Personal life
Elena Gilyard is the second wife of an American actor, college professor, author, and producer, Clarence Gilyard. She is an American entrepreneur and social worker. Her husband is a Hollywood icon known for his unforgettable roles in blockbuster hits like Die Hard and Christmas on the Coast. Elena Gilyard was born in 1970 in the United States. She is a supportive wife and mother who stood firm with her husband until his death. Although she has lost her husband, she remains strong and is making remarkable achievements in her career. Here we will discuss her husband’s successful career.
Elena Gilyard’s husband, Clarence Gilyard
Clarence Gilyard was an American actor, college professor, author, and producer. He was one of the richest celebrities in America. He had a net worth of $5 million at the time of his death in 2022. Clarence Gilyard was best known for playing Conrad McMaster on Matlock (1989–1993) and Ranger James Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger (1993–2001). Gilyard had more than 30 acting credits to his name, including the films Top Gun (1986), The Karate Kid Part II (1986), Die Hard (1988), Left Behind: The Movie (2000), and A Matter of Faith (2014). He also appeared in TV shows like Diff’rent Strokes (1981), Chips (1982–1983), and The Duck Factory (1984). He also executive produced the 1999 film Boondoggle and directed the 1999 Walker, Texas Ranger episode Full Recovery. Gilyard published several books, such as The Dance of the Star (1990), Eagle in a Cage (1996), Melancholy in the Mirror (2002), and Memories of a Stranger Wanderer (2008). Clarence Gilyard was an Associate Professor in the College of Fine Arts–Department of Theatre at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Sadly, Clarence died on November 28, 2022, at the age of 66.
Clarence Gilyard was born Clarence Alfred Gilyard Jr. on December 24, 1955, in Moses Lake, Washington. He attended Eisenhower High School. After graduating in 1974, Clarence spent a year in the Air Force Academy, then he enrolled at Sterling College in Kansas. He moved to Long Beach, California, where he majored in acting at California State University, Long Beach. Gilyard then earned a bachelor’s degree from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and a Master of Fine Arts degree in theatre performance from Texas’ Southern Methodist University. Clarence moved to Los Angeles in 1979 to pursue an acting career. He landed a role in the play of Bleacher Bums. Gilyard made his TV debut on Diff’rent Strokes in 1981. He guest-starred on Making the Grade (1982), Riptide (1984), Simon & Simon (1986), 227 (1987), and The Facts of Life (1987). From 1982 to 1983, he played Officer Benjamin Webster in 20 episodes of NBC’s Chips. Gilyard appeared in the TV movies The Kid with the 200 I.Q. (1983), Things Are Looking Up (1984), Solomon’s Universe (1985), and L.A. Takedown (1989). Clarence appeared in the 1990 TV movie The Great Los Angeles Earthquake. He began teaching at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, in the College of Fine Arts–Department of Theatre.
