Discovery Company. PMC Entertainment. Norris was, of course, well-known for his action movie career, while Clarence Gillyard (Walker's partner, James Trivette), Sheree J. Wilson (ADA and Walker's love interest) and Noble Willingham (retired Ranger and font of inspiration) had all enjoyed long careers that made them familiar, if not entirely famous faces. A prime example being when hes talking to racists in Season 2s Deadly Reunion. I mean, Chuck doesnt have to waste his manners on hateful people! He was sent to live on a Cherokee reservation with his uncle, World. Peeples also snagged a role as Karen Taylor on the popular soap opera The Young and the Restless. Chuck made sure his character set a good example of model living. ET In the series premiere of Walker, Cordell and his family are fractured as they confront their unresolved grief with the death of his wife, Emily ( Genevieve Padalecki ). Running Wolf was an ideal role for Drago, who spent much of his long career playing a wide array of villains. He had many extraordinary talents and was extremely well-known in the university through his dedication to teaching and his professional accomplishments., Whenever we asked him how he was, he would cheerfully declare that he was Blessed! But we are truly the ones who were blessed to be his colleagues and students for so many years, she added. While he's not a police officer, Malloy's skills help Walker and company bring down a number of criminals. Walker has to make a legit life change or series of life changes to try and change the trajectory of whats been happening in these first 13 episodes.. As shes saying goodbye to Captain James. Texas Through and Through It might come as a shock for some, but Texas isn't actually the most popular filming location. Everyone say, thank you, Walker!, The eyes of the ranger are upon you. The Channel 5 news anchor hit back after Piers had accused him of . Gilyard appeared as the character Sundown in the 1986 film " Top Gun " prior to starring as Theo in 1988's "Die Hard." Walker's attention is divided in this episode between pursuing Cobb and tending to both son and mother, who is herself dying from AIDS. If you like TVLine, you'll LOVE our email news alerts! As of this writing, Walker will resume production in October, and CW is eyeing a 2021 release date for the series. The University of Nevada Las Vegas College of Fine Arts, where Gilyard taught, announced his death Monday afternoon, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. In their joint statement, the CW and CBS Studios hinted that Morgan could return to the series for guest appearances. David Lynch cast him as the malevolent Jean Renault on "Twin Peaks," while Quentin Tarantino and Robert Rodriguez tapped him to play a different sort of Texas Ranger, Earl McGraw, in "From Dusk Till Dawn." Although Sanchez hasn't had a lot of huge roles, he has managed to carve out a good acting career by appearing on a solid variety of well-beloved TV shows. Her hit songs "Trouble" and "Street of Dreams" were highly popular in the late '80s. Taylor also found time to appear in four episodes of "Walker, Texas Ranger" as Alex's estranged lawyer dad, Gordon Cahill. Just step into a studio, put up a screen, build a room, and you got yourselfanywhere! For Walker painful memories about the time with Ellen return. Musician turned actor Floyd Red Crow Westerman played the elder Raymond on "Walker." Season 6's "The Soul of Winter" found Walker protecting Pastor Roscoe Jones, who has been targeted by white supremacist Stan Gorman (played by character actor R.D. Gilyard dropped out of college and appeared in minor television roles in series including Diffrent Strokes. An action-oriented modern-day Western about a Lone Star lawman who relies on martial arts to subdue bad guys. 's absence from the series was written off as health issues, later revealed to be the result of a poisoning. He was 66 years old. By Michael LaForgia and Jennifer Valentino-DeVries. His first "Walker" guest shot was Season 4's "The Avenger," which cast him as Caleb Hooks, the brother of an arms dealer killed by Walker who kidnaps the ranger and forces him to fight against his team of mercenaries. What Happened To The Cast Of Walker, Texas Ranger? Tragedy once again struck the Walker family during Thursdays episode, when Clint stabbed Hoyt (played by Matt Barr) in the abdomen during a shootout at the ranch. Vlada Gelman / Actor James Drury had a long history with television Westerns: he was the star of "The Virginian," one of the small screen's most popular shoot-em-ups from 1962 to 1971. Avery Thompson. For decades most hit TV shows, no matter the setting was filmed in Los Angeles. Drago's final screen role was the 2014 indie "The Dance"; he died of complications from a stroke on June 24, 2019 at the age of 73. Next to its sweeping landscapes and sweeping roundhouse kicks, You could tell who the bad guys were because