Clarence worked in Long Beach, CA for a couple of years before enrolling at California State University at Long Beach. Within a year, he auditioned for a repertory company that performed children's play on the weekends. Once he was hired, Gilyard performed as many as three shows a day at elementary schools. With all his hard work and long days, Gilyard worked his way theatre's evening presentation of "Bleacher Burns". After hopping from college to college, Clarence finally graduated, ten years after high school. In 1989, Clarence landed the role as deputy police chief Conrad McMaster on "Matlock". He played this character for four years before moving on to "Walker Texas Ranger".
