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Howard Rollins
Date of Birth: 17.10.1950
Country:  USA |
Content:
- Birth and Early Life
- Acting Beginnings
- Television Success
- Critical Acclaim and Awards
- Landmark Roles
- Personal Struggles
- Later Works and Legacy
- Passing and Legacy
Birth and Early Life
Howard Ellsworth Rollins, Jr., was born on October 17, 1950, in Baltimore, Maryland, as the youngest of four children to Howard E. Rollins Sr. and Ruth R. Rollins.
Acting Beginnings
Rollins' first acting classes were taken at Towson State College. In 1970, he landed his debut role in the soap opera "Our Street." He continued his training in New York City, joining the Broadway cast of "Roots: The Next Generations" in 1974, later reprising the role in its television adaptation.
Television Success
Throughout the 1970s and 1980s, Rollins became a fixture on television. He appeared in series such as "King" and "All My Children." He also starred in several television films, including "My Old Man," "Thornwell," "A Doctor's Story," and others.
Critical Acclaim and Awards
In 1981, Rollins' performance in Milos Forman's drama "Ragtime" earned him an Oscar nomination. The following year, he was nominated for an Emmy for his role in the soap opera "Another World."
Landmark Roles
Rollins took on significant roles in major films and television dramas. In 1983, he played civil rights activist Medgar Evers in Michael Schultz's "For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story." A year later, he starred as an African American detective in Norman Jewison's military drama "A Soldier's Story."
Personal Struggles
In 1988, Rollins was arrested in Louisiana on drug charges. His drug-related issues led to professional setbacks, including a temporary suspension from the television series "In the Heat of the Night." However, he eventually returned to the project.
Later Works and Legacy
Rollins' final acting credits included the television series "Remember WENN" and the PBS film "Harambee!" His last film role, a drama titled "Drunks," released in 1995, seemed to foreshadow his personal struggles.
Passing and Legacy
In 1996, at the age of 46, Rollins was diagnosed with lymphoma. He succumbed to the disease six weeks later, on December 8, 1996. Throughout his career, Rollins appeared in over 30 films and television shows, as well as several stage productions. His contributions to American cinema and television left a lasting impact.
