Biography
Clarence Gilyard Jr. was an American actor and educator. He appeared in supporting roles in several 1980s films and television series, including as Lieutenant (junior grade) Marcus "Sundown" Williams in Top Gun (1986) and as the terrorist computer expert Theo in Die Hard (1988).
Gilyard also played Conrad McMasters on the legal drama series Matlock (1989–1993) and James "Jimmy" Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001). He later became an associate professor of acting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, from 2006 until his death.
Born in Moses Lake, Washington, he studied theatre at California State University, Dominguez Hills, and earned an MFA from Southern Methodist University.
