Clarence Gilyard Jr.
Acting • Born 1955-12-24 – Died 2022-11-23
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.
Filmography
31 credits
Die Hard
Movie • 1988
Theo
Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
Movie • 2005
Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
Movie • 2002
Pastor Bruce Barnes
Left Behind
Movie • 2000
Pastor Bruce Barnes
Things Are Looking Up
Movie • 1984
Clement McCallister
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake
Movie • 1990
Roy Bryant
Little Monsters
Movie • 2012
Ben Foreman
Off the Mark
Movie • 1987
James B. White
A Matter of Faith
Movie • 2014
Professor Portland
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.
Movie • 1983
Top Gun
Movie • 1986
Sundown
Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion
Movie • 1994
Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
Rabbit Days
Movie • 2016
Auguste Porter
The Track
Movie • 2016
Psychiatrist
The Sector
Movie • 2016
Reverend Raines
The Karate Kid Part II
Movie • 1986
G.I. #1
Christmas on the Coast
Movie • 2018
Fletcher Reese
The Perfect Race
Movie • 2019
Coach Michaels
L.A. Takedown
Movie • 1989
Mustafa Jackson
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
Movie • 1993
Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
Chasing Shakespeare
Movie • 2014
Jeremiah Ward
The Facts of Life
TV • 1979
Matt
Matlock
TV • 1986
Conrad McMasters
Simon & Simon
TV • 1981
Wally Stokes
227
TV • 1985
Harold Bailey
Diff'rent Strokes
TV • 1978
The Student
Sons of Thunder
TV • 1999
The Duck Factory
TV • 1984
Roland Culp
CHiPs
TV • 1977
Benjamin Webster
Walker, Texas Ranger
TV • 1993
Jimmy Trivette
Diff'rent Strokes
TV • 1978
Frank Simpson