howard rollins mother
He was suffering from HIV and had complications of Lymphoma. ", "He was a wonderful actor," his sister, Hattie Fields, said from her Northwest Baltimore home yesterday. In a statement Monday, O'Connor said he was "deeply saddened" by Mr. Rollins's death. - The then 46-year-old died of complications from a painful disease. It was hot and humid." It was reportedly around this time that Rollins changed his looks dramatically and started behaving bizarrely. She moved to Philadelphia with their kids to be closer to her parents and he was completing a law degree in Jackson, Miss., which explained why they were no longer in Sparta. But the director, Steve Yeager, saw something in the 16-year-old far more impressive than anything the friend hinted at in his tryout. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. "We had such heavy scenes to do every week, we had to lighten the atmosphere not only for ourselves, but for our crew.". Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. His professional acting debut was a PBS soap opera. Rollins would return to the stage later in his career inI'm Not Rappaportin London and a Canadian production ofOthello. "In the Heat of the Night" was based on the award-winning 1967 movie about a white Mississippi police chief who teams with a black detective from the North. In 1970, 20-year-old Howard Ellsworth Rollins, Jr. was cast inOur Street, a serial produced by the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting. Resting place Woodlawn Cemetery, Baltimore Nationality American Alma mater Towson State University Occupation Actor Years active 1970-1996 His full name is Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. and he was born to a poor family where his father, Howard Rollins Sr. was a steelworker and his mother, Ruth R. Rollins was a domestic worker. He was a friend who we loved dearly.. He was sentenced to two days in jail and fined $1,000, and lost his drivers license. Rollins studied theater at the Towson State College and at only 17, he played his first role in "Of Mice and Men" at the Baltimore theater. And when he was pushed, he excelled. He took a job on a TV soap after his Oscar nomination. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. His monologue on the destructive effects of substance abuse was tremendously powerful and tragically autobiographical. His father was a steelworker, his mother a domestic. Howard Rollins was a real tragedy. He was an alcoholic and was arrested for driving under influence two times. Rollins was the youngest of four children born to Ruth and Howard Ellsworth Rollins Sr. in Baltimore, Maryland. Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. Today, the Howard E. Rollins Foundation carries on the actors legacy by awarding scholarships and providing cultural and educational programs for minority and disadvantaged youth. He turned in riveting performances in a pair of early-'80s classics: "Ragtime" (which earned him the Oscar nomination) and "A Soldier's Story.". I wanted Rollins from the start, OConnor told the Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. Sophie Skelton's Dating Life: The 'Outlander' Star Was Linked to Only One Actor, Who Is Julian Sands' Wife? Howard served some of his time in a rehabilitation center for which he had to take a break from the series Heat of the Night. After spending some time in the rehabilitation center, he continued making her appearance in the entertainment industry. Check outFameandNameto know amazing facts on Celebrities private life, net worth, careers, lifestyles, and more. All that came crashing down like a house of cards when the late actor took to sniffing cocaine. Rollins, probably best known for his work on the TV series "In the Heat of the Night," died Sunday morning in New York of complications from lymphoma, said his agent, Roseanne Gates. Even if he never made it to that first tier of actors, the men and women around whom blockbusters are built, his film legacy remains a proud one. Howard was a gentleman. The show flopped, but Rollins' career advanced. He was arrested four times for drug and alcohol-related crimes, spending one month in jail for reckless driving and driving under the influence. He then moved to New York City in 1974 in order to take his career to the next level. 