Why did Howard Rollins leave In the Heat of the Night?

Why did Howard Rollins leave In the Heat of the Night?

Howard Rollins, an actor who was nominated for an Academy Award in 1981 for his work in the film ”Ragtime” and was written out of the hit television series ”In the Heat of the Night” in 1993 because of drug problems, died on Sunday at St. Luke’s Hospital in Manhattan. He was 46.

When was Howard Rollins diagnosed with lymphoma?

Rollins seemed to be getting his life and career back on track when in late October of 1996 he was diagnosed with lymphatic cancer. Within six weeks Rollins succumbed to the cancer and died at St. Luke’s-Roosevelt Hospital in New York at the age of 46.

What happened to the guy who played Virgil Tibbs?

Howard Rollins (1950 – 1996) – Rollins, starred in the box-office hit, “A Soldier’s Story,” which led to his role as Virgil Tibbs on the TV drama “In the Heat of the Night,” died on Dec. 8, 1996 after complications from AIDS-related lymphoma.

How many cast members from In the Heat of the Night have died?

Carroll O’Connor died in 2001 at 76 from a heart attack brought on by complications from diabetes. His son, Hugh O’Connor, committed suicide in 1995 at age 32. Howard E. Rollins Jr., who played Detective Virgil Tibbs, died of complications from lymphoma in 1996 at 46.

Why did Virgil and Althea divorce?

However, Anne-Marie Johnson (who played Althea) chose to join the cast of “In Living Color. Her absence was explained by having Althea & Virgil separate because of her having emotional problems stemming not only from her rape, but the stress of her being married to a policeman.

Why did Hugh O’Connor leave In the Heat of the Night?

8. O’Connor missed the end of season two due to illness. O’Connor was diagnosed with a life-threatening coronary artery blockage during season two and underwent sextuple bypass, forcing him to miss four episodes. Joe Don Baker (Walking Tall) stepped in as acting chief Tom Dugan.