Elena Gilyard was the wife of Clarence Darnell Gilyard Jr. a university professor, actor, and author from the United States. The couple had been married since 2001 until his death.

Gilyard was best known for his roles as Conrad McMasters, Ben Matlock’s second private investigator and right-hand man, on the legal drama series Matlock from 1989 to 1993.

Pastor Bruce Barnes in the Left Behind film trilogy; and Cordell Walker’s  Texas Ranger partner, James “Jimmy” Trivette, in the 1990s crime series.

He was an associate professor in the University of Nevada, Las Vegas’ College of Fine Arts – Department of Theatre. He worked as a consultant for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops’ communications committee.

Clarence Gilyard passed away on November 28, 2022.  He was 66. According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, the University of Nevada, Las Vegas College of Fine Arts, where Gilyard taught, he had been ill for quite some time. No additional information was provided.