'Buck Rogers' star Gil Gerard dead at 82

Gil Gerard, best known for his role as Buck Rogers, has died at 82.

His wife, Janet, confirmed his passing on Facebook, sharing that her husband had been struggling with an aggressive form of cancer.

"Early this morning Gil - my soulmate - lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer,” she wrote. "From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days.”

She continued, "No matter how many years I got to spend with him it would have ever been enough. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely."

Janet also shared a statement on Gerard’s official Facebook account to share with fans.

"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 wrote. "My journey has taken me from Arkansas to New York to Los Angeles, and finally, to my home in North Georgia with my amazing wife, Janet, of 18 years. It's been a great ride, but inevitably one that comes to a close as mine has. Don't waste your time on anything that doesn't thrill you or bring you love. See you out somewhere in the cosmos."

Gerard was born in Arkansas in 1943 and began his career as an actor in New York City after landing a role as an extra on the set if 1970 film “Love Story.”

He went on to appear in 1971's “Some of My Best Friends Are” and “Man on a Swing” in 1974 before landing a regular role in soap opera “The Doctors.”

He played Dr. Alan Stewart in 162 episodes of the daytime show between 1973 and 1976 as well as shooting parts in TV series “Little House on the Prairie” and “Hawaii Five-O” and films “Hooch” and “Airport '77” before landing his break-out role in the sci-fi show.

Gerard signed up for the part of Captain William “Buck” Rogers and filmed a feature-length pilot episode which was given a theatrical release in 1979, “Buck Rogers in the 25th Century.”

The TV show ran for two seasons from 1979 until it was cancelled in 1981 but the 32 episodes cemented Gerard's place in sci-fi history.

However, the actor previously admitted he wasn't keen on the part at first.

Speaking on YouTube show “GenXGrownUp” in 2018, Gerard explained, "I saw what it did to Adam West‘s career with Batman, and this was another cartoon character. I didn’t want to do this campy stuff."

After “Buck Rogers,” Gerard appeared in a number of TV movies including “Not Just Another Affair,” “Hear No Evil” and “Johnny Blue,” and made appearance on shows like “Days of Our Lives” and movies like “The Nice Guys,” starring Ryan Gosling and Russell Crowe.

Gerard was married four times including to actress Connie Sellecca - the mother of his son Gib Gerard - between 1979 and 1987. He was married to his fourth wife Janet for 18 years.