 ProductLink |
|
 Clarence Gilyard Jr. was born on December 24, 1955 in Moses Lake, Washington, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Die Hard (1988), Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) and Top Gun (1986). He was previously married to Elena Castillo and Catherine Dutko. He died on November 28, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Bio:
Clarence Gilyard Jr. was born on December 24, 1955 in Moses Lake, Washington, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Die Hard (1988), Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) and Top Gun (1986). He was previously married to Elena Castillo and Catherine Dutko. He died on November 28, 2022 in Las Vegas, Nevada, USA.
Tivia:
Left his role on Matlock (1986), after its seventh season, to co-star opposite Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).As a little boy, like co-star Nancy Stafford, he was a huge fan of The Andy Griffith Show (1960). Several years after that show went off the air, he beat out three other actors for the role of a private investigator on Andy Griffith's Matlock (1986), for the fourth season of the series, when he replaced Kene Holiday.Working toward a Master's Degree in Acting at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. (September 2003)A Western enthusiast, compared to his future Matlock (1986) co-star, Nancy Stafford, Gilyard grew up watching the following shows: The Rifleman (1958), Gunsmoke (1955), Bonanza (1959), Laramie (1959), Wagon Train (1957), The Virginian (1962), Rawhide (1959), The Big Valley (1965) and The High Chaparral (1967).He is an associate professor of theater at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. (August 2006)Was a finalist for the role of Geordi LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).Attended Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, for some time. After his success as an actor, Clarence gave back to the college in many ways, one of which was paying for new tennis courts for the college.Born in Moses Lakes, Washington; Gilyard was raised on military bases in Hawaii, Texas, and Florida.Best known by the public for his roles as Conrad McMasters on Matlock (1986), and as James "Jimmy" Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).Worked with fellow Western idol Robert Fuller on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).After joining the cast of the play "Bleacher Bums," Clarence became the first black actor to play the role of the cheerleader. By coincidence, the real-life person on whom the cheerleader at Wrigley Field was based was indeed black.Best friend of Sheree J. Wilson, with whom he co-starred in the stage version of "Driving Miss Daisy" (she had the title role, while he portrayed Hoke).Three of the movies he has starred in have gone on to gross well over $150 million each in worldwide box office and DVD sales.He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.Attended California State University, Long Beach, with a major in theater.Attributes much of his success in show business to Andy Griffith...who became his mentor and surrogate father in 1989, when Gilyard was 33 and a struggling unknown. The two remained close for 23 years, until Griffith passed away. Clarence, who was busy performing in a stage play at the time, didn't learn about Griffith's death until a year thereafter. Gilyard has said that, if he'd been informed sooner, he would have been proud to serve as one of Andy's pallbearers.His son Peter was born on May 30, 2007. Gilyard's other five children include son Clarence Alfred III.Began his entertainment career acting in children's theater.One of only four people to appear in the "Walker, Texas Ranger" pilot, "One Riot, One Ranger", and the finale, "The Final Show/Down". The four, in credits order, were: Chuck Norris (Walker), Clarence Gilyard Jr. (Trivette), Sheree J. Wilson ("Alex Cahill", later Alex Cahill-Walker), and Marshall R. Teague ("Orson Wade" in the pilot, and "Emile Lavocat"/"Mills {Moon} Lavocat" in the two-hour, multiple-timeline finale).When Matlock (1986) moved production from Los Angeles to North Carolina (at the beginning of its seventh season), Andy Griffith who suggested that Gilyard move there. Accordingly, Clarence resided in North Carolina for over a year...finally moving back to Los Angeles.Serves as a consultant of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Communications.Is a second-generation Air Force officer. His father, Clarence Alfred Senior, converted from Baptist to Lutheran...which Clarence Junior has practiced in California, Hawaii, Texas, and Florida.Originally a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.Andy