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
er 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. Gil formed his own production company Prudhomme Productions (Prudhomme meaning 'wise' or 'prudent' man) with the help of writer/producer friend and business manager. 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 guest starring roles in Little House on the Prairie (The Handyman), Hawaii Five-0 (The Ninth Step), and Baretta (Dear Tony). He also starred in TV movies Ransom for Alice (1977) (which was the pilot for the unsold series The Busters) and Killing Stone (1978).
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. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century aired from 1979-81. After the cancellation of Buck Rogers Gil went on to do More TV movies Not Just Another Affair (1982), Hear No Evil (1982), Help Wanted: Male (1982) and Storming Home (1985), also TV series Sidekicks, Nightingales, E.A.R.T.H Force (which was filmed in Australia) and was the host of reality show Code 3.
Gil 1959A bit of a sportsman, standing 6' 1" (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
fortunately 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. Buck Rogers in the 25th Century aired from 1979-81. After the cancellation of Buck Rogers Gil went on to do More TV movies Not Just Another Affair (1982), Hear No Evil (1982), Help Wanted: Male (1982) and Storming Home (1985), also TV series Sidekicks, Nightingales, E.A.R.T.H Force (which was filmed in Australia) and was the host of reality show Code 3.
Gil 1959A bit of a sportsman, standing 6' 1" (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 been active with the Special Olympics for over 15 years and for many years he has been a volunteer for the Los Angeles Mission, which helps the homeless.
Still acting, Gil has appeared in some recent TV movies such as Air Rage (2001) but, he is just as happy behind the camera producing. He also takes part in celebrity golf tournaments such as the first annual 'Hack n Smack' celebrity golf tournament, which took place in April 2004 and was in aid of Melanoma Research. Also since approximately 1997 Gil has been attending sci-fi conventions 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
