Every Major ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ Cast Member Who Passed Away

For nine seasons, ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ turned old school justice into appointment TV and built a cast viewers knew by name and by badge number. Over the years, several key faces from the show have sadly passed on, leaving behind memorable characters and a mountain of credits across film and television.

This tribute gathers the major actors from the series who are no longer with us, along with clear details about who they played, when they worked on the show, and what they did beyond it. You will find character names, season involvement, and notable work outside the series, plus verified dates and circumstances where publicly reported.

Clarence Gilyard Jr.

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Clarence Gilyard Jr. played Texas Ranger James Trivette across the original run of the series, appearing from the pilot era through the final seasons as Walker’s partner and a core part of the team. He was a series regular through eight seasons and returned for the 2005 television film ‘Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire’. Away from the show he was known for roles in ‘Top Gun’ and ‘Die Hard’ and for his earlier television work on ‘Matlock’.

Gilyard died on November 28, 2022 at the age of 66. In addition to his screen career he served as an associate professor of film and theatre at the University of Nevada Las Vegas for many years, mentoring students while continuing occasional creative projects. Public remembrances noted a long illness prior to his passing and highlighted his extensive contributions to stage and classroom.

Noble Willingham

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Noble Willingham portrayed former Ranger and bar owner C. D. Parker, joining the main cast early in the series and appearing through season seven. The character provided Walker with guidance and a base of operations at C. D.’s Bar and Grill and later was written off the show after the actor’s departure. Before ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ he amassed dozens of credits in film and television and had a long career as a character actor.

Willingham died on January 17, 2004 at the age of 72. He had left the series prior to his death to pursue a run for public office in Texas, and the production later established that C. D. Parker died off screen. He was a United States Army veteran of the Korean War era and is interred at Riverside National Cemetery in California.

Gailard Sartain

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Gailard Sartain first embodied C. D. Parker in the show’s pilot period before the role shifted to Noble Willingham for the regular seasons. Sartain’s involvement placed him among the initial credited stars who set the show’s tone in its earliest episodes. Beyond ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ he was widely recognized for film work that included the ‘Ernest’ features and a long list of television appearances.

Sartain died on June 19, 2025 at the age of 81. His death was reported in his hometown of Tulsa, and notices described natural causes. His extensive career spanned decades across comedy and drama, and his brief tenure as the original on screen C. D. remains a documented part of the series’ early casting history.

Floyd Red Crow Westerman

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Floyd Red Crow Westerman appeared as Uncle Ray Firewalker in the pilot and first regular season, playing Walker’s uncle and a foundational figure in the character’s backstory. His role connected the series to Cherokee heritage through family ties and early guidance for the title character. Westerman also worked widely as a musician and as an advocate on Indigenous issues.

Westerman died on December 13, 2007 at the age of 71 due to complications from leukemia. His film and television work included ‘Dances with Wolves’ and recurring roles on several network series, and he remained active in public service announcements and cultural advocacy throughout his life.

Frank Salsedo

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Frank Salsedo portrayed White Eagle in recurring appearances, serving as a spiritual leader who advised Walker in several episodes. His character typically appeared when storylines drew on tribal tradition or moments of personal crisis for Walker. Salsedo’s broader career included feature films and television roles tied to Native American representation across genres.

Salsedo died on July 3, 2009 at the age of 80. Records note a career that stretched from the mid nineteen seventies into the early two thousands, with his ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ episodes airing in the late nineties. He also held positions within his community and was recognized for work that extended beyond the screen.

Eloy Casados

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Eloy Casados played Sheriff Sam Coyote, lawman for the Cherokee reservation and a trusted ally who teamed with Walker on multiple investigations. He appeared in a recurring capacity through several seasons and was central to episodes set on reservation land or involving cross jurisdictional cases. Casados had earlier earned recognition for the television movie ‘Ishi: The Last of His Tribe’ and continued to work in film and voice roles.

Casados died on April 19, 2016 at the age of 66. Notices listed him as an American Indian actor with credits spanning more than three decades in film, television, and voice work. His ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ appearances remain among his best known recurring television roles.

James Drury

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James Drury appeared in the first three episodes as Captain Tom Price, the Rangers’ commanding officer during the show’s on air transition from pilot to weekly series. Known widely for the lead role in ‘The Virginian’, Drury brought veteran western presence to the early episodes that established the show’s format and team structure. His guest stint helped frame Walker and Trivette’s place within the Texas Department of Public Safety.

Drury died on April 6, 2020 at the age of 85. His career covered film and television from the nineteen fifties through the two thousands, and he remained active at western fan events and museum programs. His brief but prominent ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ role ties the series to the longer lineage of television westerns.

Brion James

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Brion James appeared in the two part story built around the character Rafer Cobb, an antagonist connected to the episodes centered on a young boy named Lucas. His guest role contributed to one of the series’ most watched arcs which also featured early work from a future Academy Award winner. James was a prolific character actor with more than one hundred film credits, including prominent turns in ‘Blade Runner’ and ‘The Player’.

James died on August 7, 1999 at the age of 54 after a reported heart attack. Several films featuring his performances were released posthumously, and television appearances such as his ‘Walker, Texas Ranger’ episodes continued to air in syndication worldwide.

Share your memories of these performers and the episodes that first introduced you to their characters in the comments.