Gil Gerard, 'Buck Rogers' star who was a hero to late-'70s latchkey kids, dies at 82

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Gil Gerard, the actor who became a childhood hero to many for his lead performances in the 1979 movie “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century” and its subsequent TV incarnation, died early Tuesday, his wife announced on social media.He was 82.

“Early this morning Gil — my soulmate — lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” Janet Gerard wrote Tuesday evening on Facebook.“From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days.” Television Anthony Geary, the actor best known as Luke Spencer of ‘Luke and Laura’ fame who appeared in almost 2,000 episodes of ‘General Hospital,’ has died.

He was 78.She was by Gerard’s side when he died in hospice care, she added as she placed another post — a pre-written message from the actor to his family, friends and fans — on her husband’s Facebook page.“If you are reading this, then Janet has posted it as I asked her to,” the actor wrote.“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 post was followed by myriad comments in which fans spontaneously recalled Gerard’s work as Buck Rogers and shared the influence he had on their lives.“Your time as Buck Rogers was way too short but it has stayed with me in my childhood memories for 45+ years,” one man wrote.

“Your hero was brave, macho, but also kind, compassionate, and fair.I feel as if that was representative of the man you truly were.

Thank you for being the kind of ‘make believe’ hero that we should all want to be in real life.”Another fan replied, “[H]aving met him, I can say he was all that.On and off the screen.” Hero Complex Blog This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links.

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