Griffith chose Gilyard to replace Kene Holiday, as his co-star on Matlock (1986), since Griffith liked Clarence's audition for the role of "Conrad McMasters".Lived in Los Angeles, California, from 1980 to 1992, and again from 1993 to 2001.His brother, Milton, is moderately developmentally disabled.Before his break into acting, he worked with his housemate at a clothing store. Gilyard was promoted to manager.Friends with Larry Manetti.Graduated from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, in 1974.Was on the brink of retiring from television when he heard of Andy Griffith's search for someone to be his co-star on Matlock (1986). Griffith personally handpicked Gilyard, who was summoned to New York for a screen test. Sure enough, Clarence was hired and stayed with the show as "Conrad McMasters" for the next 4 years...finally leaving to co-star on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).Went to the same high school as ex-Allies lead guitarist Randy Thomas and actor/singer Kirk Fogg.Though he had a very good working relationship with Nancy Stafford on Matlock (1986), he hasn't kept her in touch for years, which is why Gilyard has relocated from California to Nevada, to stay busy as both a college professor and a theater director.Almost compared to his Matlock (1986) co-star, Nancy Stafford, his family, especially himself had been watching or have been involved in every Andy Griffith project, since Gilyard was a little boy, except, his family didn't have any connection with Griffith, except himself. |
| Name: |
Clarence Gilyard Jr. |
Type: |
Actor,Director,Producer (IMDB) |
| Area: |
All World |
Platform: |
IMDB |
| Category: |
|
Business scope: |
Actor,Director,Producer |
| Products for sale: |
Actor,Director,Producer |
Clarence Gilyard Jr. data
| Last update: |
2024-07-01 05:26:55 |
Clarence Gilyard Jr. profile
| Height: |
5' 8?' (1.74 m) |
| Biography: |
Clarence Gilyard Jr. was born on December 24, 1955 in Moses Lake, Washington, USA. He was an actor and director, known for Die Hard (1988), Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) and Top Gun (1986). He was previously married to Elena Castillo and Catherine Dutk |
| Trivia: |
Left his role on Matlock (1986), after its seventh season, to co-star opposite Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).As a little boy, like co-star Nancy Stafford, he was a huge fan of The Andy Griffith Show (1960). Several years after that show went off the air, he beat out three other actors for the role of a private investigator on Andy Griffith's Matlock (1986), for the fourth season of the series, when he replaced Kene Holiday.Working toward a Master's Degree in Acting at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. (September 2003)A Western enthusiast, compared to his future Matlock (1986) co-star, Nancy Stafford, Gilyard grew up watching the following shows: The Rifleman (1958), Gunsmoke (1955), Bonanza (1959), Laramie (1959), Wagon Train (1957), The Virginian (1962), Rawhide (1959), The Big Valley (1965) and The High Chaparral (1967).He is an associate professor of theater at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. (August 2006)Was a finalist for the role of Geordi LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987).Attended Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, for some time. After his success as an actor, Clarence gave back to the college in many ways, one of which was paying for new tennis courts for the college.Born in Moses Lakes, Washington; Gilyard was raised on military bases in Hawaii, Texas, and Florida.Best known by the public for his roles as Conrad McMasters on Matlock (1986), and as James "Jimmy" Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).Worked with fellow Western idol Robert Fuller on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).After joining the cast of the play "Bleacher Bums," Clarence became the first black actor to play the role of the cheerleader. By coincidence, the real-life person on whom the cheerleader at Wrigley Field was based was indeed black.Best friend of Sheree J. Wilson, with whom he co-starred in the stage version of "Driving Miss Daisy" (she had the title role, while he portrayed Hoke).Three of the movies he has starred in have gone on to gross well over $150 million each in worldwide box office and DVD sales.He is a member of the Sigma Chi fraternity.Attended California State University, Long Beach, with a major in theater.Attributes much of his success in show business to Andy Griffith...who became his mentor and surrogate father in 1989, when Gilyard was 33 and a struggling unknown. The two remained close