# David Gail
**David Gail** (February 27, 1965 – January 16, 2024) was an American actor best known for playing Stuart Carson, the fiancé of Brenda Walsh, on *Beverly Hills, 90210* and Dr. Joe Scanlon on the *General Hospital* spinoff *Port Charles*.[1](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles) Born in [Tampa, Florida](https://www.edgepedia.org/tampa-florida), he worked in television from the early 1990s through the 2000s, with lead roles in the series *Robin's Hoods* and *Savannah* and more than 200 episodes of *Port Charles*.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-22/david-gail-dead-at-58-90210-savannah-actor)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1965, Tampa, Florida[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) |
| Died | January 16, 2024, aged 58[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) |
| Signature role | Stuart Carson, Brenda's fiancé, in seven episodes of *Beverly Hills, 90210* season 4[1](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles) |
| Soap opera run | Second actor to play Dr. Joe Scanlon on *Port Charles*, 1999–2000, 216 episodes[1](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) |
| Lead series roles | Eddie Bartlett in *Robin's Hoods* (1994–1995, 22 episodes); Dean Collins in *Savannah* (1996–1997, 34 episodes)[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) |
| Final credits | Last onscreen role in the 2008 film *The Belly of the Beast*; last acting credit as a voice in the 2019 video game *Blacksad: Under the Skin*[4](https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1393550/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dead-at-58) |
| Cause of death | Anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy after resuscitation from cardiopulmonary arrest, ruled an accident and attributed to drug use[5](https://www.eonline.com/news/1396028/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gails-rep-clarifies-his-drug-related-cause-of-death) |
## Early career
Gail's early television credits include guest appearances on *Growing Pains*, *Doogie Howser, M.D.*, *Murder, She Wrote*, and *Matlock*.[1](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles) • [6](https://www.foxla.com/news/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dies-at-58) In 1992 he played Danny Burke in seven episodes of the NBC series *The Round Table*.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) When he was cast as Brenda's new boyfriend on *Beverly Hills, 90210* in 1993, he had only a few minor acting credits, and the show's producer Charles Rosin credited the casting to acting ability rather than looks: "David didn't get cast because he's a handsome guy; he got cast because he's a terrific actor."[7](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-12-ca-45066-story.html)
## Beverly Hills, 90210
Gail played Stuart Carson, the fiancé of Brenda Walsh ([Shannen Doherty](https://www.edgepedia.org/shannen-doherty)), in seven episodes of the show's fourth season; the obituary notice describes the recurring role as one of his first big successes.[1](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles) IMDb credits him on the series from 1991 to 1994 in eight episodes, listing the characters Stuart Carson and Tom.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/)
In a 2021 interview on the *Beverly Hills 90210 Show* podcast, Gail recalled a good working relationship with Doherty: "We got along great and we had a really good relationship. We talked about the scenes, we worked on them and it was fun."[4](https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1393550/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dead-at-58) On the 90210MG podcast of series alumni [Tori Spelling](https://www.edgepedia.org/tori-spelling) and [Jennie Garth](https://www.edgepedia.org/jennie-garth), he recalled being nervous filming his first on-screen kiss with Doherty, and spoke about the kindness shown to him by the cast, noting that [Luke Perry](https://www.edgepedia.org/luke-perry) was "very nice."[4](https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1393550/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dead-at-58)
## Robin's Hoods, Savannah, and Port Charles
After his *90210* arc, Gail starred as Eddie Bartlett, a criminal turning his life around as a bartender, in the syndicated drama *Robin's Hoods*, which ran from 1994 to 1995.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-22/david-gail-dead-at-58-90210-savannah-actor) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) He then joined the lead cast of the WB soap drama *Savannah* as Dean Collins, appearing in 34 episodes from 1996 to 1997.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/)
In 1999 Gail joined *Port Charles*, the ABC daytime spinoff of *General Hospital*, as the second actor to play Dr. Joe Scanlon. He remained with the show through 2000, appearing in more than 200 episodes; IMDb lists 216.[1](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) Later television work included single-episode roles on *ER* (as Sgt. Andrews, 2002), *V.I.P.* (2001), and *JAG* (as Lt. Cmdr. John Bartell, 2003).[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/)
## Film and later work
Gail's film credits include *Two Came Back* (1997), *Some Girl* (1998), *Bending All the Rules* (2002, with [Bradley Cooper](https://www.edgepedia.org/bradley-cooper)), and *Perfect Opposites* (2004).[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-22/david-gail-dead-at-58-90210-savannah-actor) • [3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) His last onscreen role was in the 2008 film *The Belly of the Beast*, and his final acting credit was a voiceover role in the 2019 video game *[Blacksad: Under the Skin](https://www.edgepedia.org/blacksad-under-the-skin)*.[4](https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1393550/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dead-at-58)
## Death
Gail died on January 16, 2024, at the age of 58.[3](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/) His death was first reported as cardiac arrest.[1](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles) In February 2024, his representative confirmed that the cause was anoxic-ischemic encephalopathy, a brain injury caused by lack of blood flow, following resuscitation from cardiopulmonary arrest.[5](https://www.eonline.com/news/1396028/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gails-rep-clarifies-his-drug-related-cause-of-death) The medical emergency was caused by drug use, including amphetamines, cocaine, ethanol, and fentanyl, and the death was ruled an accident.[5](https://www.eonline.com/news/1396028/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gails-rep-clarifies-his-drug-related-cause-of-death) His mother, Mary Painter, said in a statement that he had become reliant on medicine many years earlier after multiple surgeries on his hands and wrists.[5](https://www.eonline.com/news/1396028/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gails-rep-clarifies-his-drug-related-cause-of-death)
Gail is survived by his sister, Katie Colmenares, his mother, Mary, and his son, Guthier.[2](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-22/david-gail-dead-at-58-90210-savannah-actor) • [6](https://www.foxla.com/news/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dies-at-58)
## References
1. [David Gail (1965–2024), actor in Beverly Hills, 90210 and Port Charles, Legacy.com (Dallas Morning News obits)](https://obits.dallasnews.com/news/david-gail-1965-2024-actor-in-beverly-hills-90210-and-port-charles)
2. ['90210' star David Gail's cause of death revealed, Los Angeles Times](https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2024-01-22/david-gail-dead-at-58-90210-savannah-actor)
3. [David Gail, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0301185/)
4. [Beverly Hills, 90210 Actor David Gail Dead at 58, E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/ca/news/1393550/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dead-at-58)
5. [Beverly Hills, 90210 Actor David Gail's Rep Clarifies His Drug-Related Cause of Death, E! Online](https://www.eonline.com/news/1396028/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gails-rep-clarifies-his-drug-related-cause-of-death)
6. ['Beverly Hills 90210' actor David Gail dies at 58, FOX 11 Los Angeles](https://www.foxla.com/news/beverly-hills-90210-actor-david-gail-dies-at-58)
7. [The New Kid on the 'Beverly Hills' Block, Los Angeles Times (October 12, 1993)](https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1993-10-12-ca-45066-story.html)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Screen people and creators › Screen actors of the Anglosphere and Europe › American actors: 1970s to 1990s › Surnames G to Go*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 11, 2026; Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
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License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license