Gil Gerard, Buck Rogers in the 25th Century, dies

In the wake of Star Wars' success, Battlestar Galactica and Buck Rogers in the 25th Century briefly lured me away from Doctor Who with their shiny daring-do!

Gil Gerard, who played Buck Rogers in the 25th Century on television for two seasons, has passed away following a brief battle with cancer.

His wife, Janet, shared the sad news on a social media post. She wrote: "Early this morning Gil - my soulmate - 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 ever been enough. Hold the ones you have tightly and love them fiercely."

She shared that the star had prepared a final message for his devoted fans (myself included).

"If you are reading this, then Janet has posted it as I asked her to," the moving message begins.

"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."

During the summer of 1980, to give my parents some respite from the day-to-day of my rehabilitation following a life-changing head injury in primary school, we holidayed for a fortnight in the Isles of Scilly. I befriended the children of a Belgian ambassador due to our mutual Buck Rogers fandom: I spied them playing with Mego action figures and Corgi die-cast toys. We wanted to pilot Buck Rogers' Starfighter and had a childhood crush on Wilma Deering (Erin Gray).

Nick Smith, our US-based correspondent, met Gerard at Pensacon 2019.

What are your memories of watching Buck Rogers in the 25th Century? Let me know in the comments below.