1. Clarence Gilyard was best known to television audiences for his roles as private investigator Conrad McMasters on the legal drama series Matlock and Texas Ranger Jimmy Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger.
26 Facts About Clarence Gilyard
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Clarence Gilyard was an associate professor of acting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 2006 until his death in 2022.
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Clarence Gilyard's family was originally from New Orleans, Louisiana, but Gilyard grew up on Air Force bases in Hawaii, Texas, and Florida.
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Clarence Gilyard was an excellent student, graduating in 1974, and afterward spent a year as an Air Force Academy cadet before leaving the service to attend Sterling College.
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Clarence Gilyard received a tennis scholarship, but dropped out of school before completing his studies.
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Clarence Gilyard's parents urged him to move out, so he relocated to Long Beach, California, with a friend.
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Clarence Gilyard attended California State University, Long Beach, majoring in acting, and worked as a waiter while seeking acting opportunities.
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Clarence Gilyard completed his bachelor's degree at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
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Clarence Gilyard worked with a housemate at a clothing store, where he was promoted to manager.
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Clarence Gilyard left this to work briefly selling industrial chemicals.
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In 2003, Clarence Gilyard returned to school, receiving a Master of Fine Arts in theatre performance at Southern Methodist University.
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In 1979, Clarence Gilyard moved to Los Angeles to become an actor.
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Clarence Gilyard co-starred with Jim Carrey in the 1984 NBC sitcom The Duck Factory.
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Clarence Gilyard appeared in a commercial for McDonald's in 1987.
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Clarence Gilyard was a military man in the 1986 film The Karate Kid Part II.
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Clarence Gilyard appeared in the 1988 action film Die Hard as Theo, a criminal computer expert.
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Clarence Gilyard appeared as Reverend Bruce Barnes in Left Behind: The Movie and its sequel, Left Behind II: Tribulation Force.
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Clarence Gilyard played the role of Ben Matlock's private investigator, Conrad McMasters, on Matlock opposite Andy Griffith from 1989 to 1993.
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Clarence Gilyard replaced Kene Holliday, who was fired for his dependency on drugs and alcohol.
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Clarence Gilyard appeared in almost every Matlock episode starting in season 3 of the show.
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Clarence Gilyard portrayed fellow Texas Ranger and best friend of Walker, James "Jimmy" Trivette.
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Clarence Gilyard had a cameo appearance in the 2005 television movie, Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.
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In 2012, after taking time off to teach, Clarence Gilyard began appearing onscreen again, mostly in independent projects.
24.
On January 17,2016, Gilyard performed the role of Hoak Colburn onstage at the University of New Mexico's Popejoy Hall in the Neil Simon Festival's Driving Miss Daisy, opposite his former Walker, Texas Ranger co-star, Sheree J Wilson.
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Two years later, Clarence Gilyard reprised his role as criminal gang member Theo from Die Hard, alongside star Bruce Willis, in a commercial for Advance Auto Parts' DieHard brand of car batteries.
26.
Clarence Gilyard served as the consultant of the communications committee of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.