This week, The Interview came from National Catholic Register
and was distributed by Zenit News Service, a Vatican-connected
agency.
An actor whose movie credits include Top Gun and Die Hard,
Clarence Gilyard now co-stars with Chuck Norris on American TVs
Walker, Texas Ranger. Gilyard attends daily Mass whenever he
can during grueling production hours. He converted to the Catholic
faith eight years ago and says it changed his life.
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Question: Where did you grow up and how did you enter the acting
field?
Clarence Gilyard: I grew up as an Air Force brat. My family moved around a lot.
I entered the U.S. Air Force Academy after high school, but left
after a year. I couldnt afford to stay at Sterling College in
Kansas, where I played wide receiver for the football team, so
I went to work and eventually moved back to California.
After a few years working in Long Beach, I enrolled in Cal State
University, Long Beach, and signed up for an acting class. Within
a year I was accepted into a repertory company that performed
childrens plays on weekends. Sometimes we performed three shows
a day at elementary schools and the long hours and hard work led
to a role in the theaters evening presentation of Bleacher Bums.
I had to drop school, but after a year I got a big break with
one line on NBCs Diffrent Strokes television series. Later,
I played Officer Ben Webster in the last season of ChiPs. Then
I was Rolland Culp, opposite Jim Carrey on NBCs pilot The Duck
Factory.
In 1989, I landed the role as deputy police chief Conrad McMasters
on the TV series Matlock for four years. It took me 10 years,
but I eventually graduated from college too.
Q: What are your current movie and television roles?
CG: Ive played Chuck Norris partner in the television series Walker,
Texas Ranger for the entire 8 years the show has been running.
The series is rooted in the old westerns, but brought up-to-date.
It takes seven working days to shoot the principal photography
for one episode.
I just finished a movie role in a new film called Left Behind,
which is based on the first of three books in the Tim LaHayes
series on his portrayal of the end times. I play Bruce Barns,
who is a pivotal character in the book.
Q: The television and movie industry has a rather wild reputation.
How do you live your faith in the industry?
CG: I cant speak for the industry, thats a dangerous question.
But for this particular person, whos almost 45 years old and
whos been graced with the opportunity to be Catholic, I can say
its almost an hourly struggle. I dont think my life is different
from anyone elses.
Every time I walk out of my trailer door, Im faced with secularism.
I have to evaluate the situations Im in as they relate to the
script and to male-female relationships. I also have to evaluate
how Im taking care of myself mentally and spiritually so that
I live as a healthy and spiritual person, just like anyone else.
I go to confession, Mass and holy days. We all have to make sure
we get the food we need to do the work we need to do.
Q: How did your conversion to the Catholic faith affect your life?
CG: Its hard to capture all the things Ive been through in 21
years, all of which have been in the acting business. I converted
from Lutheranism eight years ago this past Christmas.
My conversion is very critical to the next person, to the way
I interact with the people I meet. I figured out that my purpose
in life is to cry the Gospel; to live it in my life and to strive
to be the best Catholic Christian I can be. By this I dont mean
standing on a stump on a street corner, unless the Holy Spirit
inspires me to do that.
Q: How do you feed your interior prayer life?
CG: One of the things that grounds me is the Mass. I can find a
Catholic church wherever I go. I try to go daily and feel like
Im missing something if I dont strive to go daily. Its not
a reflection on anyone else, just where God and I are right now.
Im really listening to what God is communicating to me. I really
need the Eucharist.
My spiritual director, Father John Dick, suggested I pick up the
Liturgy of the Hours about eight months ago. I struggle with that,
three times a day. Im like any Catholic who is striving. I try
to do what the church says were supposed to dopray the rosary,
keep up with the saints being observed and participate in the
liturgical seasons. When you do what the church says to do, it
works.
Q: You had the opportunity to visit with the pope during the Jubilee
Year. What was your experience?
CG: Im still numb from it. The experience was awesome. We got to
kiss his hands; he said good morning. We hear talk about the
Holy Father being so frail. But these comments are like a Sunday
couch-potato quarterback commenting on a game. The Holy Father
is as sharp as a tack. We are so concerned about our bodies that
we think thats the going deal. But Im not worried at all. The
Holy Father is doing just fine. Hes right where God wants him.