Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. (October 17, 1950 – December 8, 1996) Howard Rollins was best 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. During the run of Heat of the Night, Rollins struggled with an addiction to drugs and alcohol. He was arrested four times fo

Do you remember Howard Rollins from In The Heat of the Night? | Do You Remember When

🌠 Remembering Howard Rollins on His Heavenly 75th Birthday 🌠 Gone too soon, but never forgotten. Today, we honor the brilliant Howard Rollins — an actor whose soul spoke through every role he touched. 🎬✨ From Ragtime to A Soldier’s Story to In the Heat of the Night, he brought strength, vulnerability, and truth to the screen. His performances weren’t just acting — they were art, filled with heart and humanity. 💔 Howard Rollins paved the way for so many, reminding us that greatness isn’t meas

" HOWARD ROLLINS " He was best 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 NBC/CBS television crime drama In the Heat of the Night (1988–1994). Over the span of his acting career, Rollins was nominated for an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and an Emmy. Born to Ruth and Howard Ellsworth Rollins Sr. o