Biography
) might have been expected to follow in his father's stead. Originally, he attended the US Air Force Academy, but transferred after one year to Sterling College where he played football and first began acting. In 1980, the lanky actor relocated to L.A. and began to pursue an acting career in earnest, first in children's theater. Later, Gilyard became the first black actor to undertake the role of the cheerleader in "Bleacher Bums" before he …
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Career Milestones
| Began acting career working in children's theater | ||
| Began making guest appearances on shows like "227" and "Simon and Simon" | ||
| Joined cast of "Bleacher Bums"; became first black actor to play role of the cheerleader | ||
| Joined cast of the NBC series "CHiPs" in its final season | ||
| Played regular role of Conrad McMaster, legman for Andy Griffith's lawyer Ben Matlock in the CBS series "Matlock"; also reprised the role in several made-for-television movies | ||
| Portrayed partner of "Walker, Texas Ranger" on the long-running CBS series | ||
| Raised in a military family on bases in Hawaii, Texas and Florida | ||
1980 | Moved to L.A. | |
1984 | Co-starred in the short-lived NBC sitcom "The Duck Factory" | |
1986 | Feature film acting debut, "Top Gun" | |
1988 | Portrayed one of the terrorists in the thriller "Die Hard" | |
1990 | Had featured role in "The Big One: The Great Los Angeles Earthquake" | |
2000 | Portrayed a minister in the direct-to-video release "Left Behind"; released theatrically in 2001 | |