With heavy hearts, we announce the passing of this beloved actor

December 18, 2025 by Nadia

“Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” she wrote. “From the moment 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. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely.”

The Buck Rogers character originated as a popular comic strip and was previously portrayed in a 1939 movie serial starring Olympic swimmer Buster Crabbe. Gerard’s version debuted just after the massive success of Star Wars, and despite initial uncertainty, it quickly resonated with audiences.

Gerard later admitted that he was hesitant to take the role at first. In a 2018 interview, he explained, “I saw what it did to Adam West’s career with Batman, and this was another cartoon character. I didn’t want to do this campy stuff.”

Ultimately, he was persuaded to accept the role—a decision that proved pivotal. The 1979 Buck Rogers film became a major hit, landing among the top 25 highest-grossing movies in the United States that year. The success led to the television adaptation, which ran for 32 episodes before being canceled in April 1981.

Following Buck Rogers, Gerard continued working steadily in television and film. His credits included Help Wanted: Male, Sidekicks, E.A.R.T.H. FORCE, and Days of Our Lives. In later years, he appeared in projects such as Space Captain and Callista and The Nice Guys.