Advertisement

‘90210’ actor David Gail’s cause of death tied to cardiac arrest

A young man with dark hair in a blue sweater posing against a dark gray background
David Gail, who starred in the TV shows “Port Charles,” “Savannah” and “Beverly Hills, 90210,” died on Jan. 16. He was 58.
(Jeff Katz / Disney General Entertainment Content / Getty Images)
Share via

The cause of death for television actor David Gail, who starred in multiple series, including “Beverly Hills, 90210,” “Savannah” and “Port Charles,” has been revealed.

In a Tuesday statement confirming Gail’s death, publicist Linda Brown announced that the actor died on Jan. 16 of complications from cardiac arrest. He was 58.

“Gail was found unresponsive by emergency personnel who made every attempt to save his life including cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and defibrillation,” the statement said. “Despite their efforts, Gail was put on life support where he remained for several days.”

Advertisement

Jazz and R&B singer Marlena Shaw, known for the widely sampled “California Soul,” died Friday. She was 81.

Gail’s sister Katie Colmenares announced her brother’s death in an Instagram post Sunday. In her caption, Colmenares mourned “my wingman ... my best friend ready to face anything and anyone [with] me.”

“I will hold you so tight every day in my heart you gorgeous loving amazing fierce human being,” Colmenares captioned a photo of her hugging Gail, “missing you every second of every day forever there will never be another 💔💖.”

The “Beverly Hills, 90210 Show” podcast, hosted by Pete Ferriero, remembered Gail in a video tribute posted to X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday. The podcast also paid tribute to the actor on Instagram.

Advertisement

The theater and TV veteran had a professional career that began in the 1950s — and also topped the Billboard charts with ‘The Ballad of Davy Crockett.’

“He was a kind human that ... will be missed,” the account said. “We want his fans to be able to remember him.”

In the early ’90s, Gail began his television career juggling minor roles in shows such as “Growing Pains,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.” and “Murder, She Wrote,” according to IMDb.

In “Beverly Hills, 90210,” the Florida native took on multiple roles, and in the syndicated drama “Robin’s Hoods” he starred as Eddie Bartlett, a criminal turning a new leaf as a bartender. Gail was in the lead cast of the WB soap drama “Savannah” and appeared in more than 200 episodes of the ABC “General Hospital” spinoff “Port Charles.”

Advertisement

Gail’s additional credits include the TV series “ER” and “JAG,” films “Some Girl” and “Perfect Opposites” and the 2019 video game “Blacksad: Under the Skin.”

“David will be remembered for his love of acting and his absolute passion and dedication to his friends and family,” Tuesday’s statement added. “He possessed a unique quality that made everyone feel special in his presence.”

Gail is survived by his sister, his mother, Mary, and son, Guthier.

Advertisement