they would drive cars from Ford or GM. Walker fans, what did you think of the tragic twist? After starting a gunfight with Clint and his men, it appears that Walker and his family are finally out of harm's way. After completing his run on "Walker," Westerman remained active in features and on television, including episodes of "The X-Files" and "Dharma and Greg.". Walker already felt guilty about Emily, as did Geri, since she was there that night when Emily lost her life, Padalecki says. Gilyard had been suffering from a long illness, the University of . James played Rafer Cobb, a scurrilous drug dealer with a sick girlfriend (Mackenzie Phillips) and a young son (played by a pre-fame Haley Joel Osment) with AIDS. A number of Native American actors appeared in guest roles on "Walker" during its network run. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much Romero, who began his career in the 1960s as an opera singer before moving into acting, played tribal Judge Henry Fivekills in Season 6's "Tribe" and Season 7's "War Cry," before returning to play a shaman who transports Walker back in time in Season 8's "Way of the Warrior." Born Clarence Darnell Gilyard Jr. in 1955 in Moses Lake, Washington, he grew up as an Air Force brat. RELATED: Walker, Texas Ranger Cast Then And Now 2021. He had been suffering from a long illness. Jimmy cringes and turns it off before Norris cranks it back on, insisting its good. His death was announced by the College of Fine Arts at the University of Nevada in Las Vegas, where the comedian was a professor of film . And just like Walker, Norris learned how cruel people could be at a young age. In 1986, Gilyard made his film debut in Top Gun, in which he played Sundown, one of the elite fighter pilots. Although Floyd "Red Crow" Westerman was almost 60 when he joined the cast of Walker, Texas Ranger, he had only been acting for about five years. What a strong cast! Of course, fans of the show know Walker was able to reconcile with his family fairly quickly in the first half of the season, but now that Emily's killer has been found it seems like the two biggest story arcs from the beginning have been resolved. Taylor was a versatile presence in features for more than five decades. Drago parlayed his Native American heritage into early roles in TV Westerns like 1979's "The Chisholms" before staking his claim as a movie gangster, psychopath, or thug. You can tell whenever hes talking to someone he doesnt cotton with because Walker wont take off his hat or shake the persons hand. Bruce then made him a household name by bringing Norris along for 1973s Way of the Dragon. Copyright 2023 Distractify. And where did these steely heroes draw the line? Its following has remained firm in the years since its cancellation so much so, in fact, that the show has merited a reboot. All this set Norris up to follow the Way of the Ranger. Emily Walker is a guest character on The CW crime drama series, Walker. Lindsey Morgan as Micki. She was the late wife of Cordell Walker and the mother of Stella and August Walker. of countries, youd think we know all there is about the series. A lot of this came from Norris himself. Gilyards acting credits also include The Karate Kid Part II, CHiPS and the Left Behind films. C.D. When Geri decides to sell the bar, it throws Walker through a loop. Very fitting for the show he may be best known for. Mills also had a role as Deputy Roe on season one of HBO's Westworld. He was 66. Im wired to teach. Is Abishola Going There? Padalecki, who plays Walker 's titular Texas Ranger, is executive-producing the project alongside Anna Fricke, Seamus Fahey, Dan Lin and Lindsey Liberatore. If you or anyone you know is struggling with addiction issues, help is available. Walker rose above a tragic start when his family was murdered in front of him. So Norris made sure to put all that into his character. Subscribe for full access to The Hollywood Reporter. Willingham played Parker through the second-to-last season of Walker in 2000, when he called it quits in order to run for the U.S. House of Representatives. He was also a hard-working guest star on numerous television series, including appearances on "Walker" in 1996 and 1999. How much of this sweeping epic is rooted in reality? Pam sets up a major source of conflict in the show by having Emily's girlfriend Maya sent away on the pretext of marijuana possession, as she is unable to accept her daughter's sexuality. An early exception was Walker starting off using a GMC Sierra before switching to a Dodge Ram As for CD Parkers Old Goldie, thats a 1964 Cadillac convertible. During their time together, Norris mentioned his school was facing financial hardship, and it was the King of Cool McQueen himself, who suggested he get into acting. He was 66. Clarence Gilyard, the actor best known for playing computer hacker Theo in Die Hard and naval flight officer Marcus Sundown Williams in Top Gun, has