The entertainment world is mourning the loss of David Gail, a versatile actor who appeared in popular shows such as Beverly Hills, 90210 and Port Charles. His sister, Katie Colmenares, announced his death on Saturday (20 January) on Facebook, calling him her “best friend” and “the best brother anyone could ever have”. She did not reveal the cause or date of his death.
Gail was born in Tampa, Florida in 1965 and began his acting career in 1990 with a guest role on Growing Pains. He soon landed more roles on television, including Doogie Howser, M.D., The Round Table, and Murder, She Wrote. He also ventured into movies and video games, such as Bending All the Rules, Some Girl, Perfect Opposites, and Blacksad: Under the Skin.
However, he was most famous for his roles on two soap operas: Beverly Hills, 90210 and Port Charles. On the former, he played Stuart Carson, the wealthy and charming fiancé of Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) in season four. Their relationship was short-lived, as Brenda broke off their engagement after realizing she still had feelings for Dylan McKay (Luke Perry).
On the latter, he played Dr Joe Scanlon, a dedicated and compassionate physician who worked at General Hospital. He was one of the main characters of the show, appearing in more than 200 episodes from 1997 to 2003. He had several romantic entanglements, including with Karen Wexler (Jennifer Hammon), Courtney Kanelos (Sarah Aldrich), and Gabriela Garza (Sonia Satra).
Gail was well-liked by his co-stars and fans, who have expressed their sadness and condolences on social media. Peter Ferriero, the host of the podcast Beverly Hills 90210 Show, paid tribute to Gail on Instagram, describing him as a “kind human” and a “gift to us all”. He also shared some clips of Gail’s appearance on the podcast, where he reminisced about his time on the show and his friendship with Doherty.
Gail is survived by his sister, his brother-in-law, his niece, his nephew, and his many friends and admirers. He was a talented and beloved actor who will be remembered for his charisma and warmth. May he rest in peace. 🙏
