Clarence Gillard Jr., a prolific actor best known for his pivotal, series-long role on “Walker, Texas Ranger,” and for his scene-stealing appearances as heist crew hacker Theo in “Die Hard,” died Monday from a prolonged illness. Died after. , He was 66 years old.
In addition to her acclaimed career, Gillard was a professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. “Professor Gillard was a beacon of light and strength to all those around her. Whenever we asked her how she was, she would gleefully declare that she was ‘Blessed!’ But we are indeed the ones who had the privilege of being his colleagues and students for so many years. We love you and will miss you, Professor! UNLV Film Chair Heather Addison said in a statement on Monday.
The Las Vegas Review-Journal first reported the news.
Born in Moses Lake, Washington in 1955, Gillard eventually moved to California as a young man, where he studied acting at California State University, Dominguez Hills. He began acting regularly with roles in TV shows including “Diff’rent Strokes” in the late 1970s and early 1980s, and a main cast role during the final season of “Chips” in 1983.
In 1988 he played Theo, a hacker working for Hans Gruber’s heist crew – notably the only member of the crew to survive the film – in “Die Hard”. The following year he joined the cast of “Matlock” as private investigator Conrad McMasters, a role he played until 1993. In 1993 he was cast as James “Jimmy” Trivette, Walker’s fellow ranger and best friend. He remained with the show throughout its run until it ended in 2001, and returned in 2005 for a “Walker” TV movie.
Other notable film and television roles include a leading role in “The Karate Kid Part II” and the first two “Left Behind” movies.
Gillard began teaching college after Walker finished, and taught theater at UNLV’s College of Fine Arts at the time of her death. He was married twice and had 6 children.