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Gil Gerard, Star of Buck Rogers, Passed Away at 82
Gil Gerard, the face of Buck Rogers for a whole generation of sci‑fi fans, has died at 82 after a short, brutal fight with a rare, aggressive cancer. His wife Janet shared on Facebook that from the moment they realized something was wrong to his death was only a matter of days, which is honestly heartbreaking to read.
Born in Little Rock in 1943, Gerard became a cult icon playing Captain William “Buck” Rogers in the 1979–81 series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, and kept working for decades in TV movies, guest spots, and the occasional film like The Nice Guys. For a lot of viewers, he’ll always be that wry, slightly out‑of‑time hero in a white jumpsuit, cracking jokes in the 25th century while carrying the whole show on his shoulders.
What Happened to Gil Gerard?
Gil Gerard has passed away at the age of 82. Gerard died after a battle with what his wife called “a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer.” She did not name the exact type, but stressed how quickly it progressed, saying the time from knowing something was wrong to his death was only a matter of days. Several entertainment outlets have repeated the same cause of death, all citing Janet’s Facebook post as the source. cel (@cellytron) shared on X the sad news that Gil Gerard has passed away at the age of 82, according to his Facebook page.
According to Janet’s post, everything happened incredibly fast: they noticed something was seriously wrong, doctors found a rare, very aggressive cancer, and within just days he was gone. There was no long treatment saga or months of updates, which is why his death feels so sudden to fans who only remember seeing him at conventions and nostalgia events in recent years.
Gil Gerard Movies and Tv Shows
Gil Gerard’s career was a mix of cult sci‑fi, soaps, TV movies and later character parts, and he popped up in way more places than just Buck Rogers.
Notable movies
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Airport ’77 (1977) – disaster movie where he played Frank Powers, one of his early big‑screen credits.
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Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979) – the theatrical film that led straight into the TV series and cemented him as a sci‑fi lead.
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Fugitive Mind (1999) – direct‑to‑video sci‑fi thriller with him as Karl Gardner.
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Air Rage (2001) – action thriller, again in the DTV space, as Victor Quinn.
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Blood Fare (2012) – low‑budget horror/fantasy, playing Professor Meade.
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The Nice Guys (2016) – great Shane Black comedy where he turns up as Bergen Paulsen, a fun late‑career bit for people who recognised him.
Notable TV work
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The Doctors (1973–1976) – daytime soap, 162 episodes as Dr. Alan Stewart, which was a big break before sci‑fi stardom.
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Little House on the Prairie – guest spot as Chris Nelson in the episode “The Handyman.”
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Buck Rogers in the 25th Century (1979–1981) – 37 episodes as Captain William “Buck” Rogers, the role that made him a cult icon forever.
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Sidekicks (1986–1987) – played Sergeant Jake Rizzo across 23 episodes, pairing him with martial‑arts action.
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Nightingales (1989) – Dr. Paul Petrillo in a short‑lived drama.
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E.A.R.T.H. Force (1990) – Dr. John Harding in a six‑episode eco‑action series.
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The Lost Valentine (2011) – TV movie role as Neil Thomas Robinson Jr., in a sentimental network drama later rediscovered by fans.
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Drop Dead Diva (2014) – single‑episode turn as George Blund, a nice little character‑actor appearance for cable audiences.
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Transformers: Robots in Disguise (2015) – voiced Megatronus in three episodes, giving him a late‑career villain role in a beloved franchise.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available reports and family statements about Gil Gerard’s life, career and cause of death as of December 2025. Details may change as more information emerges. The content is for news and informational purposes only and should not be treated as medical or legal advice.
