The Credits Rolled In Real Life
Walker, Texas Ranger had a cast that stuck with you. Felt like they'd always be part of the picture. But a few of them bowed out when no one was looking.
Clarence Gilyard Jr (James Trivette)
He became the show's pulse by appearing in 196 episodes between 1993 and 2001. As Walker's steady partner, Clarence Gilyard Jr balanced action with warmth. Before passing away in November 2022 at 66, he spent years teaching theater at UNLV and inspiring future performers.
Clarence Gilyard Jr (James Trivette) (Cont.)
Gilyard once called himself “pretty much a cowboy back then”, a claim backed by his history in football and martial arts. Those roots made Trivette feel lived-in. With Chuck Norris, he shared easy chemistry that gave Walker heart and a deeper sense of partnership.
The Devastating Death Of Die Hard Actor Clarence Gilyard Jr. by Looper
Noble Willingham (CD Parker)
CD's bar gave the show a place where characters could slow down and connect. Noble Willingham, who played CD, left acting in 2000 to try politics. He passed away in January 2004 after appearing in 155 episodes that showed his steady, kind presence on screen.
C.D. Parker Finally Stops "The Hangman" For Good | Walker, Texas Ranger by Wild Westerns
Noble Willingham (CD Parker) (Cont.)
He portrayed a retired Texas Ranger who still dispensed wisdom over coffee and beer. Appearing in 155 episodes, Willingham left the show in 2000 to pursue a political career in Texas. Though his bid was unsuccessful, his legacy on the show remained strong. He passed away in 2004 at 72.
C.D. Parker Finally Stops "The Hangman" For Good | Walker, Texas Ranger by Wild Westerns
James Hampton (Frank Bodine)
Although he died in April 2021 at 84, Hampton is still remembered for roles filled with quiet dignity. In "The Legend of Running Bear", a season 2 episode, he brought a steady warmth to a character written with heart. The storyline in these episodes explored tribal justice and cultural conflict.
CBS Television Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
RG Armstrong (Rev Harlan)
In season 3's "The Covenant", he played Reverend Harlan with conviction, which marked one of his final television roles. RG Armstrong had long been a fixture in Westerns. He died in July 2012 at 95, capping a career defined by deep-voiced gravitas and range.
unknown (NBC TV),Wikimedia Commons
LQ Jones (Blackout Episode)
In 1996, Walker, Texas Ranger aired the episode "Blackout", featuring LQ Jones in a guest role. While his character's name remains uncertain, his trademark Western grit made an impression. He died of natural causes on July 9, 2022, at the age of 94.
John Anderson (Buster Tarpin)
John Anderson passed on July 7, 1997, months before his Walker episode ever reached viewers. His guest appearance as Buster Tarpin in “Paradise Trail” aired posthumously, which lent unexpected weight to a simple role. The country singer’s calm presence added a genuine touch to the story’s tone.
John Anderson Guest Appearance on Walker Texas Ranger Nov.21, 1998 (#2) by Russell Knouse
Ernest Borgnine (Eddie Ryan)
In a memorable guest spot, Walker, Texas Ranger featured Ernest Borgnine as Eddie Ryan in Season 9's episode "The Avenging Angel". He portrayed an aging man entangled in a deadly plan. Known for winning an Academy Award for Marty, he passed away from kidney failure on July 8, 2012, at the age of 95.
Greg Hernandez (Greg in Hollywood), Wikimedia Commons
William Smith (Jack Garrett)
William Smith passed in July 2021 at 88, the close of a chapter shaped by grit and action. In "The Final Showdown," he played Jack Garrett, a retired Ranger with unfinished business. The role echoed his deep history of tough characters who never backed down easily.
Sequoia Pictures,Wikimedia Commons
Geoffrey Lewis (Tommy)
The screen lost Geoffrey Lewis in April 2015, but not before making a strong impact in Season 4's "Lucas". He played a man dealing with PTSD, a role that aligned with many of his past performances. Offscreen, he was actress Juliette Lewis's father.
