Howard E. Rollins Jr.
Howard E. Rollins Jr.
Birth name
Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr.
Height
6' (1.83 m)
Mini biography
Biography for Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. He was the youngest of four children born to Howard E. Rollins
Sr. (steelworker) and Ruth R. Rollins (domestic worker). Rollins graduated from Towson State College, where he studied theater. His first break into acting came when a friend convinced him to try out for a role in "Of Mice and Men" at a local Baltimore theater. He surprised himself with his acting talent. He left for New York City in 1974 to further his acting career. Rollins earned an Oscar nomination for the role of Coalhouse Walker Jr. in Ragtime (1981) and an Emmy nomination for Best Supporting Actor on the ABC daytime drama "Another World" (1964). He is also known for his brilliant portrayal of Detective Virgil Tibbs on the long running hit TV series "In the Heat of the Night" (1988), based on the 1967 movie of the same name. In 1995, he made his final feature film appearance in _Drunks (1997)_ . Rollins was diagnosed with lymphoma in late 1996 and six weeks later he died of complications from the disease at the age of 46.
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Howard E. Rollins, Jr.
actor
Born: 11/17/50
Birthplace: Baltimore, Maryland
Rollins gained critical acclaim for his role as a young Black man in search of justice in the film Ragtime (1981), a performance that earned an Oscar nomination. Well known for playing a detective in the TV series In the Heat of the Night (1987–92), Rollins also appeared in soap operas and TV movies such as For Us, the Living: The Medgar Evers Story (1983). His stage appearances include a Canadian production of Othello and a London production of I'm Not Rappaport.
Died: 12/8/96
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Howard E. Rollins Jr.
Date of birth (location)
17 October 1950
Baltimore, Maryland, USA
Date of death (details)
8 December 1996
New York, New York, USA. (complications from lymphoma)
Mini biography
Howard E. Rollins Jr. was born in Baltimore, Maryland in 1950. He was the youngest... (show more)
Sometimes Credited As:
Howard Rollins Jr.
Howard E. Rollins
Howard Rollins
IMDbPro Professional Details
Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Actor - filmography
(1990s) (1980s) (1970s)
1. Drunks (1995) (as Howard Rollins) .... Joseph
2. In the Heat of the Night: Who Was Geli Bendl? (1994) (TV) .... Virgil Tibbs
3. With Murder in Mind (1992/I) (TV) (as Howard Rollins) .... Samuel Carver
... aka With Savage Intent (1992) (TV)
4. On the Block (1990)
5. "In the Heat of the Night" (1988) TV Series .... Chief of Detectives/Attorney Virgil Tibbs (1988-1993, 1994)
6. Johnnie Mae Gibson: FBI (1986) (TV) (as Howard Rollins) .... T.C. Russell
... aka Johnnie Gibson F.B.I. (1986) (TV)
7. Children of Times Square, The (1986) (TV) .... Otis Travis
... aka Street Wise (1986) (TV) (Australia: video title)
8. Boy King, The (1986) (TV) .... Martin Luther King Sr.
9. "Wildside" (1985) TV Series .... Bannister Sparks
10. House of Dies Drear (1984) (TV) .... Walter Small
11. House of God, The (1984) .... Chuck Johnston
12. He's Fired, She's Hired (1984) (TV) .... Raoul
13. Soldier's Story, A (1984) .... Capt. Davenport
14. Doctor's Story, A (1984) (TV) .... Dr. Zack Williams
15. For Us the Living: The Medgar Evers Story (1983) (TV) .... Medgar Evers
... aka For Us, the Living (1983) (TV) (USA: short title)
16. "Another World" (1964) TV Series .... Ed Harding (1982)
... aka "Another World: Bay City" (1964)
17. Member of the Wedding, The (1982) (TV) .... Honey Brown
18. Neighborhood, The (1982) (TV) .... Allen Campbell
... aka Breslin's Neighborhood (1982) (TV)
