United Kingdom, Dec. 17 -- Buck Rogers star Gil Gerard has died just days after being diagnosed with a "viciously aggressive" form of cancer.

The actor - who played the title role in TV show Buck Rogers in the 25th Century and the 1979 film of the same name - passed away on Tuesday (16.12.25) at the age of 82 with his wife Janet confirming he'd been fighting a "rare" cancer and he only received his diagnosis "days" before his passing.

In a post on Facebook, Janet 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 b...