Gil Gerard, the actor who became a television icon playing Captain William Buck Rogers in the science fiction series “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” died Tuesday, December 16, 2025, at 82 years old after a battle with cancer.
Gerard died in hospice with his wife, Janet Gerard, at his side. She announced his death on Facebook, sharing the news of his passing after what she described as a fight with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. From diagnosis to death was only days.
“Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” Janet Gerard wrote. “From the moment when 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.”
In a particularly poignant gesture, Gerard left a posthumous message for his fans. Janet Gerard posted the message on her husband’s personal Facebook page, written by the actor himself with instructions to share it upon his death.
“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,” Gerard wrote. “Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”
Gerard achieved fame starring as Captain William Buck Rogers in the television series “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,” which aired on NBC for two seasons from 1979 to 1981. The show, produced by Glen A. Larson, ran for 32 episodes and became a defining series of early 1980s science fiction television.
The series premiered in 1979 and featured Gerard alongside Erin Gray, with voice work by Mel Blanc. The show sought to capitalize on the science fiction enthusiasm of the late 1970s, offering audiences a blend of adventure and futuristic storytelling that resonated with viewers.
Born January 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, Gerard’s path to stardom was unconventional. He moved to New York in 1969, where he began training as an actor while working as a taxi driver to support himself. This dual existence of aspiring performer and working-class New Yorker would later inform the relatable, everyman quality he brought to his most famous role.
Before achieving fame as Buck Rogers, Gerard built a substantial television resume. He appeared in more than 300 episodes of the NBC daytime drama “The Doctors,” establishing himself as a reliable television performer. His film work included a role in “Airport ’77,” demonstrating his versatility across different genres and formats.
Gerard continued working in Hollywood well beyond his Buck Rogers years. In 2016, he appeared in “The Nice Guys,” a crime comedy featuring Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling, proving his enduring appeal to filmmakers and audiences alike decades after his signature role.
His personal life found happiness in North Georgia, where he settled with Janet Gerard. The couple had been married for 18 years, sharing a life away from the Hollywood spotlight in the region they called home.
Gerard remained connected to his fan base throughout his later years, making regular appearances at Dragon Con, the popular culture convention. His willingness to engage with fans and celebrate his legacy endeared him to multiple generations who discovered “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” through original broadcasts and later syndication.
Gerard is survived by his wife, Janet, and his son, Gib Gerard, who followed in his father’s footsteps and is also an actor. The family legacy in entertainment continues through the younger Gerard, carrying forward a tradition established by his father’s decades-long career.
Dragon Con paid tribute to the actor following news of his death, acknowledging his contributions to science fiction entertainment and his presence at their events. The convention recognized Gerard as both a beloved friend and fan favorite whose appearances had become highlights for attendees.
Gerard’s portrayal of Buck Rogers remains his defining achievement, a role that introduced millions to science fiction adventure television and cemented his place in the genre’s history. The character of the 20th-century astronaut awakening centuries in the future to become an unlikely hero captured imaginations during a golden age of science fiction programming.
His final message to fans reflected the philosophy that guided his life and career, encouraging others to pursue what brought them joy and love. In those words, Gerard offered a glimpse into the values that sustained him through 82 years of life, from his Arkansas origins through New York struggles to Hollywood success and finally to peaceful retirement in Georgia.
The brevity of his final illness underscored the suddenness of his passing, leaving family, friends and fans with little time to prepare for the loss of a performer who had been a constant presence in science fiction culture for more than four decades.
