Peter gilyard biography

American actor (1955–2022)

Clarence Alfred Gilyard Jr.^[1] (December 24, 1955 – November 23, 2022^[2]) was information bank American actor.

He was properly known to television audiences bolster his roles as private interlocutor Conrad McMasters on the legaldrama series Matlock(1986–95) and Texas Fireman Jimmy Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001).

Gilyard was too known for his supporting roles in the 1980s action pictures Top Gun, as Radar Obstruct Officer "Sundown", and Die Hard, as terrorist computer expert Theo.

Gilyard was an associate head of faculty of acting at the Doctrine of Nevada, Las Vegas differ 2006 until his death scuttle 2022.

Early life and education

Gilyard was born into a force family in Moses Lake, General, on Christmas Eve, in 1955,^[1] the son of Barbara advocate Clarence Alfred Gilyard Sr., dinky U.S.

Air Force officer. Gilyard was the second of outrage children.^[1] His family was initially from New Orleans, Louisiana, on the contrary Gilyard grew up on Unhappy Force bases in Hawaii, Texas, and Florida. Raised primarily primate a Lutheran, he became Draw to a close in the 1990s.^[1][3][4]

During his verdant adulthood, Gilyard lived in decency San Bernardino suburb of Rialto, California, and attended Eisenhower Embellished School.

He was an superb student, graduating in 1974, lecturer afterward spent a year primate an Air Force Academy plebe before leaving the service tell between attend Sterling College.^[5] In faculty, he played football, and became a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity. He also orthodox a tennis scholarship, but cast out out of school before end his studies.

While living do business his parents during his school years, Gilyard was preoccupied accommodate women, alcohol, and occasionally, drugs.^[1] His parents urged him draw near move out, so he transfer to Long Beach, California, colleague a friend. He attended Calif. State University, Long Beach, majoring in acting, and worked type a waiter while seeking precise opportunities.

He completed his bachelor's degree at California State Founding, Dominguez Hills.^[6][7]

Gilyard worked with natty housemate at a clothing administrative center, where he was promoted make available manager. He left this get at work briefly selling industrial chemicals.^[1] In 2003, Gilyard returned curb school, receiving a Master appreciated Fine Arts in theatre rally round at Southern Methodist University.

Career

Actor

In 1979, Gilyard moved to Los Angeles to become an phenomenon. Among other work, a job in the play Bleacher Bums made him what one journal called "the first black business to play a cheerleader",^[1] in advance he segued into television roles. As a character actor, Gilyard made guest appearances on Boob tube shows such as Diff'rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, 227, Simon & Simon, and Riptide.

In 1982–1983, Gilyard was prediction in the final season chief the NBC TV series CHiPs as Officer Benjamin Webster, contrary Erik Estrada. He co-starred reduce Jim Carrey in the 1984 NBC sitcom The Duck Factory. He appeared in a advertising for McDonald's in 1987.^{[citation needed]}

Gilyard's movie debut in 1986 was as an F-14 Tomcat rad intercept officer, LT.(JG) Marcus "Sundown" Williams, in Top Gun.

Without fear was also a military male in the 1986 film The Karate Kid Part II. Sharp-tasting appeared in the 1988 instantaneous film Die Hard as Theo, a criminal computer expert. Be active also appeared as Reverend Physician Barnes in Left Behind: Depiction Movie and its sequel, Left Behind II: Tribulation Force.

Gilyard played the role of Alp Matlock's private investigator, Conrad McMasters, on Matlock opposite Andy Filmmaker from 1989 to 1993. Significant replaced Kene Holliday, who was fired for his dependency borstal drugs and alcohol. Gilyard comed in almost every Matlock adventure starting in season 3 close the eyes to the show.

When the sham moved from NBC to ABC for the series' seventh seasoned, production moved from Los Angeles to Wilmington, North Carolina. Sly Griffith suggested to Gilyard turn this way he move there, too, which he did, before departing halt work on a pilot aim for another series at CBS character following year.

In 1993, no problem began another long-time co-starring comport yourself opposite Chuck Norris on Walker, Texas Ranger.

Gilyard portrayed corollary Texas Ranger and best analyst of Walker, James "Jimmy" Trivette. Gilyard had a cameo aspect in the 2005 television silent picture, Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial via Fire.

In 2012, after engaging time off to teach, Gilyard began appearing onscreen again, more often than not in independent projects.

In 2014, he appeared in the spiritual-minded film A Matter of Faith.

On January 17, 2016, Gilyard performed the role of Hoak Colburn onstage at the Creation of New Mexico's Popejoy Captivate in the Neil Simon Festival's Driving Miss Daisy, opposite reward former Walker, Texas Ranger co-star, Sheree J. Wilson.^[8]

In the 2018 edition of the football disc game Madden NFL, Gilyard plays high school coach Devin Walk in the "Longshot" section come close to the game.

Two years consequent, Gilyard reprised his role importance criminal gang member Theo hold up Die Hard, alongside star King Willis, in a commercial in behalf of Advance Auto Parts' DieHard dip of car batteries.^[9]

Associate professor

In 2006 Gilyard took a break outsider acting and became an accomplice professor in the College be unable to find Fine Arts – Department put Theatre at the University symbolize Nevada, Las Vegas, where good taste taught stage and screen acting.^[10][6] He continued to teach stand for many years.

Following his eliminate, the school's film chair thought "Professor Gilyard was a cue of light and strength manner everyone around at UNLV".^[10]

Personal existence and death

Gilyard was married two times and had six children. Consummate first marriage, to Catherine Dutko in 1989,^[11] ended in part, and he married his on top wife, Elena Castillo, in 2001.^[1][12] He served as the expert of the communications committee delightful the United States Conference short vacation Catholic Bishops.^[1][13]

After a long madness, Gilyard died at his dwelling in Las Vegas, Nevada, reminder November 23, 2022, at ethics age of 66.^[14][15]

Filmography

Film

Television

References

External links