Clarence Gilyard Jr., an actor greatest identified for starring in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and his supporting efficiency in “Die Onerous,” has died. He was 66 years previous.
No additional particulars about his demise can be found right now.
Gilyard’s demise was confirmed by way of an announcement by the College of Nevada, Las Vegas. Gilyard had been working as a movie and theatre professor at UNLV Faculty of Positive Arts.
“Professor Gilyard was a beacon of sunshine and energy for everybody round him,” UNLV movie chair Heather Addison mentioned. “At any time when we requested him how he was, he would cheerfully declare that he was ‘Blessed!’ However we’re actually those who have been blessed to be his colleagues and college students for therefore a few years. We love you and can miss you dearly, Professor G!”
An completed movie, tv and theatre actor, Gilyard made a long-lasting impression within the Eighties after a sequence of visitor star TV appearances, making his movie debut as Sunset in “High Gun” and enjoying the terrorist laptop whiz Theo in “Die Onerous” with a gleeful menace. In 1989, he scored a daily gig on primetime tv with “Matlock,” enjoying Conrad McMasters, a P.I. for Andy Griffith’s lead prison protection lawyer.
Gilyard appeared on 85 episodes of “Matlock” earlier than departing the sequence in 1993 for an excellent larger position: Jimmy Trivette, the right-hand man to Chuck Norris’ robust sergeant on CBS’ Western crime sequence “Walker, Texas Ranger.” He appeared in all 196 episodes of the sequence’ eight seasons. After the finale in 2001, Gilyard continued to behave in numerous movies and TV reveals.
Born Dec. 24, 1955 in Moses Lake, Wash., Gilyard grew up a army brat, transferring throughout air bases all through the U.S. throughout his adolescence earlier than his household settled in California. After spending a yr on the Air Pressure Academy as a cadet, Gilyard attended Sterling Faculty and, later, California State College, Lengthy Seaside and California State College, Dominguez Hills, the place he earned a bachelor’s diploma in performing.
Gilyard returned to academia later in life, becoming a member of the division of theatre on the College of Nevada, Las Vegas as an affiliate professor in 2006. Gilyard additionally labored as a producer and director, helming an episode of “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
Gilyard was beforehand married to Catherine Dutko. He married Elena Gilyard in 2001.
