically transformed, facing alien threats, space pirates, and the formidable Draconians, often alongside his robot companion Twiki and the skilled space pilot Wilma Deering, played by Erin Gray.
A native of Little Rock, Arkansas, Gerard’s career extended beyond “Buck Rogers.” He was a familiar face in TV commercials and appeared in numerous other television shows and films, including starring roles in the 1982 TV movie “Hear No Evil” and the 1986 series “Sidekicks.” In the 1990s, he hosted the reality series “Code 3,” which followed firefighters, and made guest appearances on shows like “Days of Our Lives.”
Gerard reunited with his “Buck Rogers” co-star Erin Gray for the 2007 TV film “Nuclear Hurricane” and again in 2009 for the pilot episode of the internet video series “Buck Rogers Begins,” where they played Rogers’ parents.
Throughout his life, Gerard was open about his struggles with addiction to drugs, alcohol, and compulsive overeating. His journey with weight loss following gastric bypass surgery was documented in the 2007 Discovery Health Channel documentary “Action Hero Makeover.”
Gerard was married four times before his marriage to Janet Gerard, which lasted 18 years. He had a son, actor Gilbert Vincent Gerard, with model and actor Connie Sellecca, with whom he had a publicized custody battle.
“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,” Gerard concluded in his final message. “It’s been a great ride, but inevitably one that comes to a close as mine has.”
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- ‘Buck Rogers’ star Gil Gerard dies at 82 (nbcnews.com)