- Clarence Gilyard Jr. was an actor, author, and university professor.
- He starred in the original film Top Gun.
- He died at the age of 66.
actor Clarence Gilyard Jr. died at the age of 66. The University of Nevada at Las Vegas, where Clarence was a professor, loudly confirmed his death in a statement Nov. 28 diversity. “Professor Gilyard was a beacon and a beacon to everyone around him,” said UNLV film director Heather Addison. “Whenever we asked him how he was doing, he cheerfully declared he was ‘blessed!’ But we are truly the ones who have been blessed to be his colleagues and disciples for so many years. We love you and will miss you very much, Professor G!”
Clarence is best known for starring in the original top gun movie with Tom cruise. He has also appeared on several popular television shows including Walker, Texas Ranger. To learn more about Clarence, read on below!
Clarence comes from a military family.
Clarence was born into a military family in Washington State. His father Clarence Gilyard Sr. was an officer in the US Air Force. Clarence grew up at Air Force bases in Hawaii, Texas, and Florida before moving to San Bernardino, California, where he attended high school.
His first film was Top Gun.
Clarence played Lieutenant Junior Grade Marcus ‘Sundown’ Williams in 1986 top gun. the movie with tom cruise, Kelly McGillis, Val Kilmerand Anthony Edwards. Clarence did not appear in the 2022 sequel film, Top Gun: Maverickwhich became the most successful film of the year with over 1.4 billion US dollars worldwide.
Clarence’s other most notable film role is Bruce Willis‘ Die Hard, where he played terrorist computer genius Theo. On TV, Clarence Ranger played James Trivette in the action crime series Walker, Texas Ranger. He also starred in the legal drama series Matlock as Conrad McMasters.
He was a university professor.
Before his death, Clarence was a professor of film and theater at the UNLV College of Fine Arts. He joined the theater department back in 2006 biography At university, Clarence took a professional sabbatical and earned his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) in theater performance from Southern Methodist University in 2003 before beginning teaching.
He was an author.
Clarence wrote ten books in his life. his first book The Dance of the Starwas released in 1990. his last book red lightsappeared in 2011.
He had six children.
Clarence was the proud father of six children from two marriages. He was divorced from his first wife, Catherine Dutch. He married his second wife Elena, in 2001 and they were still together at the time of his death. Clarence spoke about his commitment to his family in an interview with Las Vegas Review Journal in November 2017.
“I met my wife, got married, then we had kids, and my first two kids didn’t have me,” Clarence said. “I’ve been an actor the whole time – 15 straight years on TV. But my commitment to my family and my wife comes first. I knew if I didn’t work on the marriage, it wouldn’t work.”