2010 The Rosens: Writer/Director Original script relating strained relationships between brothers after the death of their mother. [Updated 2023 January ] Skip to . He was also a drug addict and was once arrested for possessing cocaine in 1988. In 1994, he served a month in jail for reckless driving and driving under the influence. John Ball was a 54-year-old columnist and music critic when he wrote the whodunit In The Heat Of The Night in 1965. Discover Howard Rollins's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Rollins drug use repeatedly got him into legal trouble, and he was written out of the series after the 1992-93 season. The duo had no choice but to jump in with both feet outside of a church in Hammond, La. Howard Rollinss income source is mostly from being a successful Actor. On December 8, 1996, Rollins died at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center (now Mount Sinai West) in New York City from complications of lymphoma; he had been diagnosed only six weeks earlier. Due to his ongoing personal and legal issues, Rollins was dismissed from the series at the end of Season 6. He is not dating anyone. Born to Ruth and Howard Ellsworth Rollins Sr. on October 17, 1950 in Baltimore, Maryland, Rollins was the youngest of four children. Unfortunately, Howard never seems to overcome his drug addiction which led to health deterioration. Howard Rollins, Jr. (October 17, 1950 - December 8, 1996) was an actor who died of AIDS in St. Luke's Hospital, Manhattan. His television credits included solid performances as Andrew Young in "King" and Medgar Evers in "For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story." In a rarity for Hollywood, Rollins first-ever feature film performance inRagtimeearned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. "We spent more time laughing and kidding each other all those years than anything else," she confessed. Howard E. Rollins Jr., the Baltimore-born actor who burst onto the movie scene with an Oscar nomination for his first film, was at his best when he was pushed. He originated the role of entrepreneur Ed Harding, joining a cast that also included Morgan Freeman (whom Rollins had worked with on stage). His impressive performance earned him an Academy Award Nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture and New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture. Im not the new Sidney Poitier, he said in an interview. Rollins returned to rehab and successfully completed the program. In 1981, Howard Rollins made his breakthrough in his acting career through the film Ragtime where he portrayed the role of Coalhouse Walker Jr. Funeral arrangements were not immediately known. Howard was educated in his hometown, Baltimore. Needless to say, he was arrested on three separate occasions for driving under the influence of cocaine. Questions were raised if he was gay from the start and hid his sexuality but no one is sure to this date. Anne-Marie still appears on TV regularly, and has had roles in shows such as How to Get Away with Murder, NCIS: Los Angeles, House of Payne, and Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later. 1970 The 1981 film, which starred James Cagney, included Mr. Rollins as Coalhouse Walker, a proud piano teacher who becomes a vengeful revolutionary. In 1988, Rollins pleaded guilty to cocaine possession in Louisiana. We collect and tell stories of people from all around the world. He said it was unwelcoming and unfriendly. Article continues below advertisement His was the second death associated with a star of "In the Heat of the Night." Rollins was cast as Coalhouse Walker Jr himself. Howard may have been fighting a few demons off-camera, but Anne-Marie has only nice things to say about her late co-star, who passed away in 1996 at the age of 46. Eventually, the show let him go and replaced him with actor Carl Weathers. In 1996, he appeared in a guest role on Remember WENN. Howard Rollins was born on October 17, 1950, as one of four children of a steelworker father and domestic worker mother. The African American Registry (AARG) reports that Rollins spoke to the New York Times about the performance in 1981: "Things made sense to me for the first time in my life.". SUBSCRIBE: $1 for 3 months. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Howard Rollins's net worth He experienced six degrees of Sidney Poitier. 6. "Howard was very careful about the roles he chose," said Everett L. Marshburn, director of regional productions for Maryland Public Television, who met Rollins when the actor was a struggling neophyte on Baltimore stages in the early '70s. Franks wrote the musical score for the classic Christmas story that featured Rollins telling the story to children related to fellow cast members. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). His full name is Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. and he was born to a poor family where his father, Howard Rollins Sr. was a steelworker and his mother, Ruth R. Rollins was a domestic worker. Throughout the course of the series, the guidance counselor (played by actress Anne-Marie Johnson) was held captive by a murderer, terrorized by an ex-boyfriend, raped by a fellow teacher, and witnessed the suicide of a student. He also continued working in plays, including "Othello" at Canada's Stratford Festival in 1987 and "I'm Not Rappaport" opposite Paul Scofield in London's West End. We believe that every person's story is important as it provides our community with an opportunity to feel a sense of belonging, share their hopes and dreams. Around that time, AARG reports that Rollins began to ingest crack cocaine and overdrink alcohol. ", In 1987, Rollins got another highly successful role. His net worth has been growing significantly in 2021-2022. It gave a hard-hitting story about a Black pianist who seeks out help from the justice system to counteract racist attacks against him. When the final third of the Southern crime/melodrama's sixth season arrived, Anne-Marie Johnson . [4] After attending drug rehab, he returned to In the Heat of the Night as a guest star. He went back to drugs and was again arrested three more times from 1992 to 1993 for drunk driving. His mother was a domestic worker, and father was a steelworker who died in 1980. Like most of the stars, Howard made his acting career debut in 1972 with a minor role in the tv series Our Street. Hed turned his life around. Later in 1995, Rollins was cast inDrunks, the film adaptation of the award-winning play about addiction. Howard Rollins was known for his role as Andrew Young in 1978's King, George Haley in the 1979 miniseries Roots: The Next Generations, Coalhouse Walker Jr. in the 1981 film Ragtime, Captain Davenport in the 1984 film A Soldier's Story, and as Virgil Tibbs on the TV crime drama In the Heat of the Night. Howard Rollins was a secret keeper, preferring to keep his personal life and sexual orientation private. He did end up returning for three episodes in Season 7. [3]. Please fill in your e-mail so we can share with you our top stories! He was cowering in the corner. He was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in his native Baltimore. In the late 80s and early 90s, no TV drama packed a punch like In the Heat of the Night and no character went through more hardships than Althea Tibbs. That was the challenge facingHoward Rollinswhen he was cast in the TV adaptation ofIn The Heat Of The Nightin 1988. I asked him how to die in front of the camera. In reality, Howard was written off the show in 1993 due to ongoing legal problems that included three arrests for driving under the influence and a cocaine possession charge. The show ran from 1988 to 1994, first on NBC, then on CBS. As was typical at the time, his publicist issued a statement claiming he suffered from lymphatic cancer, but it was later revealed by his family that Rollins had been diagnosed with AIDS. According to our Database, He has no children. In 1974, he moved to New York City, where he appeared in the Broadway productions of We Interrupt This Program (1975), The Mighty Gents (1978), and G. R. Point (1979). Rollins was the youngest of four children born to Ruth and Howard Ellsworth Rollins Sr. in Baltimore, Maryland. His incessant legal issues led to his being dropped from the series In The Heat of The Night and the loss of opportunity to be cast in other movies. Howard Rodney was the son of Henrietta Clies and George Brydes Rodney (Father). But misfortune dogged him as his career entered the '90s. The film kickstarted his career, gaining him roles in other films that were similarly successful. And, in the 1986 TV movieThe Boy King, he played Martin Luther King, Sr., father of the slain Civil Rights leader. The following year, Howard made another breakthrough with the tv soap opera, Another World alongside Kelly Paniagua, Regina Lasko for which he was nominated with Daytime Emmy Award. 1. Your email address will not be published. Virgil Tibbs in "In the Heat of the Night," where he was second-billed to Carroll O'Connor's Sheriff Gillespie. While on the series, Rollins recorded "Twas the Night Before Christmas" for the 1991 In the Heat of the Night Christmas CD Christmas Time's A Comin' produced by his co-stars Randall Franks and Alan Autry. Follow us on Twitter for more @amomama_usa. "Wed never met each other before our first scene," the California native recalled. Here are 10 things you might not know about the talented actor: 1. Howard was 46 years old at the time of his death. [2] In 1995, he appeared in a guest role on New York Undercover, followed by a role in the film Drunks. He won another award, an Emmy for Best Supporting Actor, in a daytime series called "Another World. When this doesn't work, the character resorts to retaliation. He later realized his mistakes and tried all he could to salvage the situation, which led him to appear in a guest role in New York Undercover and some other minor roles. The following year, he was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his role on Another World. For further instructions click the link below to your TV model. He was written out of the series after the 1992-93 season, and