Gil Gerard Dead at 82 as Tributes Pour in for ‘Buck Rogers’ Star
What To Know
- Gil Gerard, best known for his role in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, is dead.
- In his final note, Gerard reflected on his fulfilling life and career, expressing gratitude for his experiences and urging fans to pursue what brings them joy and love.
- Fans and colleagues paid tribute to Gerard on social media, remembering his impact as Buck Rogers and his roles in various films and television shows throughout his career.
Gil Gerard, the actor best known for starring in the TV series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, is dead at 82.
On Tuesday, December 16, Gil’s wife, Janet Gerard, took to Facebook to confirm his death and share a posthumous message from her husband.
“This is Janet Gerard, Gil’s wife. Just to clarify — I was by his side when my husband passed away this morning in hospice care,” she wrote. “Below is the message he left.”
In Gil’s message, he shared, “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 continued, “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.”
To conclude his letter to fans, Gil left them with a bit of advice, writing, “Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”
Facebook users showered Janet with condolences and shared tributes to Gil in the comments. One fan wrote, “Say it ain’t so Buck.”
Another shared, “Your time as Buck Rogers was way too short but it has stayed with me in my childhood memories for 45+ years. Your hero was brave, macho, but also kind, compassionate, and fair. I feel as if that was representative of the man you truly were. Thank you for being the kind of ‘make believe’ hero that we should all want to be in real life.”
Someone else echoed, “Dude, growing up in the late 70s and early 80s, guys like Buck Roger’s and Magnum PI, the A-team and others were what formed me and others like me. Thanks for being the example.”
A different Instagram user shared, “Rest in peace Buck as Twiggy would say bedebedebeep.”
Meanwhile, yet another Facebook user commented, “Bidibidibidi. Bye Buck.”
Buck Rogers aired for two seasons from 1979 to 1981. Gil was also known for his roles in films like Airport ’77 (1977), Reptisaurus (2009), and The Nice Guys (2016). Additionally, he appeared in TV shows such as The Doctors, Little House on the Prairie, Sidekicks, Days of Our Lives, Star Trek Phase II, and more.