for 23 years, until Griffith passed away. Clarence, who was busy performing in a stage play at the time, didn't learn about Griffith's death until a year thereafter. Gilyard has said that, if he'd been informed sooner, he would have been proud to serve as one of Andy's pallbearers.His son Peter was born on May 30, 2007. Gilyard's other five children include son Clarence Alfred III.Began his entertainment career acting in children's theater.One of only four people to appear in the "Walker, Texas Ranger" pilot, "One Riot, One Ranger", and the finale, "The Final Show/Down". The four, in credits order, were: Chuck Norris (Walker), Clarence Gilyard Jr. (Trivette), Sheree J. Wilson ("Alex Cahill", later Alex Cahill-Walker), and Marshall R. Teague ("Orson Wade" in the pilot, and "Emile Lavocat"/"Mills {Moon} Lavocat" in the two-hour, multiple-timeline finale).When Matlock (1986) moved production from Los Angeles to North Carolina (at the beginning of its seventh season), Andy Griffith who suggested that Gilyard move there. Accordingly, Clarence resided in North Carolina for over a year...finally moving back to Los Angeles.Serves as a consultant of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Communications.Is a second-generation Air Force officer. His father, Clarence Alfred Senior, converted from Baptist to Lutheran...which Clarence Junior has practiced in California, Hawaii, Texas, and Florida.Originally a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.Andy Griffith chose Gilyard to replace Kene Holiday, as his co-star on Matlock (1986), since Griffith liked Clarence's audition for the role of "Conrad McMasters".Lived in Los Angeles, California, from 1980 to 1992, and again from 1993 to 2001.His brother, Milton, is moderately developmentally disabled.Before his break into acting, he worked with his housemate at a clothing store. Gilyard was promoted to manager.Friends with Larry Manetti.Graduated from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, in 1974.Was on the brink of retiring from television when he heard of Andy Griffith's search for someone to be his co-star on Matlock (1986). Griffith personally handpicked Gilyard, who was summoned to New York for a screen test. Sure enough, Clarence was hired and stayed with the show as "Conrad McMasters" for the next 4 years...finally leaving to co-star on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993).Went to the same high school as ex-Allies lead guitarist Randy Thomas and actor/singer Kirk Fogg.Though he had a very good working relationship with Nancy Stafford on Matlock (1986), he hasn't kept her in touch for years, which is why Gilyard has relocated from California to Nevada, to stay busy as both a college professor and a theater director.Almost compared to his Matlock (1986) co-star, Nancy Stafford, his family, especially himself had been watching or have been involved in every Andy Griffith project, since Gilyard was a little boy, except, his family didn't have any connection with Griffith, except himself. |
| Trademarks: |
Frequently played characters that are of the civil law
Very muscular physique
Nasally, whiny voice |
| Quotes: |
I grew up as an Air Force brat. My family moved around a lot. I entered the U.S. Air Force Academy after high school, but left after a year. I couldn't afford to stay at Sterling College in Kansas, where I played wide receiver for the football team, so I went to work and eventually moved back to California.
<br />
<hr>
Why I got to do 13 straight years of network television and somebody else didn't, who knows?
<br />
<hr>
It took me 10 years, but I eventually graduated from college, too.
<br />
<hr>
[on his character in "Left Behind"]: I am blessed to be a part of the production and get to play this character. I'm not the best actor in the world, but even better, I get to help this character evolve. I think God wants me to be playing Bruce Barnes.
<br />
<hr>
[Of his journeyman career]: I had been trying to make it in show business without any real vision. I was getting some success because I was a type - I had a quality that producers were looking for. But I wasn't controlling my destiny. |
| Job title: |
Actor,Director,Producer |
| Others works: |
In Chicago's 2006-2007 theater season he starred in Victory Gardens Theater's revival of Athol Fugard's drama "My Children, My Africa," directed by his friend Cecil O'Neal. |
| Spouse: |
Elena Castillo (August 25, 2001 - November 28, 2022) (his death, 3 children)Catherine Dutko (divorced, 2 children) |
| Children: |
ChildChildPeter Gilyard |
| Parents: |
Clarence Alfred Gilyard Sr.
Barbara Stanwyck Ballard |
| Relatives: |
Milton Gilyard (Sibling) |
|