Carl Weathers was added to the cast. In the former, as Coalhouse Walker Jr., a piano player who sparks a near-riot in turn-of-the-century New York simply by demanding respect, Rollins held his own against the great James Cagney. After his high school graduation, Rollins studied theater at Towson University. After a role inThe Passing Gameat the prestigious American Place Theater in 1977, Rollins returned to Broadway withThe Mighty Gentsin 1978 opposite Morgan Freeman. Some also knew that Rollins visited Los Angeles gay clubs at times but playing homosexual leading roles at that time would damage his career. Rollins' opportunity for fame presented itself when he landed a role in "Ragtime." This was a great start to a short, but brilliant career that included his long running role as Virgil Tibbs in the TV series In the Heat of the Night and the film A Soldier's Story. Keep supporting great journalism by turning off your ad blocker. He had a birth sign, Libra. The 38-year-old Baltimore native came to the role with an unusually diverse resume: Broadway, an Emmy-nominated turn on TV, and an Oscar nomination, all in just a decade and a half. Howard is a distant relative to Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins. Howard Rollins joined him as police detective Virgil Tibbs, who has returned to the fictional Sparta, Mississippi for his mother's funeral and is persuaded by the town's mayor to stay on as . I realized after that first time in front of that audience that this was something that excited me because there was so much that could be left to chance. In 1988, pleading guilty to charges of cocaine possession, driving while intoxicated and speeding, he was fined $4,275 by a Louisiana judge and ordered to make an anti-drug video. ", "Something happened," Rollins would later recall. Ragtime: Directed by Milos Forman. Sadly, he finally died on December 8, 1996 from lymphoma. Following a stint in rehab, he returned as a guest star for three episodes in season seven. Here are 10 things you might not know about the talented actor: 1. She followed up that one-year stint with a guest-starring arc on Melrose Place. 4. By that time, he had been replaced on "In the Heat of the Night" by Carl Weathers. Addicted to Drugs And Alcohol. In 1995, he made his final feature film appearance in Drunks (1995).Rollins was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 1996. His first movie was James Cagneys last. NEW YORK (AP) _ Howard Rollins, the Oscar-nominated actor who was bounced from the TV series ``In the Heat of the Night in 1993 because of his drug use, has died at 46, his agent said Monday. ``In the Heat of the Night, based on the 1967 movie about a white Mississippi police chief who teams up with a black detective from the North, ran on television from 1988 to 1994, first on NBC, then on CBS. After his high school graduation, Rollins studied theater at Towson University. He was nominated Academy Award, 2 Golden Globe Award, and New York Film Critics Circle Award for his performance. So, how much is Howard Rollins worth at the age of 46 years old? Howard Rollinss final movie was Harambee! where he portrayed the role of Chimbuko. He may have had the part, but having the confidence to perform in front of people was another matter. Anne-Marie Johnson said she couldn't have asked for a better TV husband. During the show's run, Rollins struggled with addiction to drugs and alcohol. A spokesman for Mr. Rollins's agent said the actor died of a bacterial infection caused by complications of lymphoma. For much of the television viewing audience, Howard Rollins will best be remembered for his believable portrayal of Detective Virgil Tibbs, in the very popular television series " In the Heat of the Night. All We Know About Her Significant Other Pedro Segundo, 'Law & Order's' Camryn Manheim Turns 61 - Meet Her Son Milo Who Is All Grown-up & Is Also an Actor, Max Baer Jr Had an Irreversible Loss in His Love Life & Furiously Defended His Famous Father's Image. Sign up for the newsletter to get the latest updates about getTV. On October 25, 2006, a wax statue of Rollins was unveiled at the Senator Theatre in Baltimore. He grew up to be a well-known African American actor, but his life came to a bitter end at the early age of 46. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). In 1995, he finally reappeared in an episode of New York Undercover.. Only six weeks after, he died from lymphoma resulting from AIDS complications. Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. (October 17, 1950 December 8, 1996) was an American stage, film and television actor. Six weeks later, he died at St. Lukes-Roosevelt Hospital in New York at the age of 46, from complications from lymphoma. 