died at the age of 66. Andy was funny and a raconteur and a craftsman. He was 66. Willingham also made a number of guest appearances on popular '80s shows such as Dallas, where he played a U.S. That became Norriss official entry into acting. In 1986, Gilyard segued onto the big screen as a naval officer in Top Gun, and was featured in 1988s Die Hard. Fort Worth has plenty of secrets worth revisiting, and thats where we come in. Replacing the fired Kene Holliday, Gilyard played Ben Matlocks second private investigator in nearly every episode from seasons four to seven, with guest appearances in season eight, for a total of 96 episodes. And Chucks brother Aaron Norris worked as the stunt coordinator for the film. Haggis only worked on the series for two weeks, all of it without a bit of love for how things were playing out. No details surrounding his death have been made. So now we wanna hear from you. The other key to the show's success was its likable cast of familiar faces. Seven years later, he earned an Emmy nomination for playing Dr. Martin Luther King in the TV biopic "King," and finally earned the Emmy in 1995 as Judge Harold Nance on "Picket Fences.". Drury died of natural causes on April 6 of that year at the age of 85. An up-and-coming actor in the late '80s and early '90s, James Wlcek previously held supporting roles in the twilight years of Ryan's Hope, a popular soap opera which ran from the mid '70s until 1989, as well as the more popular and longer-running As the World Turns. But It probably wouldnt have changed co-creator Paul Haggis attitude about it, which was pure hatred. The ad saw Gilyard reunite with Die Hard co-star Bruce Willis and Devoreaux White (limo driver Argyle). published February 01, 2021 There's almost no way that anyone who hears the name Walker won't think of Chuck Norris and his long-time stint on Walker, Texas Ranger. In Episode 6 of the CW drama, Cordell's brother Liam (Keegan Allen) teams up with Captain Larry James (Coby Bell) to investigate a lead about her murder in Mexico. A loose remake of, for the CW network, drew 2.44 million viewers for its premiere, which is the highest same-day viewership for the network since 2016s, . CNN Clarence Gilyard, the actor best known for playing computer hacker Theo in " Die Hard " and naval flight officer Marcus "Sundown" Williams in " Top Gun ," has died at the age of 66. Another Native American actor, Ned Romero, also appeared in four episodes of "Walker." By using our Services, you agree to our use of cookies. James, who was also a staple of episodic TV and animated series he voiced Parasite in "Superman: The Animated Series" died of a heart attack at the age of 54 on August 7, 1999. Walker, Texas Ranger (1993) Action, Adventure, Crime, Drama . Senator, The A-Team, and even an episode of Star Trek: The Next Generation. NFL - Former Panthers owner . Cahill's alcoholism caused the split between daughter and father, which he worked overtime to repair in the four episodes, beginning with Season 5's "Redemption." By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. These included James Drury, who played Ranger Captain Tom Price; Lou Hancock, who played Mabel Shoop; boxer turned actor Randall "Tex" Cobb, and numerous others, including multi-hyphenate Russ Marker. In 2021, the . Warning: The following contains spoilers for Thursdays Walker. These included the aforementioned Floyd Red Crow Westerman and Eloy Casados, as well as August Schellenberg, Branscombe Richmond, Billy Drago, Michael Greyeyes, Adam Beach, and Norris himself, who shared Walker's half-Native American heritage in real life. He also pulls the "let's play a game" bad guy card by offering Walker baffling clues as to their whereabouts. And for even more real inspiration, Wade Harper, who played Robert Fuller, was himself a retired El Paso ranger. Mills brought a breath of fresh air to the show, and lasted until the series' finale in 2001. With big names from iconic '80s movies like Chuck Norris and Clarence Gilyard filling out the cast, in addition to emerging talents like Nia Peeples, there's a lot to like about this classic '90s show. Tarantino had Parks reprise the role in both volumes of "Kill Bill" and in "Grindhouse," while Kevin Smith parlayed Parks' cult quotient for major roles in "Red State" and the undeniably weird "Tusk.". He. However, shooting halted amid coronavirus concerns. Wilson also played large roles in Christmas Belle and A Mermaid for Christmas, with the former currently available to stream on Hulu. The original series ran from 1993 . Walker is still obsessed with his wife's death, and we see him constantly flipping a poker chip that she had on her the night of her death. Though, Or, I should say, they almost appeared in. And the fans are still out there too. Walker rose above a tragic start when his family was murdered in front of him. A Warner Bros. Hooper would reunite Perryman almost two decades later and cast him as radio engineer L.G., who is skinned alive by Leatherface, in "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre 2.". Between these projects were roles in high-profile features like "Argo" (as comic book artist icon Jack Kirby) and "The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford." More roles soon followed in films like "Down and Out in Beverly Hills" and "White Men Can't Jump," as well as numerous guest appearances on series, including recurring roles on "King of the Hill" (as Hank Hill's down trodden co-worker, Enrique), "Shameless," and "Longmire.". Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. After all, monsters check under THEIR beds for Norris, and thats thanks to his black belts in multiple disciplines. Gilyards first film appearance came in 1986 and was the not-insignificant role of Lieutenant Junior Grade Marcus Sundown Williams, one of the elite fighter pilots in Tony Scotts monster hit Top Gun. Trey is understanding, but later that night, at a holiday event, they argue about their relationship. He can't figure out what the chip has to do with his wife but makes it his mission to find its connection and solve the mystery of Emily's untimely death. , he called up his old friend. Its what stimulates my characters because Im in touch with peoples lives in the 21st century, Gilyard told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in 2017. Walker runs into Geri during the episode, and the two talk about how she still doesn't have answers . 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Walker, a martial artist, and his partner Trivette are Texas Rangers. Willingham died in his sleep of natural causes at the age of 72 in Palm Springs, California on January 17, 2004. Walker premieres Jan. 21 and stars Supernatural alum, Jared Padalecki , as the titular character in the Walker, Texas Ranger reboot. He took up the role of former Texas Ranger and bar owner CD Parker, who frequently offers advice to Cordell Walker, and occasionally assists him on cases. He died from a heart attack shortly before his 85th birthday on January 7, 2015. [2] Contents 1 Cast and characters 1.1 Main 1.2 Recurring 2 Episodes It was hail and farewell to Texas Ranger Micki Ramirez (Lindsey Morgen) in tonight's Walker midseason finale. , where Norris first showed his potential as a ranger alongside LQ Jones, R. G. Armstrong, and William Sanderson. No further deta Well, really, all on Chuck Norris, as he was the face of Walker, Texas Rangerin every possible way, from starring as the titular lead to being an executive producer for the main series and the spinoff. . For one thing, he explained, quote, You always want to try to quit as a winner. For another, he needed to focus on another impending triumph for his whole family: Norriss wife was pregnant, and so, the shows life ended as two new lives came into this world, as Chucks wife gave birth to twins in 2001. He played Chief Ten Bears in "Dances with Wolves," and the mysterious shaman who followed singer Jim Morrison in Oliver Stone's "The Doors." He would teach me comic timing.. Mills came onto the series late, only appearing in the final two seasons. Clarence Gilyard, the veteran actor who had notable roles in Die Hard, Matlock and Walker, Texas Ranger before becoming a theater professor and author, has died. In addition to his acting career, which included a minor appearance in "Bonnie and Clyde," Marker wrote, directed, and produced a handful of low-budget science fiction and horror films, all produced in the Texas area. He was 66. for nearly all of the "Walker" network run. Everyone say, thank you, Walker!, The eyes of the ranger are upon you. Morgans Micki Ramirez was Walkers new partner, one of the first women in Texas Rangers history. He did, however, make a brief return to the screen in 2021, when he reunited with Bruce Willis and Devoreaux White for a Die Hard battery commercial. Romero remained active well into the 1990s and new millennium, appearing in everything from the daytime soap "Santa Barbara" to "Roswell" and two additional "Star Trek" franchise series, "The Next Generation" and "Voyager." He was sent to live on a Cherokee reservation with his uncle, World War II veteran Raymond Firewalker. The episode finds Walker investigating reports of evil spirits on Native American burial land. Well, really, all on Chuck Norris, as he was the face of Walker, Texas Ranger in every possible way, from starring as the titular lead to being an executive producer for the main series and the spinoff. In Austin, he played alongside legends like . 