Name:	Gilbert Gerard
	Date of Birth:	January 23rd, 1943
	Place of Birth:	Little Rock, Arkansas, USA
	Eyes:	Hazel
	Height:	6' 2" (1.88m)
	Starsign:	Aquarius
	Chinese sign:	Horse (15th Feb 1942 - 4th Feb 1943)
	Education:	Little Rock Catholic High School for Boys Arkansas State Teachers College
	Occupation:	Actor, Producer and Director

Born on Saturday January 23rd 1943 in Little Rock, Arkansas USA. The youngest of three sons (his brothers names are Frank and Joe). Gil's father Frank was a salesman and his mother Gladys a college instructor. Gil grew up in Little Rock and attended Arkansas State Teachers College (now called University of Central Arkansas), where he pursued a career in chemistry. It was during his college years that he first became interested in acting and also sang in a group. His first acting role was when he was in fourth grade, he fell off an 'elephant' played by two other boys in a Cub Scout play.

Gil gave up a very promising business career, (he was named regional manager of a large chemical company) after realising that there is more to life than playing golf and doing a job which he did not want to do, so he pursued his dream of acting. At the age of 26 he headed for New York to study acting and attended the American Music and Dramatic Academy (A.M.D.A.) for two semesters but to make ends meet while studying he got a job by night as a New York cab driver. Gil appeared on stage in plays such as Stalag 17, Oklahoma and Carousel. But it was while driving a cab that a passenger suggested that he should audition as an extra for the film Love Story (1970) this proved to be Gil's 'lucky Break'.

Gil went on to appear in over four hundred commercials over a period of six years and in 1974 starred as Dr Allen Stewart in the daytime soap opera The Doctors, which he played for two years, after which he moved to Hollywood. It was around this time that Gil formed his own production company Prudhomme Productions (Prudhomme meaning 'wise' or 'prudent' man). He then went on to produce and star in his first film Hooch (1976) about a Moonshiner in North Carolina dodging the local sheriff and the mob. He soon landed a guest starring role in an episode of Baretta (Dear Tony) and it was while filming Baretta at Universal Studio's that Gil auditioned for and landed the role of Lee Grant's lover in the movie Airport '77 (1977). Other guest starring roles included Little House on the Prairie (The Handyman) and Hawaii Five-0 (The Ninth Step). He also starred in TV movies Ransom for Alice (1977) (The pilot for the unsold series The Busters) and Killing Stone (1978) (The pilot for the unsold series Stone. Written and produced by Michael Landon).

Although Gil was a avid reader of Science Fiction, he initially turned down the role for Buck Rogers twice, he was afraid that Buck would be a 'plastic superhero' and he didn't want to play that kind of cartoon character and unfortunately that is exactly what Gil found Buck to be. He wasn't happy with the wise cracking Buck, always going out on a mission off with some broad, instead Gil wanted Buck to be more curious and find out more about the 25th Century. He preferred the second season idea of Buck exploring but unfortunately the changes that were made for the second season didn't turn out to be very successful. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century aired from 1979-81. After the cancellation of Buck Rogers Gil went on to do more TV movies such as Not Just Another Affair (1982), Hear No Evil (1982), Help Wanted: Male (1982) and Storming Home (1985), also TV series Sidekicks (1986), Nightingales (1989), E.A.R.T.H. Force (1990) (which was filmed in Australia) and was the host of reality show Code 3 (1993-94).

A bit of a sportsman, standing 6' 2" (tall enough for the football team during ninth grade at 5' 11") he likes playing pool, golf, tennis, skiing, horse riding (preferring to ride English style), he's an accomplished pilot and he also holds an advanced open water certificate for scuba diving. Other interests include cooking and writing poetry, he has a poem published called 'Sands'. Gil also enjoys to travel, he has been to such places as Malaysia, Tahiti, New Zealand, Greece and England.

Gil was once married to actress Connie Sellecca from 1979 to 1987 they have a son. Gil also has a daughter. Gil's dedicated to children and involved in many charities. He was national chairman of the Multiple Sclerosis Read-a-Thon, he was on the board for the national Make-a-Wish Foundation and on the celebrity advisory board for the Childhood Leukemia Foundation. He's also been active with the Special Olympics for many years and has been a volunteer for the Los Angeles Mission, which helps the homeless.

Most recently, Gil was the subject of an award winning documentary entitled Action Hero Makeover (2007) on the Discovery Health Channel. The show chronicled Gil's year long journey back to health after undergoing a life saving Mini Gastric Bypass procedure (MGB). Gil has struggled with his weight for many years but tipping the scales at a pre-MGB weight of 350lbs (25st) and diagnosed with life threatening conditions, drastic action was needed. Within a year of undergoing the MGB, Gil lost over 145lbs (Just over 10st). Action Hero Makeover has won a 'Freddie Award' from the International Health and Medical Media Association. It was the winner in the Health and Wellness category.

Now a lot healthier, Gil's recently appeared in TV movie Bone Eater (2007) and in November 2007 he was inducted into The Arkansas Entertainers Hall of Fame. He's also still on the convention circuit and enjoys meeting fans in the US and beyond.

Quote: "It's so gratifying to hear that so many people enjoyed the work that Erin and I have done"- Gil Gerard.