7. Rollins made his film debut in 1981 inRagtime, Milos Formans film adaptation of E.L. Doctorows historical novel. He was often cast as Civil Rights figures. We were married," Anne-Marie fondly remembered. We lost a wonderful guy, co-star Richard Lewis toldPeople. Rollins stayed alone and out of work in his apartments for months. His final acting role was in the 1996 PBS television movie Harambee!. His downward spiral first started when he was arrested for possessing cocaine in Louisiana in 1988. " Rollins played Tibbs for . Sources. OConnor was both star and producer onIn The Heat Of The Night,and executive producer Fred Silverman deferred to him on the casting of Tibbs. Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. - Celebritist learned from African American Registry that American actor Howard Rollins Jr.s career was ruined before his demise. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Began Career In New York. - It was also revealed that the actor, who was HIV positive, found dressing as a woman cathartic in his final days. 6, by: Edith Kynard, "From TV to Country to bluegrass, stars join together for drug prevention project", Last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:45, Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor - Motion Picture, Golden Globe Award for New Star of the Year - Actor, New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor, Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series, For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story, NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series, "Howard Rollins' Stalled Career Marches on with a Soldier's Story", "Howard Rollins Is Dead at 50 Star in TV's 'Heat of the Night', "Actor Howard Rollins, 46, succumbs in New York", "Howard Rollins Unveiling at Senator Theater", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Howard_Rollins&oldid=1140861606, This page was last edited on 22 February 2023, at 03:45. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 17 October. Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. He had black hair and black eyes. In ``The Heat of the Night, Rollins starred opposite Carroll OConnor as a black detective from Philadelphia working in a racially volatile Southern town. He was also activist Medgar Evers in the PBSAmerican Playhouseproduction ofFor Us The Livingin 1983. ", She also shared, "I knew Howard [Rollins, who played her on-screen husband Virgil Tibbs] was moving on and storylines were being created for other characters. Howard's mother works as a self-employed worker, while his father fills in as a steelworker. "I was frightened to meet Mr. Cagney, Rollins said in an interview. In 1995, he appeared in a guest role on New York Undercover, followed by a role in the film, Drunks. In 1970, 20-year-old Howard Ellsworth Rollins, Jr. was cast in Our Street, a serial produced by the Maryland Center for Public Broadcasting. He was also nominated for two Golden Globes forRagtimein 1982: Best Supporting Actor and New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture. In the fall of 1996, Rollins was diagnosed with AIDS. He was known for being a TV Actor. More about Her Life, Maddie Brown Shares Her Postpartum Journey Weeks after Giving Birth to Third Child, Inside Kelli Giddish's Personal Life The Mom-Of-2 Keeps It behind Closed Doors, Charlie Sheen Could Not Understand the Chaos He Created in His Life Because of His Addictions, Ron Howard Was Most Concerned about His Kids' Values Inside His Decision to Protect Them. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). Mr. Rollins, a Baltimore native, was nominated for an Academy Award as best supporting actor for his work in "Ragtime." Because of his legal problems, Rollins was dropped from In the Heat of the Night. When asked about her exit in a 2013 interview with In the Heat of the Night's fan club, Anne-Marie stated, "The timing was right and I was fortunate to move on to other respected projects. Or purchase a subscription for unlimited access to real news you can count on. He said only that the actor died on Sunday in New York. He played Detective Virgin Tibbs in a television series "In the Head of the Night.". Soldier's Story, A (1984) -- (Movie Clip) White Folks In The Town Robert Townshend is Corporal Ellis, enthusiastic driver for Captain Davenport (Howard E Rollins), the prosecutor sent to Louisiana to investigate the murder of a black sergeant, and who must report to Colonel Nivens (Trey Wilson), who has an attitude, in A Soldier's Story, 1984, directed by Norman Jewison from Charles Fuller . In 1992 and 1993, he was arrested on three occasions for driving under the influence. The statue is now at Baltimore's Great Blacks in Wax Museum. We really loved working together.". I had a great run and I wanted to leave before Althea was phased out.". Because of his legal problems, Rollins was dropped from In the Heat of the Night. Rollins also worked