Taking Down Undeserving Sheriff | Walker, Texas Ranger by Wild Westerns
Burt Young (Jack "Soldier" Belmont)
Hollywood lost Burt Young on October 8, 2023, at age 83. He appeared twice on Walker, Texas Ranger to portray Jack "Soldier" Belmont in "Lucky" and "Small Blessings". Known best as Paulie from Rocky, his tough‐guy roles hid layers of depth and surprising heart.
SilvioPozatto,Wikimedia Commons
Carmen Argenziano (Agent)
Memory loss clouded his mission, and identity slipped through his grip—yet Carmen Argenziano made it all feel real in Walker's "Blackout". The role of a covert agent fit snugly into his legacy. That chapter closed in February 2019, when he was 75, after decades of textured performances.
Guillaume Paumier,Wikimedia Commons
Gailard Sartain (CD “Big Dog” Parker)
Gailard Sartain passed in June 2025 at age 81. In the pilot episode of Walker, Texas Ranger, he portrayed CD “Big Dog” Parker—an early version of the beloved character later played by Noble Willingham. He also brought flair to roles in Hee Haw and The Outsiders.
Lane Smith (Reverend Thornton Powers)
Lane Smith, remembered for standout roles in Lois & Clark and My Cousin Vinny, passed in June 2005 at age 69. His guest appearance as Reverend Thornton Powers in Walker's "Final Justice" brought a moral weight that contrasted with his more familiar legal personas.
Lane Smith, actor de V by Cúnez
Paul Winfield (Judge)
He stepped into season 4's "The Big Bingo Bamboozle" with gravity to portray a judge overseeing a case tied to elderly fraud. Though brief, the role left an impression. His Oscar-nominated turn in Sounder defined him, and his life ended in March 2004 at 64.
Charles Napier (Warden Kyle)
His final credits rolled in October 2011 at age 75. On Walker, Charles Napier portrayed Warden Kyle, the corrupt prison head behind a brutal underground fight ring. Best known for playing strong‑armed types in films like Rambo II, he brought weight and menace to the role.
Nick Belardes,Wikimedia Commons
Richard Herd (General Garrity)
On 26 May 2020, Richard Herd passed on at 87. He appeared on Walker as General Garrity in “Codename: Dragonfly” by personifying military authority tainted by corruption. Known for Seinfeld and V, he delivered authentic power even when the characters’s ethics wavered.
James Drury (Captain Tom Price)
At 85, James Drury's story ended in April 2020 after an esteemed career. He appeared as Captain Tom Price, Walker's early supervisor, across three pilot episodes. Best known as the iconic lead in The Virginian, his guest turn brought authentic Western gravitas.
NBC Television,Wikimedia Commons
Robert Vaughn (Dr Stewart Rizor)
On Walker, he appeared as Dr Stewart Rizor, a calculating specialist entangled in medical intrigue. He passed in November 2016 at 83. Vaughn’s career spanned over 200 film and television projects, including The Magnificent Seven and Superman III, which showcase a remarkable range across genres.
Michael Parks (Outlaw)
Some performances hold silence like it matters—and Michael Parks gave one during a story shaped by reckoning and second chances. His character, a reformed outlaw on a path toward redemption, brooded with purpose. He died in May 2017, aged 77.
NBC Television,Wikimedia Commons
Rod Taylor (Gordon Cahill)
Rod Taylor passed away in January 2015 at age 84. He portrayed Gordon Cahill, Alex’s estranged, alcoholic father. Across four episodes, he played a struggling lawyer working to reconnect with his daughter and redeem himself in courtrooms and personal battles alike.
movie studio,Wikimedia Commons
Robert Forster (Ricky Ricketts & Lane Tillman)
Robert Forster played Ricky Ricketts in “The Big Bingo Bamboozle” and Lane Tillman in “Texas vs Cahill”. He was also known for standout roles in Jackie Brown and dozens of other films. Forster died in October 2019 at the age of 78.
Hulk Hogan (Boomer Knight)
It was a cameo, but it left an impression. His final bell rang at 71, in July 2025. Hulk Hogan featured as Boomer Knight in a 1999 Walker charity episode that crossed over with his action series. He played a retired fighter with fire left.
Petty Officer 1st Class Kristin Fitzsimmons, USN, Wikimedia Commons
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