Clarence Alfred Gilyard Jr was an American University professor, actor and author best known for his supporting roles in hit movies like Die Hard and Top Gun and television series like Matlock and Walker Texas Ranger. After graduating high school in 1974, Gilyard spent a year in the US Airforce before leaving to enroll at Sterling College where he played football and got a tennis scholarship but dropped out before finishing. He later graduated with a degree in acting at California State Universi... moreClarence Alfred Gilyard Jr was an American University professor, actor and author best known for his supporting roles in hit movies like Die Hard and Top Gun and television series like Matlock and Walker Texas Ranger. After graduating high school in 1974, Gilyard spent a year in the US Airforce before leaving to enroll at Sterling College where he played football and got a tennis scholarship but dropped out before finishing. He later graduated with a degree in acting at California State University. Gilyard moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to pursue a career in acting. He had small appearances before his debut in 1986 in the movie Top Gun. From there on he was cast in supporting roles of many hit films and television series. In 2012 Gilyard took time off from acting to pursue teaching at University of Nevada as an associate professor of stage and screen acting.
