{"id":142705,"date":"2022-11-29T08:27:29","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T08:27:29","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/clarence-gilyard-jr-dead-die-hard-matlock-walker-star-was-66\/"},"modified":"2022-11-29T08:27:29","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T08:27:29","slug":"clarence-gilyard-jr-dead-die-hard-matlock-walker-star-was-66","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/harchi90.com\/clarence-gilyard-jr-dead-die-hard-matlock-walker-star-was-66\/","title":{"rendered":"Clarence Gilyard Jr. Dead: ‘Die Hard,’ ‘Matlock,’ ‘Walker’ Star Was 66"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\tClarence Gilyard Jr., an actor best known for starring in \u201cWalker, Texas Ranger\u201d and his supporting performance in \u201cDie Hard,\u201d has died. He was 66 years old. No further details about his death are available at this time.<\/p>\n

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\tGilyard’s death was confirmed through a statement by the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Gilyard had been working as a film and theater professor at UNLV College of Fine Arts.<\/p>\n

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\t\u201cProfessor Gilyard was a beacon of light and strength for everyone around him,\u201d UNLV film chair Heather Addison said. \u201cWhenever we asked him how he was, he would cheerfully declare that he was ‘Blessed!’ But we are truly the ones who were blessed to be his colleagues and students for so many years. We love you and will miss you dearly, Professor G!\u201d <\/p>\n

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\tAn accomplished film, television and theater actor, Gilyard made a lasting impression in the 1980’s after a series of guest star TV appearances, making his film debut as Sundown in \u201cTop Gun\u201d and playing the terrorist computer whiz Theo in \u201cDie Hard\u201d with a gleeful menace. In 1989, he scored a regular gig on primetime television with \u201cMatlock,\u201d playing Conrad McMasters, a PI for Andy Griffith’s lead criminal defense attorney.<\/p>\n

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\tGilyard appeared on 85 episodes of \u201cMatlock\u201d before departing the series in 1993 for an even bigger role: Jimmy Trivette, the right hand man to Chuck Norris’ tough sergeant on CBS’ Western crime series \u201cWalker, Texas Ranger.\u201d He appeared in all 196 episodes of the series’ eight season. After the finale in 2001, Gilyard continued to act in various films and TV shows.<\/p>\n

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\tBorn Dec. 24, 1955 in Moses Lake, Wash., Gilyard grew up a military brat, moving across air bases throughout the US during his adolescence before his family settled in California. After spending a year at the Air Force Academy as a cadet, Gilyard attended Sterling College and, later, California State University, Long Beach and California State University, Dominguez Hills, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in acting. <\/p>\n

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\tGilyard returned to academia later in life, joining the department of theater at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas as an associate professor in 2006. Gilyard also worked as a producer and director, helming an episode of \u201cWalker, Texas Ranger.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\tGilyard was previously married to Catherine Dutko. He married Elena Gilyard in 2001. <\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n