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