Clarence Gilyard Jr., the actor best known for playing computer hacker Theo in “Die Hard” and naval flight officer Marcus “Sundown” Williams in “Top Gun,” has died at the age of 66.
via: New York Post
The actor’s death was confirmed by the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, where he had been working as a film and theater professor at the UNLV College of Fine Arts.
“It is with profound sadness that I share this news,” Dean Nancy Uscher wrote in a post on Instagram. “His students were deeply inspired by him, as were all who knew him. He had many extraordinary talents and was extremely well-known in the university through his dedication to teaching and his professional accomplishments.”
Gilyard reportedly died of a “long illness,” though the details of his death are not yet clear.
Born in 1955 in Moses Lake, Washington, Gilyard made his movie debut opposite Tom Cruise in “Top Gun” (1986), in which he portrayed an elite fighter pilot named Marcus “Sundown” Williams.
The actor would go on to play Theo, Hans Gruber’s eccentric computer hacker who commandeers the Nakatomi Plaza’s security codes, opposite Bruce Willis as detective John McClane in “Die Hard” (1988).
Gilyard reprised his role as Theo when he appeared with Willis in a 2020 Advance Auto Parts ad hyping the brand’s DieHard car batteries. The two-minute spot featured Theo taking McClane on an action-packed mission to get a replacement battery for his dead car.
His other film roles include parts in “The Karate Kid Part II” and “Left Behind” movies, while his sprawling list of featured TV roles include appearances on “CHiPS,” “The Facts of Life,” “Diff’rent Strokes,” “227” and “Simon & Simon.”
Along with his supporting work on the big and small screens, Gilyard had recurring roles in several hit TV shows, most notably starring as Conrad McMasters in “Matlock” and as James “Jimmy” Trivette in the Western drama “Walker, Texas Ranger.” In the latter, he played the right-hand man to Chuck Norris’ no-nonsense Sergeant Walker.
In 2006, Gilyard departed Hollywood to join the theater department at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, as an associate professor.
“I’m wired to teach. And I’m a professional, but the profession has to feed the classroom,” said Gilyard, reflecting on his career shift in an interview with the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2017. “It’s what stimulates my characters, because I’m in touch with people’s lives in the 21st century.”
He added, “I work best as an artist when I’m in a fertile arena. That means creative and imaginative. Being with all those millennials — I don’t understand what they’re saying, but I’m siphoning off their energy.”
He continued to take roles when the challenge proved impossible to resist.
In 2016, Gilyard earned acclaim as Hoke Colburn in the University of New Mexico’s Popejoy Hall’s Neil Simon Festival production of the play “Driving Miss Daisy,” opposite his former “Walker, Texas Ranger” co-star Sheree J. Wilson.
In the 2018 edition of the football video game “Madden NFL,” Gilyard played high school coach Devin Wade in the “Longshot” section of the game.
Although he had decades of professional TV and film experience to his credit, it was his work as an educator that meant the most, according to his peers.
“Some may find it surprising to know that Clarence valued his appointment as a university professor as highly, maybe higher, than his illustrious career as a TV star,” said fellow UNLV theater professor Nate Bynum in a statement. “It was a major goal for him. He loved his UNLV family and, in particular, the students he instructed in his classroom. Gone too soon.”
The Washingtonian’s fans and admirers were crestfallen over his loss.
“Professor Gilyard was a beacon of light and strength for everyone around him,” UNLV film department chair Heather Addison said. “Whenever we asked him how he was, he would cheerfully declare that he was ‘Blessed!’ ”
She added, “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!”
“Clarence Gilyard has passed away,” tweeted fellow actor Chris Reed. “RIP to a legendary screen presence.”
https://twitter.com/Chrisreed619/status/1597446507879243776?s=20&t=f1c-UNrGKdAoZyLDu0ekXA
Film critic Christopher Lawrence also paid homage: “This is going to make my annual Christmas viewing of ‘Die Hard’ — which is most definitely a Christmas movie — infinitely more sad.”
This is going to make my annual Christmas viewing of “Die Hard” — which is most definitely a Christmas movie — infinitely more sad.https://t.co/0Pja7DEGgY
— Christopher Lawrence (@Life_OnTheCouch) November 29, 2022
RIP.
