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.
Awards & recognition
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series · 2000
- NAACP Image Award — Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series · 2000 · nominated
Filmography19 titles
Die Hard
The Perfect Race
Top Gun
Matlock
The Facts of Life
Diff'rent Strokes
Walker, Texas Ranger
CHiPs
227
Simon & Simon
The Karate Kid Part II
Christmas on the Coast
A Matter of Faith
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
Left Behind: The Movie
Off the Mark
Rabbit Days
The Sector
The Track