Clarence Gilyard Jr.
Acting
Biography
Clarence Alfred Gilyard Jr. (December 24, 1955 – November 23, 2022) was an American university professor, actor, and author. As a performer, he appeared in film, television, and stage productions; some sources give his middle name as Alfred.
Gilyard was known for his roles as second private investigator and right-hand man Conrad McMasters to Ben Matlock (played by Andy Griffith) on the legal drama series Matlock from 1989 to 1993; Pastor Bruce Barnes in the first two Left Behind movies; Cordell Walker's (played by Chuck Norris) Texas Ranger partner, James "Jimmy" Trivette, in the 1990s crime drama Walker, Texas Ranger; Theo, the terrorist computer expert in Die Hard; and Lieutenant (junior grade) Evan "Sundown" Gough in Top Gun.
As actor 30
Matlock
1986
Simon & Simon
1981
The Facts of Life
1979
Walker, Texas Ranger
1993
Top Gun
1986
Die Hard
1988
227
1985
CHiPs
1977
The Karate Kid Part II
1986
The Duck Factory
1984
Sons of Thunder
1999
Diff'rent Strokes
1978
L.A. Takedown
1989
Left Behind
2000
Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
2005
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
2002
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake
1990
A Matter of Faith
2014
The Sector
2016
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
1993
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.
1983
Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion
1994
Christmas on the Coast
2018
Off the Mark
1987
Chasing Shakespeare
2014
Things Are Looking Up
1984
Little Monsters
2012
Rabbit Days
2016
The Perfect Race
2019
The Track
2016