Gerard passed away Tuesday at his home in Georgia after battling what his wife, Janet, described as “a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer.” She shared the news in a Facebook post.
Gerard rose to fame as Capt. William Anthony “Buck” Rogers, a NASA and U.S. Air Force pilot who is accidentally frozen in space and awakens centuries later in the year 2491. The light-hearted science fiction series, co-produced by Glen A. Larson, began with a 1979 TV movie inspired by the massive success of Star Wars. The film became a box-office hit, finishing among the top 25 domestic releases of the year, and was later reworked into the show’s two-hour pilot episode.
Despite its popularity, Gerard initially hesitated to take the role. In a 2018 interview, he admitted he feared being typecast, citing what Batman had done to Adam West’s career. He eventually signed on, and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century ran for two seasons and 32 episodes before ending in 1981. Gerard starred opposite Erin Gray as Col. Wilma Deering and alongside the robot Twiki, voiced by Mel Blanc.
Born Gilbert Cyril Gerard on January 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, he was the youngest of three sons. His father worked as a knife salesman, and his mother was a teacher. After graduating from Little Rock Catholic High School and studying briefly at Arkansas State Teacher College, he moved to New York in 1969 to pursue acting.
Gerard studied at the American Musical and Dramatic Academy and supported himself by driving a taxi. One fare helped him land an audition for Love Story, where he worked as an extra. Although his small role was cut, the experience opened doors. He went on to appear in more than 400 commercials and gained steady work on television.
From 1973 to 1976, Gerard played Dr. Alan Stewart on NBC’s soap The Doctors. His film credits included Airport ’77, where he played Lee Grant’s love interest, and Hooch, an Appalachian comedy he also helped produce through his own company.
After Buck Rogers, Gerard continued working in television movies and series. He starred in the 1982 telefilm Help Wanted: Male, appeared in ABC’s Sidekicks as a bachelor cop and martial arts mentor, and later showed up on shows such as E.A.R.T.H. Force and Days of Our Lives. In 2016, he appeared in The Nice Guys, starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe.
Gerard’s life and struggles were also documented in the 2007 Discovery Health Channel special Action Hero Makeover, which followed his decision to undergo gastric bypass surgery. He once said his weight issues cost him nearly $1 million in lost work.
Married four times, Gerard was previously married to actress Connie Sellecca from 1979 to 1987. He shared a son, Gib, with her. He is survived by Janet, his wife of 18 years, and his son.
In a farewell message posted on Facebook, Gerard reflected on his life with gratitude, writing that his journey had been “deeply satisfying” and urging others not to waste time on anything that doesn’t bring love or excitement. He signed off with a final nod to the role that defined him: “See you out somewhere in the cosmos.”
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