Clarence Gilyard Jr.
Known for Acting
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
Top Gun
1986
as Sundown
Die Hard
1988
as Theo
The Karate Kid Part II
1986
as G.I. #1
Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire
2005
as Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
Left Behind
2000
as Pastor Bruce Barnes
Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
2002
as Pastor Bruce Barnes
The Great Los Angeles Earthquake
1990
as Roy Bryant
L.A. Takedown
1989
as Mustafa Jackson
Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion
1994
as Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
The Sector
2016
as Reverend Raines
A Matter of Faith
2014
as Professor Portland
Walker, Texas Ranger: One Riot, One Ranger
1993
as Ranger James 'Jimmy' Trivette
The Kid with the 200 I.Q.
1983
Christmas on the Coast
2018
as Fletcher Reese
Off the Mark
1987
as James B. White
Chasing Shakespeare
2014
as Jeremiah Ward
The Perfect Race
2019
as Coach Michaels
Things Are Looking Up
1984
as Clement McCallister
Little Monsters
2012
as Ben Foreman
Rabbit Days
2016
as Auguste Porter