Biography for
Clarence Gilyard Jr. More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

24 December 1955, Moses Lake, Washington, USA

Birth Name

Clarence Darnell Gilyard Jr.

Height

5' 11" (1.80 m)

Spouse

Kathy	(? - ?) (divorced) 2 children
Elena	(? - present) 1 child

Trivia

Attended Sterling College in Sterling, Kansas for some time. After his success as an actor, Clarence has given back to the college in many ways, one of which is he paid for new tennis courts for the college.

Associate Professor of Theatre, 2002

He is a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity

Gilyard was born in Moses Lakes, Washington, but was raised in the military bases of Hawaii, Texas and Florida.

He began his acting career working in the children's theater.

After joining the cast of the play "Bleacher Burns," Clarence became the first black actor to play the role of the cheerleader. By coincidence, the real-life person on whom the cheerleader at Wrigley Field was based was indeed black.

Best known by the public for his roles as Conrad McMasters on "Matlock" (1986), and as James "Jimmy" Trivette on "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993).

Three of the movies he has starred in have gone on to gross well over $150 million each in world wide box office and DVD sales.

A cowboy buff.

As a little boy, like co-star Nancy Stafford, he too was a huge fan of "The Andy Griffith Show" (1960). Several years after that show went off the air, he beat out three other actors for the role of a private investigator on Andy Griffith's, "Matlock" (1986), for the series fourth season, when he replaced Kene Holliday.

His son, Peter, was born on May 30, 2007.

Originally a member of the Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod.

Serves as a consultant of the U.S. Bishops' Committee on Communications.

His family was originally from New Orleans, Louisiana.

The second of six children.

Like his father, he also went to the Air Force Academy.

Graduated from Eisenhower High School in Rialto, California, in 1974.

His brother, Milton, is moderately developmentally disabled.

Before he was an actor, he worked with his house mate at a clothing store, that promoted him to being manager.

His father, Clarence Sr., had converted his religion from Baptist to Lutheran, where Clarence Jr., had practiced it in California, Hawaii, Texas, Florida, everywhere.

Attended California State - Long Beach, with a major in theater.

Went to the same high school as ex-Allies lead guitarist, Randy Thomas and actor/singer, Kirk Fogg.

Gilyard was a finalist for the role of Geordi LaForge on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (1987).

Personal Quotes

I grew up as an Air Force brat. My family moved around a lot. I entered the U.S. Air Force Academy after high school, but left after a year. I couldn't afford to stay at Sterling College in Kansas, where I played wide receiver for the football team, so I went to work and eventually moved back to California.

Why I got to do 13 straight years of network television and somebody else didn't, who knows?

It took me 10 years, but I eventually graduated from college, too.

[on his character in "Left Behind"]: I am blessed to be a part of the production and get to play this character. I'm not the best actor in the world, but even better, I get to help this character evolve. I think God wants me to be playing Bruce Barnes.

[Of his journeyman career]: I had been trying to make it in show business without any real vision. I was getting some success because I was a type - I had a quality that producers were looking for. But I wasn't controlling my destiny.

[on how he sees himself as a character outside of his faith]: As a Catholic Christian, people don't necessarily want to see you in that way, as a person, as a father, as someone called to marriage or as an artist.

[on why he would frequently grow his beard, outside of work]: If people look at you in an elevator long enough, they'll recognize you.

[on turning 50]: I really have to work hard to keep up with them.

[on being born Christmas Eve]: We did the best we could to make it a festive occasion, but I was always awed by what the kids in school said they got from Santa Claus. I couldn't quite bring myself to tell them about the boring underwear and socks I got year after year.

I knew that nobody in this business would ever ask to see my diploma - I did it for myself. I believe that the only way you can really change your life is to get new information. I also wanted to learn the classic, not fake them.

[when he wanted to be an actor] I knew it was the right choice from day one, then, through actor friends working at a restaurant where I was waiting tables at night.

I was a prodigal, and not learning a lot of healthy habits. I was doing a little drugs, drinking a lot, chasing women until my parents said, 'You've got to move out.'

[on Chuck Norris's, Cordell Walker]: There was really no one else in town who could play that character.

[on figuring out the many Catholics that get on their knees each day]: I don't know how many Catholics are aware of why we are on our knees in the presence of Jesus. That's where I needed to be. Mother Church allows that and informs us that way. It is one of the great gifts.

[In the wake of his misbehavior of his marriage]: My wife left me because I started to have an affair.

[When his role on "Walker, Texas Ranger" (1993) came to an end, after 8 1/2 seasons]: I wanted to start over. Also, I was going to work on my new marriage. After 15 straight years of network TV I knew that I couldn't put a young marriage through that.

[Of his spiritual talents]: To see those men do that was providential. It made me realize that artistically I have a lot of voices -- but how do I articulate all those voices unless I put my trust in some type of technique?

Where Are They Now

(September 2003) Has returned to college to get his Masters degree in Acting from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas.

(August 2006) He is an associate professor of theater at the University of Nevada - Las Vegas.