Gil Gerard, who played Buck Rogers, died at 82 after a fight with cancer

Gil Gerard, best known for starring as Captain William “Buck” Rogers in the iconic 1979-1981 NBC sci-fi series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, died on December 16, 2025, at age 82. His wife, Janet Gerard, announced the news on Facebook, revealing he succumbed to a “rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer” at their home in Georgia after just days of diagnosis. The rapid progression left fans mourning the loss of a charismatic hero who defined 1980s space adventure TV.​

Gerard rose to fame portraying the witty astronaut frozen in time and thawed 500 years into the future, appearing in 37 episodes alongside Erin Gray as Colonel Wilma Deering. Born in Little Rock, Arkansas, in 1943, he earlier played Dr. Alan Stewart on the NBC soap The Doctors from 1973-1976 and starred in films like Airport ’77 and his self-produced Hooc. Later roles included guest spots on Days of Our Lives, Pacific Blue, and voice work in Transformers: Robots in Disguise, amassing over 50 credits.​

Janet shared a poignant message: “Early this morning Gil – my soulmate – lost his fight… Cherish those you hold dear and love them fiercely.” Gerard is survived by Janet, married 18 years, and son Gib, an actor.​