The American actor Clarence Gilyard, recognized for his roles in the movie “Die Hard” and the series “Walker, Texas Ranger”, among other jobs, he died last Monday at the age of 66 for reasons that are still unknown, the international press reported.
In a long career that spanned five decades, perhaps his best-remembered role is that of Theo, the arrogant computer hacker in “Die Hard” (1998).
In the 90’s he also became a familiar face on the small screen when interpreting in prime time to private investigator Conrad McMasters in the drama “Matlock” and then, in a pivotal role in his career, as ranger James Trivette in the series “Walker, Texas Ranger.”
Clarence Gilyard was born in 1955, in Moses Lake, Washington. After finishing high school, he had a brief stint in the Air Force and Sterling College of Kansas, He later enrolled at Cal State University in Long Beach, where he also enrolled in acting classes.
When he began to see that his path as an actor was progressing, Gilyard dropped out of college and appeared in minor television roles.
His big break came in 1989 when he landed the role of Conrad McMasters in the NBC drama Matlock, which stars Andy Griffith.
In 1993 he left “Matlock” to star in CBS’s “Walker, Texas Ranger,” the television series with which he became most related. Starring opposite Chuck Norris, Gilyard played Sergeant James “Jimmy” Trivett.
The phenomenally successful series ran for eight seasons with a total of 203 episodes.
His first major film role occurred in the action classic “Die Hard” (1988) by John McTiernan, starring Bruce Willis, where he played a tech genius.
After several movies and series, In the mid-2000s, Gilyard moved away from acting and went on to teach acting at the university. and directing productions at the Nevada Theater Conservatory.
