Farewell to a Sci-Fi Legend: Gil Gerard Passes Away at 82, Cause of Death Revealed

Gil Gerard, the actor who became a familiar face on TV in the early 1980s, has died at the age of 82. He passed away on Tuesday morning while receiving hospice care, with his wife by his side. His death followed a short and aggressive battle with cancer. The news was shared by his wife, Janet Gerard, on social media.

Later in the day, Janet Gerard posted a message on her husband’s Facebook page that he had written himself before his death. The note was meant to be shared with fans after he was gone.

“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 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 was best known for starring in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, a science fiction series that aired on NBC for two seasons. The show was produced by Glen A. Larson and blended space adventure with humor. Gerard played Buck Rogers, a man who wakes up in a future world and becomes an unlikely hero. The show also starred Erin Gray as Wilma Deering and Thom Christopher as Hawk, with the robot Twiki voiced by Mel Blanc.

The series began as a TV movie that later became the pilot episode. While it did not run for many years, it developed a strong fan following and remains a cult favorite.

After Buck Rogers ended, Gerard continued acting steadily. He appeared in many TV shows and smaller films over the years. His roles included Dr. John Harding in the CBS series E.A.R.T.H. Force, a short appearance on Days of Our Lives, and later a supporting role in The Nice Guys alongside Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling.

Before his sci-fi fame, Gerard had a long career in daytime television. He played Dr. Alan Stewart on NBC’s The Doctors for more than 300 episodes.

Janet Gerard also shared a personal statement about her husband’s final days. “Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” she 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.”

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