At the age of 66, actor Clarence Gilyard Jr., who was best remembered for his starring role in the television series Walker, Texas Ranger, passed away.
In 1986, he made his debut in the film Top Gun, and the following year, he was cast in a supporting part as the computer hacker Theo in the film Die Hard.
After that, the veteran of film and television served as a series regular on Matlock for four seasons before earning his big break with Walker, Texas Ranger, where he starred in all eight seasons of the show that became a hit.
“I’ve been blessed. Gilyard stated in 2017 to The Las Vegas Review-Journal that he has previously collaborated with Michael Mann, John Avildsen, and Tony Scott.
“There are actors who are more brilliant and have a better physical appearance, but at that time, the filmmakers who were chasing me, they said, ‘This child ought to be in my movie.’”
He told me that although I had to be adaptable and face the realities of the business, I could still make my dreams come true by working in this industry.
Gilyard was born in Moses Lake, Washington, although he and his family relocated several times to various air bases across the country before finally settling in California.
Gilyard is a veteran of the United States Air Force. Since 2001, the actor from “Matlock” had been happily married to his wife, Elena.
Gilyard attended California State University, Long Beach, and California State University, Dominguez Hills to earn his bachelor’s degree in acting. He is currently working in the industry.
He spent the last part of his career working as an associate professor at the College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he has been teaching since 2006.
In a statement, the institution acknowledged his passing and referred to him as “a beacon of light and strength for everyone around him.”
“Every time we inquired about his well-being, he would enthusiastically respond that he was “Blessed!” But the truth is that it was we who were given the opportunity to work alongside him and be his students for so many years.
We are going to miss you very much and love you very much, Professor G! Heather Addison, who is the chair of UNLV’s film department, stated.
The Dean of the UNLV School of Medicine, Nancy J. Uscher, said in a statement that “His students and all who knew him were profoundly inspired by him.”
“He was exceptionally well-known in the institution due to his passion to teaching and the professional accomplishments that he had achieved,”
At this time, the circumstances behind Gilyard’s passing have not been made public.
