Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. (October 17, 1950 – December 8, 1996) was an American actor. He was best known for Ragtime, A Soldier's Story, and In the Heat of the Night.
A native of Baltimore, Maryland, Rollins attended Towson University, majoring in theatre. He struggled with addiction throughout his life. Substance abuse problems caused his firing from In the Heat of the Night, which continued for one season after his departure. Afterwards he got clean but was soon diagnosed as HIV positive, and soon after died from complications of lymphoma.
Works with Howard Rollins:
Film
- 1978 The Trial Of The Moke: James Smith (Made-for-TV Movie)
- 1979 My Old Man: Doctor (TV Movie)
- 1981 Thornwell: Carson (TV Movie)
- 1981 Ragtime: Coalhouse Walker Jr.
- 1982 The Neighborhood: Allen Campbell (TV Movie)
- 1982 The Member Of The Wedding: Honey Camden Brown (TV Movie)
- 1983 For Us The Living The Medgar Evers Story: Medgar Evers (TV Movie)
- 1984 The House Of God: Chuck Johnston
- 1984 A Doctors Story: Dr. Zack Williams (TV Movie)
- 1984 A Soldier's Story: Captain Davenport
- 1984 Hes Fired Shes Hired: Raoul (TV Movie)
- 1984 The House Of Dies Drear: Walter Small (TV Movie)
- 1986 The Boy King: Martin Luther King, Sr. (TV Movie)
- 1986 The Children Of Times Square: Otis Travis (TV Movie)
- 1986 Johnnie Mae Gibson FBI: T.C. Russell (TV Movie)
- 1990 On The Block: Clay Beasley
- 1992 With Murder In Mind: Samuel Carver (TV Movie)
- 1995 Drunks: Joseph
- 1996 Harambee: Chibuko (TV Movie)
- 1978 King: Andrew Young
- 1979 Roots The Next Generations: George Haley (1 episode)
- 1981 All My Children: FBI Agent (1 episode)
- 1982 Another World: Ed Harding (3 episodes)
- 1985 Wildside: Bannister Sparks
- 1988-94 In the Heat of the Night: Chief of Detectives / Attorney Virgil Tibbs
- 1995 New York Undercover: Reverend Hundley (1 episode)
- 1996 Remember WENN: George Smith (1 episode)
