Clarence_Gilyard--Andy_Griffith

Clarence Alfred Gilyard Jr. (December 24, 1955 – November 28, 2022) was an American actor, author and academic. He was best known to television audiences for his roles as private investigator Conrad McMasters on the legal drama series Matlock (1986–95) and Texas Ranger Jimmy Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001).
Gilyard was also known for his supporting roles in the 1980s action films Top Gun, as Radar Intercept Officer "Sundown", and Die Hard, as terrorist computer expert Theo. He was an associate professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas from 2006 until his death in 2022.