Remembering Buck Rogers star Gil Gerard (1943-2025)
You probably know all about Colin’s work on Star Wars, but did you know he played a role in the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century TV series, as well as the theatrical film that contained the first two episodes? Here’s Colin’s story, in his own words:
“In 1978, I proposed to Universal Studios that they create a facility called Universal Hartland that would provide special effects. With motion tracks, model shops, and design teams, it first served both the Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and the Battlestar Galactica productions.” Yes, Colin’s career touched on the cult classic series Battlestar Galactica too!
We’ll detail Colin’s involvement in Buck Rogers in future blog posts, as well as in the book about his life that we’re working on, but for now, let’s focus on the show’s star, Gil Gerard, who died a few days ago.
Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and its star, Gil Gerard
Philip Francis Nowlan created Buck Rogers in 1928, and he appeared in comic strips, novellas, a serial film, and on TV and radio over the next 50 years. Its late 20th century incarnation was a TV series produced by Universal Studios; it aired for two seasons between September 1979 and April 1981 on NBC.
The first episode of the show was a two-parter named “Awakening” that served as the pilot and was released theatrically in March 1979. The film’s success led Universal Studios to give the green light for the TV series that would begin airing six months later.
Gil Gerard was cast in the title role. Born in 1943 in Little Rock, Arkansas, one of his early acting experiences was the title role in an all-male production of The Music Man at Maryknoll seminary in Glen Ellyn, Illinois. He attended the University of Central Arkansas but dropped out to move to New York City and try to break into acting as a professional.
His first break was as an extra on the set of the 1970 film Love Story, and he moved on to hundreds of TV commercials before scoring small roles in a couple movies and landing a leading role on a soap opera for two years. Guest appearances on other TV series set him up for the starring role of William “Buck” Rogers, who worked with Colonel Wilma Deering (Erin Gray) to defend Earth of the 25th century from Princess Ardala and her forces from the planet Draconia.
Gerard moved on to jobs on many other TV shows and movies, including a hosting assignment on the 1992 reality TV series Code 3. His story of undergoing life-saving mini-gastric bypass surgery in 2005 was featured in a 2007 documentary, and he reunited with Erin Gray that year for a TV film. In 2009, the pair played Buck Rogers’ parents in the Internet video series Buck Rogers Begins.
Like Colin Cantwell, Gil Gerard spent the later years of his life meeting fans at conventions around the world. On December 16, 2025, his wife, Janet, announced he had died of cancer at the age of 82. Our condolences go out to Janet and all of Gil’s friends and family.