with PoitiersIn the Heat Of The Nightdirector Norman Jewison onA Soldiers Story(1984), adapted from the play about a murdered African-American soldier in World War II. Still, he would go as far as to cross-dress. His professional acting debut was a PBS soap opera. He is also known for his brilliant portrayal of Virgil Tibbs on the long running hit TV series In the Heat of the Night (1988), based on the 1967 movie of the same name. A young black pianist becomes embroiled in the lives of an upper-class white family set among the racial tensions, infidelity, violence and other nostalgic events in early 1900s New York City. Distractify is a registered trademark. Mr. Rollins also appeared in the 1984 movie "A Soldier's Story. The country in which the series was filmed eventually banned Rollins after he met with more legal issues. In 1988, Rollins pleaded guilty to driving under the influence and cocaine possession in Louisiana. He was the lead in the Off-Broadway dramaMedal of Honor Ragin 1976 and appeared in Joseph Papps production of ShakespearesMeasure For Measurein Central Park in the summer of 76. Unfortunately, Rollins is reported to have described a despairing atmosphere on the set of the show. He added toPeoplein 1996, Ive worked with many talented actors, but never one more gifted.. Upon the completion of high school, he joined Towson University where he studied theatre. Anne-Marie decided to leave the show at the end of Season 6 in order to take a job on Foxs sketch comedy series In Living Color. Rollins played the land-hungry developer anxious to bulldoze the entire street. How do you recreate a beloved actors most iconic character? Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. In a statement Monday, OConnor said he was ``deeply saddened by Howards death. [5], On December 8, 1996, Rollins died at age 46 at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City from lymphoma-related complications. Howard Rollins, the Oscar-nominated actor who was bounced from the TV series "In the Heat of the Night" in 1993 because of his drug use, has died at 46 . He is from American. He grew up to be a well-known African American actor, but his life came to a bitter end at the early age of 46. The actor Howard E. Rollins Jnr made his film debut in Milos Forman's Ragtime (1981) as Coalhouse Walker, the cool, sophisticated ragtime pianist who becomes head of a group of black revolutionaries. Regrettably, his . Actor. 'The Waltons' Casually Killed off Virginia Without Any Sort of Explanation, The Actor Behind Adam Cartwright on 'Bonanza' Never Liked the Series, Robert Stack Claimed 'Most Wanted' Was Unfairly Canceled in the '70s. At 46 years old, Howard Rollins height [2] Rollins returned for several guest appearances in the seventh season of the show in 1993 1994. Advertisement Its the natural progression of a TV series. Howard won his second NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Actor in a Drama Series. Carl Weathers was added to the cast. Howard Rollins (1950 - 1996) - Rollins, starred in the box-office hit, "A Soldier's Story," which led to his role as Virgil Tibbs on the TV drama "In the Heat of the Night," died on Dec. 8, 1996 . For five and a half years, she was co-starred as Althea Tibbs -- the wife of Sparta, Mississippi Chief of Detectives Virgil Tibbs -- on the NBC/CBS hit television series In the Heat of the Night. The JAG alum called Howard "a dynamic talent" and explained that the pair relied on one another to get through long workdays. There weren't a lot of people on that bridge, but because of people like him, we have the Denzel Washingtons and the Wesley Snipes. O'Connor's son, Hugh O'Connor, who played a law officer on the show, committed suicide in 1995 at age 33 -- a death his father blamed on his son's 16-year battle with drug addiction. Howard was educated in his hometown, Baltimore. He is currently single. Your subscription to our list has been confirmed. Howard was American and he had African-American ethnicity. 0. The film, released in 1981, was based on a novel by E. L. Doctor. Birth Name: Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr Occupation: TV Actor Place Of Birth: Baltimore Date Of Birth: October17, 1950 Date Of Death: December 8, 1996 Cause Of Death: N/A Ethnicity: Black Nationality: American Howard Rollins was born on the 17th of October, 1950. Connect with the definitive source for global and local news. He was a treat to work with,NYUproducer Don Kurt toldPeople. NEW YORK (AP) _ Howard Rollins, the Oscar-nominated actor who was bounced from the TV series ``In the Heat of the Night in 1993 because of his drug use, has died at 46, his agent said Monday. In 1967, while a student at Northern High School, he tagged along with a friend who was trying out for a role in the Spotlighters Theatre's production of "Of Mice and Men."