's boots and remained a member of the main cast until Season 7, when he left the series to make an unsuccessful bid for the U.S. House of Representatives. The action-drama series "Walker,Texas Ranger" (1993-2001) was a ratings magnet for CBS , remaining in or just below the Top 40 in the Nielsen ratings for nearly all of its eight season run on the network. Back at Rangers HQ, Micki leaves her gun and badge and a letter for Walker. He keeps talking bout how she can't sell her bar to the ranger and Cordell. The Walker, Texas Ranger reboot series starring Supernatural 's Jared Padalecki is currently wrapping up its sophomore outing, with the last two episodes set to air on March 31 and April 7. Now is as good of a time as any to take a look at what happened to those memorable actors, so let's take a moment to catch up with the cast of the original Walker, Texas Ranger. Prior to joining the series, Willingham had acted in successful films such as Paper Moon, where he played Mr. Robertson, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, where he played the owner of the Miami Dolphins, and Good Morning, Vietnam, where he had Private Cronauer's back as General Taylor. But Rocco makes the most of it, as he did in roles both big and small over the course of his four-decade career as an actor. These included the offbeat thriller "The Yesterday Machine," in which Nazis use time travel in an attempt to win World War II, and "Night Fright," about a monster created by NASA experiments. Nellie Andreeva contributed to this report. At 53 years old, he spends his off time with his three kids and enjoys hunting, fishing, and Taekwondo! And the heroes of course had keys to a sparkling Dodge, and the ones destined to fall, well they drove Chevys. Turns out, this is a very real prize with a very noble backstory. He even refuses to confide in Walker. The character was played by another actor (fellow Lone Star State performer Gailard Sartain) in the pilot, but Willingham stepped into C.D. It was built by a gunfighter named Luke Short, who had been friends with the likes of Old West lawman Wyatt Earp, Doc Holiday, and Bat Masterson. Parents could feel engrossed the whole time, but if their kids wanted to watch, too, they could! Although Norris seems to have wound down his acting career since The Expendables 2hit theaters in 2012, he has continued to make guest appearances on TV shows such as The Goldbergs, Hawaii Five-0, and even TNA iMPACT! All Rights Reserved. But the commitment to my family and my wife is paramount. WALKER, TEXAS RANGER, 1993-2001, Judson Mills (left) and Chuck Norris, 2001 / Everett Collection. Wrestling,which is similar to the WWE. However, he did reprise his role as Theo from Die Hard in an Advance Auto Parts commercial. They definitely did something right to get 9 Seasons of Walker, plus syndication, reruns, airtimes in hundreds of countries, youd think we know all there is about the series. Tue 29 Nov 2022 09.22 EST. The autopsy concluded that the child died of dehydration and pneumonia. Ever since, she has chosen to focus on film. Helena Bonham Carter voices support for JK Rowling and Johnny Depp. Already having enjoyed a long acting career, Walker, Texas Ranger proved to be the perfect send off for Noble Willingham. Chuck Norris played Cordell Walker, the titular Texas Ranger. and logged his final on-screen appearance in the 2017 film "Don't Sleep." I think they both share insane guilt. All Rights Reserved. Of course, Padalecki currently has a packed roster with the forthcoming end of Supernatural, which is set to air its final episodes starting October 8. Rocco made his movie debut in Russ Meyer's 1965 exploitation thriller "Motorpsycho!" Somehow, Emily's best friend Geri (Odette Annable) may be connected to the murder. Wilson's Cahill also serves as the romantic interest for Chuck Norris' Walker, with the two eventually getting married. appreciated. All three of those other actors appeared in Walker, Texas Ranger. The widow of a former Boston College professor who died with Parkinson's disease, among other ailments, has written of how she allowed her husband to die of thirst and starvation. Haggis only worked on the series for two weeks, all of it without a bit of love for how things were playing out. As an actor, Perryman was best known for supporting roles in Lone Star State-lensed indies by director Eagle Pennell, including 1983's "Last Night at the Alamo." In 2021, the actor reunited with Bruce Willis, as they both reprised their Die Hard roles for a Super Bowl commercial. All this set Norris up to follow the Way of the Ranger. Between these assignments, Winfield kept extraordinarily busy in numerous projects, ranging from "The Terminator" and "Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan" to Don King in "Tyson" and the Don King-esque Lucius Sweet on "The Simpsons." Hes also the only person to actually call Walker by his first name consistently. Distractify is a registered trademark. Walker's unsubtle butt-kicking ways are often at odds with those of his partners, who. "A Bug's Life," and "The Wedding Planner." His students were deeply inspired by him, as were all who knew him. For Mick, that means heading back home to San Antonio. He is a smart, slightly smug, but with a strong moral compass, Liam is Walker's younger gay and liberal brother who has been recently promoted to assistant DA. Did you encounter any technical issues? Please watch: "10 Actors from The Jeffersons who have died" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6DZ_mRGufA --~--Walker Texas ranger was an American action crime. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Walker, a martial artist, and his partner Trivette are Texas Rangers. Clarence Gilyard Jr., the actor best known for playing computer hacker . 321. March 31, 2021 11:46pm. 2023 The Hollywood Reporter, LLC. Cookies help us deliver our Services. Luckily, Geri appears once again at the last second and manages to shoot Cali dead, saving Walker and avenging her late best friend. Hot Fire Duo? Alex Cahill, being responsible for prosecuting all of the baddies Walker and Trivette capture. He then portrayed Chuck Norris crime-fighting partner Jimmy Trivette on Walker, Texas Ranger., Pete Davidson and Emily Ratajkowski spotted at Knicks game. The two men became fast friends, and in four episodes of the series beginning with Season 2's "Plague" Sam lent Walker a hand in solving tough crimes, including the pursuit of a dangerous drug dealer in Season 6's two-parter, "Lucas. While Wilson hasn't acted in a big name TV show since Walker, Texas Ranger, it's clear her acting career isn't slowing down anytime soon. One troubling case from 2021 remains under review, according to the inspector general's audit. Cali was working on transporting drugs across the border at the same time Emily was doing humanitarian work, and being in the wrong place at the wrong time led to her tragic death at Cali's hands. People Are Already in Love With 'Walker,' and It's No Surprise Why, Jared Padalecki's Real Wife Plays His Fictional Wife in the 'Walker' Reboot, Spencer Shemwell Shares the Tragic Story of His First Wife on 'The Blended Bunch'. Bruce then made him a household name by bringing Norris along for 1973s. "Walker" marked his final TV acting work, though he appeared in a handful of independent features in the 2000s. Gilyard stepped away from acting in 2006 to pursue his master's in theater at Southern Methodist University. Born December 24, 1955 into a military family in Moses Lake, Washington, Clarence Gilyard Jr. got a start as an actor on television in guest appearances on series like Diffrent Strokes, CHiPS, Riptide, Simon and Simon, 227 and The Facts of Life. After appearing in Die Hard, Gilyard focused mainly on television work and did not have another prominent movie role until he landed the part of Bruce Barnes in the faith-based franchise Left Behind. The veteran film, TV and stage performer also was a university professor and author. And Chucks brother Aaron Norris worked as the stunt coordinator for the film. While Gilyard eventually returned to acting in 2012, it has mostly been in small films such as Little Monsters and a Matter of Faith. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. After Walker, Texas Ranger wrapped up its final season, Gilyard took up the role of Pastor Bruce Barnes in the early 2000sLeft Behindmovies, which deal with what happens to those abandoned in the aftermath of the Christian rapture. Norris starred in the action series as Cordell Walker, who came back for the TV movie Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire. Updated. The pastor helped put Gorman behind bars, but the revenge spree continues after his release. The film and television actor Clarence Gilyard - who was known for supporting roles in the movies Top Gun and Die Hard and . Along with Liam Walker (Keegan Allen), who is shot by Clint West and his men, Hoyt Rawlins also finds himself in danger of losing his life. Interestingly the woman who runs the gallery is the niece of the man who confessed to Emily's murder. Published Dec 9, 2021. . Marker, who in later years focused on writing, died in Dallas on February 22, 2010. The Hollywood Reporter is a part of Penske Media Corporation. That means creative and imaginative. Born in Austin and a guitarist from the age of 12, Gary Clark Jr.'s music spans rock, blues, soul, and R&B. You could tell who the bad guys were because they would drive cars from Ford or GM. Clarence Gilyard Jr., the actor best known for playing computer hacker Theo in "Die Hard" and naval flight officer Marcus "Sundown" Williams in "Top Gun," has died at the age of 66. Gilyard's first long-running part on television was on CHiPs as Officer . According to Padalecki, Walker was slated to begin production in April. Chuck Norriss former martial arts student and later acting mentor Steve McQueen once advised him, quote, put as much of yourself into the character as possible. Walker, Texas Ranger let quite a few actors do that. On why he moved into teaching, Gilyard told the Review-Journal, I met my wife, got married, then we had kids, and my first two children didnt have me.