ACTOR · BORN 1955 · DIED 2022
Clarence Gilyard Jr.
- Born
- 24 December 1955
- Died
- 23 November 2022
- Known for
- Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), Walker, Texas Ranger (1993), Die Hard (1988), Matlock (1986)
13 archived facts 5 topics 1 source Last reviewed Nov 2026
Clarence Gilyard Jr. (24 December 1955 – 23 November 2022) was an actor best known for Star Trek: The Next Generation, Walker, Texas Ranger and Die Hard.
13 Interesting Facts About Clarence Gilyard Jr.
Interesting Facts (4)
- #001
One of Clarence Gilyard Jr.'s closest friends was his Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) co-star Sheree J. Wilson, and the two appeared together on stage in 'Driving Miss Daisy,' she as Daisy Werthan and he as her driver, Hoke.
- #002
Clarence Gilyard Jr. was one of only four actors, along with Chuck Norris, Sheree J. Wilson and Marshall R. Teague, to appear in both the pilot, 'One Riot, One Ranger,' and the finale, 'The Final Show/Down,' of Walker, Texas Ranger.
- #003
Gilyard stayed close friends with his Matlock (1986) star Andy Griffith until Griffith's death on July 3, 2012, news that reached him late because he was performing in a Neil Simon play at the time.
- #004
Gilyard played a singing, dancing cheeseburger in an episode of Riptide.
Behind the Scenes (1)
- #005
As a small child, he was a big fan of The Andy Griffith Show (1960), just like Nancy Stafford, with whom he would later work on Matlock (1986). Years after the series went off the air, he auditioned for the private detective role on Matlock and, beating out three other actors, joined the cast in the fourth season, replacing Kene Holiday. This was one of the most important steps in his television career.
Characters & Cast (3)
- #006
As a small boy, Clarence Gilyard Jr. loved The Andy Griffith Show (1960), as did his future Matlock (1986) co-star Nancy Stafford, and years later he auditioned to play the private detective opposite Andy Griffith on Matlock, beating three other actors to join the cast in season four, replacing Kene Holiday.
- #007
Clarence Gilyard Jr. was a finalist for Geordi LaForge on Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987), a role that went to LeVar Burton.
- #008
Clarence Gilyard Jr. was the first Black actor to play the cheerleader in the play 'Bleacher Bums,' a role inspired by a real Wrigley Field cheerleader who was also Black.
Career & Awards (3)
- #009
Clarence Gilyard Jr. attended Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas, for a time, and after finding success as an actor he gave back in various ways, including paying for new tennis courts.
- #010
When Matlock (1986) moved production from Los Angeles to North Carolina for its seventh season, Andy Griffith suggested Clarence Gilyard Jr. move too, and he lived there for more than a year before returning to Los Angeles.
- #011
Gilyard was thinking about leaving television when he heard Andy Griffith was looking for a co-star for Matlock (1986); Griffith personally picked him and called him to New York for a screen test, which he passed, and he played 'Conrad McMasters' for four years.
Life & Family (2)
- #012
A lifelong Western fan, Clarence Gilyard Jr. grew up on 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), a love that later found its outlet in Walker, Texas Ranger.
- #013
According to his former girlfriend and manager Loree Rodkin, Clarence Gilyard Jr.'s death resulted from chronic alcoholism that led to complications of hepatitis, after a long struggle that had put him in hospital many times.
Related pages
- Grand L. Bush — Clarence Gilyard Jr. comes up in the facts on that page
Sources & editorial notes
Reference databases
- Wikipedia
- IMDb
Information from external sources is independently selected, consolidated and edited by Arka Evren. Sources are listed for verification and further reading. Encyclopedia text is used under its licence (CC BY-SA). How we work