Clarence Darnell Gilyard Jr. (December 24, 1955 – November 28, 2022) was an American actor, professor, and former military cadet. He was best known for his roles as Conrad McMasters on Matlock (1989–1993) and Jimmy Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001). He also appeared in Top Gun (1986) as Lt. Marcus "Sundown" Williams and in Die Hard (1988) as Theo, a computer expert.
After retiring from acting in the late 2010s, he became an associate professor of theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV). He taught and mentored students there until he passed away in 2022. Today, Clarence is remembered as a versatile actor who balanced action and drama on television, and as an inspiring teacher who shared his real-world experience with students.
Clarence Gilyard was born on December