19. Ragtime (1981) .... Coalhouse Walker Jr.
20. Thornwell (1981) (TV) .... Carson
21. My Old Man (1979) (TV) .... Doctor
22. "Roots: The Next Generations" (1979) (mini) TV Series .... George Haley
23. Trial of the Moke, The (1978) (TV)
24. "King" (1978) (mini) TV Series (as Howard Rollins) .... Andrew Young
Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Himself - filmography
(1990s) (1980s)
1. Directors: Norman Jewison, The (1997) (V) .... Himself
2. 68th Annual Academy Awards, The (1996) (TV) .... Himself (Memorial Tribute)
3. Dear America: Letters Home from Vietnam (1987) (TV) (voice) (as Howard Rollins Jr.)
... aka Dear America (1987) (TV)
Filmography as: Actor, Himself, Notable TV Guest Appearances
Notable TV Guest Appearances
1. "Remember WENN" (1996) playing "George Smith" in episode: "The Emperor Smith" (episode # 1.6) 8 June 1996
2. "New York Undercover" (1994) playing "Reverend Hundley" in episode: "The Smoking Section" (episode # 1.15) 19 January 1995
3. "Fridays" (1980) playing "Guest Host" (episode # 3.14) 22 January 1982
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A Soldier's Story
Released 1984
Stars Howard E. Rollins Jr., Adolph Caesar, Art Evans, David Alan Grier, Robert Townsend, Denzel Washington
Directed by Norman Jewison
"A Soldier's Story" is set in WWII, and it's about the murder of a black Army sergeant. It's a whodunit that explores the racism and segregation that existed in the Army, while a black Army lawyer tries to track down the killer. It's an insightful, probing look into racism between whites and blacks as well as among blacks themselves.
Soldier's Story, A (1984)
Directed by
Norman Jewison
Writing credits
Charles Fuller (also play A Soldier's Play)
Add to MyMovies IMDbPro Professional Details
Genre: Drama / Mystery (more)
Tagline: Alone, far from home, and far from justice, he has three days to learn the truth about a murder...and the truth is a story you won't forget.
Plot Outline: An African American officer investigates a murder in a racially charged situation in World War II. (more) (view trailer)
User Comments: A gripping military drama (more)
User Rating: 7.2/10 (1,067 votes)
Cast (in credits order) verified as complete
Howard E. Rollins Jr. .... Capt. Davenport
Adolph Caesar .... Sgt. Waters
Art Evans .... Pvt. Wilkie
David Alan Grier .... Cpl. Cobb
David Harris .... Pvt. Smalls
Dennis Lipscomb .... Capt. Taylor
Larry Riley .... C.J. Memphis
Robert Townsend .... Cpl. Ellis
Denzel Washington .... Pfc. Peterson
William Allen Young .... Pvt. Henson
Patti LaBelle .... Big Mary
Wings Hauser .... Lt. Byrd
Scott Paulin .... Capt. Wilcox
John Hancock .... Sgt. Washington
Trey Wilson .... Col. Nivens
Patricia Brandkamp .... Ida Nivens
Carl Dreher .... Bus driver
Vaughn Reeves .... Capt. Estes
Robert Tyler .... Pvt. Seymour
Pat Grabe .... White lieutenant #1
Terry Dodd .... White lieutenant #2
Warren Clements .... Sgt. Hooks
James W. Bryant .... Chaplain
John Valentine .... Umpire
Ronald E. Greenfield .... MP sergeant
Anthony C. Sanders .... MP
Traftin E. Thompson .... MP in barracks
Roy Wells .... Training field sergeant
Tommy G. Liggins .... Soldier painting
Calvin Franklin .... Barracks soldier
Kevin T. Mosley .... Barracks soldier
Michael Williams .... Barracks soldier
David Ashley .... Barracks soldier
Thomas Howard .... Barracks soldier
Bobby McGee .... Barracks soldier (as Bobby McGaughey)
Rick Ramey .... Barracks soldier
Lacarnist Hiriams .... Barracks soldier
Directed by
Norman Jewison
Writing credits (in alphabetical order)
Charles Fuller also play A Soldier's Play
Produced by
Norman Jewison .... producer
Charles Milhaupt .... associate producer
Patrick J. Palmer .... producer (as Patrick Palmer)
Chiz Schultz .... executive producer (as Charles Schultz)
Ronald L. Schwary .... producer
Original Music by
Herbie Hancock
Cinematography by
Russell Boyd
Film Editing by
Caroline Biggerstaff
Mark Warner
Production Design by
Walter Scott Herndon
Set Decoration by
Thomas L. Roysden
Makeup Department
Bernadine M. Anderson .... makeup artist (as Bernardine Anderson)
Leonard Drake .... hair stylist
Production Management
Gerald R. Molen .... unit production manager
Second Unit Director or Assistant Director
Warren Gray .... second assistant director
Anthony Mason .... dga trainee (as Tony Mason)
Dwight Williams .... first assistant director
Art Department
Ray Mercer Jr. .... property master (as Ray F. Mercer Jr.)
