Howard E. Rollins Jr. was a talented and acclaimed actor who rose to fame in the 1980s with his roles in films like Ragtime and A Soldier’s Story, and TV shows like King and In the Heat of the Night. He was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Daytime Emmy for his performances. However, his career and life were cut short by his struggles with drug addiction, legal troubles, and HIV infection. He died at the age of 46 from complications of AIDS-related lymphoma, a type of cancer that affects the immune system.
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Early Life and Education
Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. was born on October 17, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland, to Ruth and Howard Ellsworth Rollins Sr. He was the youngest of four children. His mother was a domestic worker and his father was a steelworker who died in 1980. Rollins attended Northern High School, graduating in 1968. After his high school graduation, Rollins studied theater at Towson University. In 1970, he left college to play the role of “Slick” in the PBS soap opera Our Street. In 1974, he moved to New York City, where he appeared in several Broadway productions.
Rise to Fame
In 1981, Rollins made his film debut in the Dino De Laurentiis / Miloš Forman motion picture Ragtime, based on the novel by E.L. Doctorow. He played the role of Coalhouse Walker Jr., a black pianist who becomes a revolutionary after facing racial discrimination and injustice. His performance in the film earned him an Academy Award nomination for best supporting actor as well as Golden Globe nominations for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture and New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture.
The following year, Rollins was nominated for a Daytime Emmy for his role as Ed Harding on the soap opera Another World. He also appeared in the TV miniseries King, based on the life of Martin Luther King Jr., and Roots: The Next Generations, based on the book by Alex Haley.
In 1984, Rollins starred in director Norman Jewison’s film A Soldier’s Story, based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Charles Fuller. He played the role of Captain Davenport, a black military lawyer who investigates the murder of a black sergeant in a segregated army base during World War II. The film was critically acclaimed and received three Academy Award nominations.
In the Heat of the Night
In 1988, Rollins landed his most famous role as Virgil Tibbs on In the Heat of the Night, the television series based on Jewison’s acclaimed 1967 film of the same name starring Sidney Poitier and Rod Steiger. The series followed the adventures of Tibbs, a black detective from Philadelphia who moves to a small town in Mississippi to work with Chief Gillespie (played by Carroll O’Connor), a white police chief who initially resents him but later respects him.
The series was a hit with audiences and critics alike, winning several Emmy Awards and Golden Globes. Rollins received two NAACP Image Awards for his portrayal of Tibbs.
Personal Problems and Decline
However, behind the scenes, Rollins was struggling with addiction to drugs and alcohol. He was arrested four times for drug and alcohol-related crimes, spending one month in jail for reckless driving and driving under the influence. Due to his ongoing personal and legal issues, Rollins was dismissed from In the Heat of the Night at the end of Season 6.
Rollins tried to revive his career by appearing in guest roles on shows like New York Undercover and Remember WENN, and in films like Drunks and Harambee!. He also sought treatment for his addiction and joined support groups.
HIV Diagnosis and Death
In late 1996, Rollins was diagnosed with HIV infection. He had contracted the virus through unprotected sex with multiple partners, some of whom were transvestites. He had also been dressing as a woman himself, wearing sparkling gowns, costly wigs, and high heels. He found this act cathartic and liberating.
Six weeks after his diagnosis, Rollins died of complications from AIDS-related lymphoma at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York City on December 8, 1996. He was 46 years old. He was buried at Woodlawn Cemetery in Baltimore.
Legacy
Howard E. Rollins Jr. was one of the most promising actors of his generation who broke barriers for African American performers in Hollywood. He was praised for his versatility, charisma, and intensity on screen. He also inspired many young actors who followed him.
His death from AIDS-related lymphoma was a tragic reminder of the devastating impact of the disease on the entertainment industry and the black community. His life and career were also a cautionary tale of the dangers of drug addiction and the stigma of homosexuality.
Howard E. Rollins Jr. will always be remembered for his brilliant performances and his courageous battle with AIDS. He was a star who shone brightly but burned out too soon.
