Clarence Gilliard Jr., star of Die Hard, Walker, Texas Ranger, dies at 66

by: Emily Mikkelsen, Nextstar Media

Posted by: Nov 29, 2022 / 07:26 am CST

Updated: Nov 29, 2022 / 07:36 am CST

(WGHP) — Actor Clarence Gilliard Jr., known for his roles in films such as Die Hard and hit TV shows such as Walker, Texas Ranger, has died.

The University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where Gilliard taught, announced his death on Monday. He was 66.

Gilliard has had an extensive career in film, television and theatre. He appeared on stage as Sundown in “Top Gun” and then as the computer antagonist Theo in “Die Hard.”

He had roles in Matlock and Walker Texas Ranger as Jimmy Trevett.

Gilliard was born in Washington and moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting in the late 1970s. When Walker, Texas Ranger ended in 2001, he took a break from acting to pursue an MFA degree.

In 2020, Gilliard returned as Villain Theo in a commercial for Advanced Auto Parts celebrating the acquisition of battery brand DieHard.

The cause of death has not been determined.