- Born
- Died
- Birth nameHoward Ellsworth Rollins Jr.
- Nickname
- Ho Ro
- Height6′ (1.83 m)
- Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. His first break into acting came when a friend convinced him to try out for a role in "Of Mice and Men" at a local Baltimore theater. He surprised himself with his acting talent.
He left for New York City in 1974 to further his acting career. Rollins earned an Oscar nomination for the role of Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime (1981) and an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor on the NBC daytime drama Another World (1964). 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. In 1995, he made his final feature film appearance in Drunks (1995).
Rollins was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 1996. Six weeks later, he died of complications from the disease at the age of 46.- IMDb Mini Biography By: anonymous
- ChildrenNo Children
- ParentsRuth R. RollinsHoward E. Rollins Sr.Howard Ellsworth Rollins Sr.Ruth A. Rollins
- Battled substance abuse problems for many years before his untimely death.
- Was considered for the role of Lt. Arthur Fancy on NYPD Blue (1993).
- Listed as one of twelve "Promising New Actors of 1981" in John Willis' Screen World, Vol. 33.
- Screen tested for the role of Lando Calrissian in Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back (1980) on October 13, 1978.
- Never been Married.
- [on having been offered $40,000 for his starring role in 'A Soldier's Story'] This project is being referred to as 'special, 'unusual', 'different', but when you cut through the bullshit it's because it's a black production. I'm tired of words like 'prestige' and 'dedication'. Sure, we're dedicated. but for no money.
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