Die Hard and Walker, Texas Ranger star Clarence Gilyard dies aged 66-Sabrina Barr-Entertainment – Metro

The actor starred as James ‘Jimmy’ Trivette in Walker, Texas Ranger (Picture: CBS Photo Archvie/Getty Images)

Clarence Gilyard Jr, best-known for his roles in productions including Walker, Texas Ranger and Die Hard, has died at the age of 66.

The news of the actor’s death was confirmed by University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where he worked as a film and theatre professor at UNLV College of Fine Arts.

In a statement seen by Variety, UNLV film chair Heather Addison said: ‘Professor Gilyard was a beacon of light and strength for everyone around him.

‘Whenever we asked him how he was, he would cheerfully declare that he was “Blessed!” But we are truly the ones who were blessed to be his colleagues and students for so many years. We love you and will miss you dearly, Professor G!’

From 1993 to 2001, Gilyard starred opposite Chuck Norris in Walker, Texas Ranger as his partner James ‘Jimmy’ Trivette, a role that he reprised in spin-offs Walker Texas Ranger 3: Deadly Reunion, Sons of Thunder and Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire.

In 1988, he starred in the classic Bruce Willis movie Die Hard, portraying computer hacker Theo, who worked for Alan Rickman’s villain Hans Gruber.

Gilyard alongside his Walker, Texas Ranger co-stars Judson Mills and Chuck Norris (Picture: CBS via Getty Images)

Gilyard’s role as Theo is well-remembered from Die Hard (Picture: Landmark Media/Alamy Stock Photo)

Having moved to Los Angeles in the late 1970s to pursue a career as an actor, Gilyard made his movie debut in Top Gun in 1986, taking on the part of Marcus ‘Sundown’ Williams.

He also appeared as private investigator Conrad McMasters in the legal drama Matlock from 1989 to 1993, opposite Andy Griffith as the titular character Ben Matlock.

While Gilyard was born in Washington on December 24 1955, he spent much of his early life moving across various air bases in the US, given his father Clarence Gilyard Sr was a US Air Force officer.

The Top Gun star went on to become a film and theatre professor (Picture: CBS via Getty Images)

The actor pictured in 2018 (Picture: Arlene Richie/Rex/Shutterstock)

His military family later settled in California, before the actor attended the Air Force Academy for a year, before earning a bachelor’s degree in acting from California State University.

Two years ago, Gilyard reprised his role as Theo from Die Hard opposite Willis in an advert for Advance Auto Parts’ DieHard brand of car batteries.

Gilyard was married twice, with his first marriage to Catherine Dutko ending in divorce.

The actor had six children and married his second wife, named Elena, in 2001.

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