Die hard star clearance Gilyard dead at 66
The actor had a long career on the small screen, but it was his role in “Matlock” that made him a household name. The show ran from 1986 to 1994 and starred Gilyard as Conrad McMasters, a lawyer who moved to Chicago-area town of Matlock and started defending death-row inmates for money.
(Reuters) – Clarence Gilyard Jr., who starred in the TV shows “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “Matlock,” died on Thursday at his home in Las Vegas, his agent said.
Clarence Gilyard Jr., who starred in the TV shows “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “Matlock,” died on Thursday at his home in Las Vegas, his agent said. He was 66.
The cause of death was unknown but it appeared to be a natural death, his agent said.
The actor, who played Jimmy Trivette in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and conman Conrad McMasters in “Matlock,” was 66 years old when he died from an unknown medical condition, Annie Reut . . .
The actor played Jimmy Trivette in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and conman Conrad McMasters in “Matlock,” was 66 years old when he died from an unknown medical condition.
Gilyard was born in St. Louis, Missouri and grew up in Detroit. He attended the University of Missouri for college before moving to Los Angeles where he began his acting career with roles on TV shows like “ER” and “The Larry Sanders Show.”
The actor’s manager confirmed his death early Friday morning.
You may not have heard of him, but Geoffrey Lewis Gilyard was a veteran actor who appeared in several popular TV shows and movies. He was best known for his roles in “Walker, Texas Ranger” and “Matlock,” which were two of the highest rated shows on CBS at the time.
Gilyard died at his home in Vegas early Friday morning after suffering an apparent heart attack while watching television with family members, according to his manager David Glaser. The cause of death wasn’t disclosed by authorities or Glaser—who said he didn’t know what happened—but it appears that Gilyard had no history of health problems before this incident occurred.”
Conclusion
Gilyard was known for playing tough guys, but his acting career started with a role in the TV series “The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.” He also appeared in movies like “Caddyshack II” and “John Carpenter’s Escape from L.A.,” among other productions.
