Buck Rogers icon Gil Gerard leaves inspirational posthumous message as actor dies aged 82 – and leaves fans emotionally praising "legend"

Gil Gerard, who is best known for playing the title role in the 1980s sci-fi series Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, has died aged 82.

The American actor’s death was announced by his wife, Janet, who wrote in a post on Facebook that he had “lost his fight with a rare and viciously aggressive form of cancer”.

“From the moment when we knew something was wrong to his death this morning was only days. No matter how many years I got to spend with him it would have never been enough. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely,” she wrote.

Janet later posted a final statement from the actor himself, which he confirmed in the post he had asked her to share following his passing.

“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.”

“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.”

The post has been flooded with comments from fans, with one writing: "Beyond a legend. Gil embodied everything noble in the human male, and was a total inspiration. His looks, his swagger, his authority, his kindness, his smoothness, his dance moves... all those and more gave us kids of the 70s and 80s a true hero to idolise and model ourselves on. RIP."

Another fan commented: "I've just lost my childhood hero! Gil touched the hearts and the souls of millions of people, and turned Buck Rogers into a worldwide icon. Thank you, Gil, for having brought us into a fantastic future, at the same time teaching us old fashioned values and heroism. I'm so saddened. Buck, your spirit and legend will live on with us."

Gerard rose to fame as the titular light-hearted sci-fi hero in Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, which ran for two seasons between 1979 and 1981 on NBC and reintroduced the character to a new generation.

The show first aired as a 1979 television movie of the same name based on a comic strip character created by Philip Francis Nowlan in 1928, which later served as the series’ pilot.

Gerard went on enjoy a brilliant acting career spanning decades after Buck Rogers, and bagged roles in TV movies including Not Just Another Affair, Johnny Blue, For Love or Money and Stormin’ Home.

He also starred appeared on popular series including Sidekicks, Nightingales, EARTH Force, Days of Our Lives, CHiPs, Little House on the Prairie, and Hawaii Five-O.

Before his breakout role in Buck Rogers, he appeared in the 1977 films Airport ’77 and Hooch. He also starred as Dr Alan Stewart on The Doctors, appearing in 303 episodes between 1973 and 1976.