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Gil Gerard, the actor best known for his turn as the wisecracking hero of the 1979-81 NBC series 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,' died Tuesday at 82. He battled a weight problem for decades and talked about it on the reality series 'Action Hero Makeover.'
Gil Gerard, the actor celebrated for his lead role as the wisecracking hero in the 1979-81 NBC science fiction series 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,' passed away at the age of 82. His wife, Janet, announced on Facebook that he died on Tuesday in Georgia after a battle with a 'rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer.'
Prior to 'Buck Rogers,' Gerard had roles in films such as 'Airport ’77,' where he played Lee Grant's romantic interest, and the Appalachia-set comedy 'Hooch.' Initially, Gerard was hesitant to take on the titular role in 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,' fearing typecasting, a concern he attributed to Adam West's 'Batman' experience. However, he was eventually persuaded, and the 1979 'Buck Rogers' movie, co-produced by Glen A. Larson and inspired by the success of 'Star Wars,' became a significant box office hit. The film was subsequently re-edited to serve as the two-hour premiere episode of the TV series, which ultimately ran for two seasons and a total of 32 episodes until its conclusion in April 1981. In the series, Gerard portrayed Captain William Anthony 'Buck' Rogers, a NASA/U.S. Air Force pilot who wakes up in the year 2491 after being accidentally frozen in 1987. He starred alongside Erin Gray as Col. Wilma Deering and Felix Silla, who played the robot Twiki (voiced by Mel Blanc). Gerard found the character's sense of humor and humanity appealing, noting that Buck Rogers was not a 'stiff kind of a guy' but rather a clever problem-solver who was 'not a superhero.'
Following his prominent role in 'Buck Rogers,' Gerard continued his acting career with various projects. He starred in several telefilms, including the highly-rated 1982 production 'Help Wanted: Male,' where he appeared opposite Suzanne Pleshette. Additionally, Gerard took on the lead role in the 1986-87 ABC series 'Sidekicks,' portraying a bachelor police officer who mentors a youngster, Ernie Reyes Jr., by teaching him martial arts skills.
Born Gilbert Cyril Gerard on January 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was the youngest of three sons. His father, Frank, worked as a knife salesman, and his mother, Gladys, was a teacher. After graduating from Little Rock Catholic High School and attending Arkansas State Teacher College (now the University of Central Arkansas) for a couple of years, Gerard relocated to New York in 1969 to pursue his acting aspirations. He honed his craft studying with Philip Burton at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. To support himself during this period, he worked as a taxi driver. A fortuitous encounter with a passenger led to an audition for Arthur Hiller's film 'Love Story,' which was being shot in New York. He was cast as an extra and had a minor role that was ultimately cut from the final film, though he gained valuable experience working on the movie for about ten weeks.
Gerard's career spanned a wide range of work, including appearances in over 400 commercials. He also played Alan Stewart, a POW turned doctor, on the NBC soap opera 'The Doctors' from 1973 to 1976, and featured with Cliff Robertson in Frank Perry's 1974 film 'Man on a Swing.' Demonstrating his entrepreneurial spirit, Gerard conceived the story and produced 'Hooch' through his own company, Prudhomme Productions, acknowledging it as a 'rip-off' of 'Smokey and the Bandit.' Despite being cast by Michael Landon to star in 'Stone,' a series about a man rebuilding his life after prison, the pilot was not picked up. In 1983, Gerard ventured into Broadway as a producer for the musical 'Amen Corner.' His later television credits include the 1990 CBS series 'E.A.R.T.H. Force,' hosting the 1992 reality show 'Code 3,' and a stint as Major Dodd on 'Days of Our Lives' in 1997. He also made a big-screen appearance in the 2016 Ryan Gosling-Russell Crowe comedy 'The Nice Guys.' Throughout his life, Gerard publicly battled with his weight, which at one point reached 350 pounds. This personal struggle was documented in the 2007 Discovery Health Channel special 'Action Hero Makeover,' where he underwent gastric bypass surgery. In a 1990 article for People magazine, he estimated that his weight issues had cost him approximately $1 million in lost work opportunities.
Gil Gerard was married four times. One of his marriages was to actress Connie Sellecca (known for 'Hotel'), lasting from 1979 to their divorce in 1987. He is survived by his son, Gib, from his marriage to Sellecca, and his current wife, Janet, with whom he shared 18 years. Gerard also maintained a long-standing friendship with former President Bill Clinton. In a final, reflective Facebook post, Gerard encapsulated his life's experiences, stating, '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 concluded with a poignant message encouraging others: 'Don’t waste your time on anything that doesn’t thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos.'