Clarence Gilyard Jr.
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.
Filmography
Die Hard
as Theo
Top Gun
as Sundown
The Karate Kid Part II
as G.I. #1
Left Behind
as Pastor Bruce Barnes
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
as Pastor Bruce Barnes
Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
as Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
L.A. Takedown
as Mustafa Jackson
A Matter of Faith
as Professor Portland
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake
as Roy Bryant
Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion
as Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
The Sector
as Reverend Raines
Christmas on the Coast
as Fletcher Reese
Off the Mark
as James B. White
Little Monsters
as Ben Foreman
The Perfect Race
as Coach Michaels
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
as Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
Chasing Shakespeare
as Jeremiah Ward
Rabbit Days
as Auguste Porter
Things Are Looking Up
as Clement McCallister