Gil Gerard obit

Gil Gerard Dies At 82: Star Of ‘Buck Rogers’ Leaves Posthumous Message For Fans

 He was not on the list.

UPDATED with message from Gerard: Gil Gerard, the handsome hero of early-Eighties TV hit Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, died after a battle with cancer this morning in hospice with his wife at his side. He was 82. The news was announced by his wife, Janet Gerard, on social media.

After sharing the news, Gerard’s wife posted a message late today on his personal Facebook page. It was written by the actor and meant to be shared 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,” the message read.

“Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”

Buck Rogers in the 25th Century was produced by Glen A. Larson and aired on NBC for two seasons. It sought to ride the Star Wars wave of the late Seventies, but employed more camp and comedy — especially where Twiki the jive-talking robot was concerned. (Twiki was voiced by Mel Blanc.)

Rogers was aided in his adventures by the spandex-jumpsuited Col. Wilma Deering (Erin Gray) and the mysterious, feather-headed alien Hawk (Thom Christopher).

The show had its genesis in a made for TV movie of the same name which was released theatrically and did moderately well. The film later served as the series’ pilot.

Gerard worked consistently after playing Buck, mostly in episodic television and indie movies.

He starred as Dr. John Harding in CBS’ short-lived E.A.R.T.H. Force (1990) and had a six-episode arc on Days of Our Lives in 1997. More recently, he starred as Bergen Paulsen opposite Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in The Nice Guys.

Pre-Buck Rogers, Gerard played Dr. Alan Stewart on more that 300 episodes of NBC’s The Doctors.

 

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1976

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producer

2007

 

Hooch (1977)

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1977

 

Director

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1987

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Writer

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1992

 

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1980

 

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7.4

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1980

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1980

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4.3

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1980

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1980

 

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1980

1 episode

 

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1980

 

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1980

 

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6.6

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1980

 

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1980

 

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1979–1980

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8.5

TV Series

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1979

1 episode

 

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8.6

TV Special

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1979

 

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7.1

TV Special

Self - NBC Team

1979

 

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7.0

TV Series

Self

1979

1 episode

 

Paul Lynde in The Hollywood Squares (Daytime) (1965)

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6.8

TV Series

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1979

3 episodes

 

Archive Footage

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4.8

TV Series

Self - Harold Harris (archive footage)

2017

1 episode

 

Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962)

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8.5

TV Series

Self (archive footage)

1980

1 episode