Actor Gil Gerard, who played Captain William 'Buck' Rogers in the 1980s series 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century', died on the morning of Tuesday, December 16, in Georgia, USA.

The news of his passing was announced by Janet Gerard, his widow. wife, through a post on her Facebook account.

Janet shared that the actor, who was 82 years old, died after losing his battle with a rare and very aggressive type of cancer.

“Early this morning, Gil, my soulmate, lost his battle with a rare and extremely aggressive cancer. From the moment we learned something was wrong until his passing this morning, only a few days passed. No matter how many years I spent with him, they would always have been enough. Hold those you have tight and love them fervently,” reads the first post with which his widow shared the sad news.

In a subsequent post, she detailed that she was by the actor's side until his death in hospice care and shared the last words he said, which he wanted to be made public after his passing.

“If you are reading this, Janet posted it just as I asked her to. My life has been an incredible journey. The opportunities I have had, the people I have met, and the love I have received Given and received have made my 82 years on this planet profoundly fulfilling. 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, with whom I have been for 18 years. It has been a wonderful journey, but it inevitably comes to an end. Don't waste your time on anything that doesn't excite you or bring you love. See you somewhere in the cosmos,” were the words with which Gil Gerard chose to say goodbye. Who was Gil Gerard? Gil Gerard was born on January 23, 1943, in Little Rock, Arkansas, and was the youngest of three children. His mother was a schoolteacher, and his father was a knife salesman. He studied at Little Rock Catholic High School and Arkansas State Teacher College, but dropped out.In 1969, he moved to New York City where he attended the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. During his first months in the Big Apple, he was forced to drive a taxi at night, and it was there that he met a passenger who offered him a small role in the film 'Love Story.' However, his scene was cut and he did not appear in the final version of the film. In the 1970s, he participated in nearly 400 commercials and various films and television projects, such as 'The Doctors,' a series that aired from 1973 to 1976. He also appeared in 'Man on a Swing,' 'Airport '77,' 'Hooch,' and 'Buck Rogers in the 25th Century,' a project that emerged after the success of 'Star Wars' and which he had initially rejected, but fortunately for him and his career, he ended up doing it.