Clarence Darnell Gilyard Jr. was an American university professor, actor, and author. As a performer, he appeared in film, television, and stage productions, sometimes credited as Clarence A. Gilyard
n 1979, Gilyard moved to Los Angeles to become an actor. Among other work, a role in the play Bleacher Bums made him what one magazine called “the first black actor to play a cheerleader”, before he segued into television roles. As a character actor, Gilyard has made guest appearances on TV shows such as Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, 227, Simon & Simon, and Riptide. In 1982–1983, Gilyard was cast in the final season of the NBC TV series CHiPs as Officer Benjamin Webster, opposite Erik Estrada. He co-starred with Jim Carrey in the 1984 NBC sitcom The Duck Factory. He appeared in a commercial for McDonald’s in 1987.
Gilyard’s movie debut in 1986 was as an F-14 Tomcat radar intercept officer, Lt. Marcus “Sundown” Williams, in Top Gun. He was also a military man in the 1986 film The Karate Kid Part II. He appeared in the 1988 action film Die Hard as Theo, a criminal computer expert. He also appeared as Reverend Bruce Barnes in Left Behind: The Movie and its sequel, Left Behind II: Tribulation Force.
Clarence Gilyard’s top movies
1986 Top Gun Lieutenant Junior Grade Marcus ‘Sundown’ Williams
The Karate Kid Part II G.I. #1
1987 Off the Mark James B. White
1988 Die Hard Theo
2000 Left Behind: The Movie Bruce Barnes
2002 Left Behind II: Tribulation Force
2012 Little Monsters Ben Foreman
2013 From Above Jeremiah Ward
2014 A Matter of Faith Professor Portland
2015 The Track Psychiatrist
2016 The Beast Auguste Porter
The Sector Reverend Raines
2019 The Perfect Race Coach Michaels
TBA The Driver Lee Staples Filming
Clarence Gilyard’s TV shows
1981 Diff’rent Strokes Frank Simpson / The Student 2 episodes
1982 Making the Grade Unknown Episode: Teach Me Tonight
1982–1983 CHiPs Officer Benjamin Webster 20 episodes
1983 The Kid with the 200 I.Q. Unknown TV Movie
1984 Things Are Looking Up Clement McCallister
The Duck Factory Roland Culp 13 episodes
Riptide William Collins Episode: It’s a Vial Sort of Business
1985 Solomon’s Universe Casey TV Movie
1986 Simon & Simon Wally Stokes Episode: A.W.O.L.
1987 227 Harold Bailey Episode: Matchmakers
The Facts of Life Matt Episode: The More the Marrier
1989 L.A. Takedown Mustafa Jackson TV Movie
1989–1993 Matlock Conrad McMasters 85 episodes
Clarence Gilyard’s top awards and nominations
Image Awards (NAACP)
2000 Winner
Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)
Lone Star Film & Television Awards
1999 Winner
Lone Star Film & Television Award Best TV Supporting Actor
Walker, Texas Ranger (1993)
Source: Ghanafuo.com
