Remembering Clarence Gilyard Jr., ‘Matlock’s Conrad McMasters
What To Know
- Clarence Darnell Gilyard Jr., best known for his roles as Conrad McMasters on Matlock and Jimmy Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger, had a prolific career in television and film, including appearances in Top Gun and Die Hard.
- Gilyard began his career after leaving a military path, studying acting at California State University and building his résumé through stage work and early TV guest roles before achieving fame on Matlock in 1989.
- After stepping back from acting, Gilyard became an associate professor of acting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and remained dedicated to his faith and family until his death in 2022 at age 66.
For many viewers who spent years watching Matlock, Clarence Gilyard Jr. will always be remembered as Conrad McMasters, the dependable private investigator who stood beside Ben Matlock and helped keep cases on track. His presence became an essential part of the series during its long run.
Sadly, Gilyard died in 2022, leaving behind a legacy onscreen and off. In honor of him and the show’s 40th anniversary, let’s remember his impressive career.
How did Clarence Gilyard Jr. begin his career?
Gilyard was born on December 24, 1955, in Moses Lake, Washington, into a military family that moved frequently while his father served in the U.S. Air Force. He was raised Lutheran, though later converted to Catholicism in the ’90s. Academically gifted, he graduated from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, in 1974 and briefly attended the U.S. Air Force Academy before ultimately choosing a different path.
Viacom/Everett Collection
After leaving the military track, Gilyard explored several directions before settling on acting. He attended college, played football, worked a variety of jobs, and eventually enrolled at California State University, where he studied acting and supported himself while pursuing roles. He completed his bachelor’s degree at California State University, Dominguez Hills.
Gilyard relocated to Los Angeles in 1979 and began building his acting résumé through stage work and television guest appearances. Audiences in the early ’80s saw him on shows like CHiPs, Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life and Riptide. His big screen breakthrough came in 1986 with Top Gun, where he played radar intercept officer Marcus “Sundown” Williams, followed by a memorable turn as Theo, the computer-savvy criminal in Die Hard.
Everett Collection
How Clarence Gilyard joined Matlock
Television fame came when Gilyard joined Matlock in 1989 as Conrad McMasters, and he appeared in nearly every episode from the show’s third season onward. When the series later moved production to North Carolina, Gilyard briefly relocated as well, before leaving to pursue new opportunities.
In 1993, he took on another defining role as Jimmy Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger. As Walker’s fellow Ranger and close friend, Gilyard appeared in eight seasons of the series, becoming a fixture of ’90s television. Even years later, he returned to the character for the 2005 television movie Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire. His final role was in a short called Legacy of a Spy in 2021.
Gilyard eventually stepped back from acting to focus on education, earning a Master of Fine Arts from Southern Methodist University and becoming a teacher. From 2006 until his death, he served as an associate professor of acting at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. He was married twice, fathered six children, and his faith played an important role in his later years, including service with Catholic organizations. After a long illness, Clarence Gilyard died at his home in Las Vegas on November 28, 2022, at the age of 66.
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