Ernest Phillips .... stand-by painter (as Ernest J. Phillips)
Richard Reseigne .... construction design coordinator
Arthur Shippee .... assistant property master
Michael Taylor .... lead man
Sound Department
Else Blangsted .... music editor
Kevin F. Cleary .... sound re-recording mixer
Linda Dove .... sound editor
Julie Feiner .... assistant sound editor
Walter A. Gest .... sound re-recordist
William Gocke .... boom operator (as Bill Gocke)
Gib Jaffe .... sound editor
Robert J. Litt .... sound re-recording mixer
Dessie Markovsky .... sound editor
Emile Razpopov .... supervising sound editor
Dennis S. Sands .... music scoring mixer (as Dennis Sands)
Catherine Shorr .... sound editor
Michael Tomack .... sound editor
Elliot Tyson .... sound re-recording mixer
Gordon Webb .... cable person
Charles M. Wilborn .... production sound mixer
Special Effects by
James Camomile .... assistant special effects (as Jim Camomile)
Dennis Dion .... special effects supervisor
Stunts
Greg Wayne Elam .... stunt double (as Greg Elam)
Melvin Jones .... stunt double
Other crew
Ed Bland .... orchestrator
Megan Branman .... extras casting
Billy Brashier .... projectionist
William V. Bromiley Jr. .... production assistant (as Bill Bromiley)
Jan A. Campbell .... accounting clerk (as Jan Campbell)
Robin Chaykin .... assistant: Mr. Palmer
Paul Cichocki .... apprentice editor
Delia Circelli .... production office coordinator
Thomas S. Dawson .... costume supervisor
Terry Dodd .... first aid
Don Duffield .... key grip
Rick Firkins .... caterer (as Rick Firkens)
Wilma Garscadden-Gahret .... script supervisor
Ralph Gerling .... camera operator
Bill Grey .... transportation coordinator
Leroy Hager .... craft service
Barbara Harris .... voice casting
Ted Holt .... gaffer (as Ted P. Holt)
Julie Hughes .... casting: New York
Michael Jewison .... production associate
Candace Koethe .... assistant: Mr. Jewison
Ron Lambert .... color timer
Don Levy .... unit publicist (as Donald Levy)
Cherylanne Martin .... production assistant
J. Michael McClary .... first assistant camera
Fred L. McLane .... second assistant camera (as Fred McLane)
Leanne Moore .... assistant production accountant
Barry Moss .... casting: New York
Bonnie Palef .... assistant: Mr. Jewison (as Bonnie Palef Woolf)
Gregory Palmer .... apprentice editor
Ron Phillips .... unit still photographer
Jim Rose .... best boy
Joe Schultz .... caterer
Robert Stewart .... costumer: men
Lencola Sullivan .... production secretary
Diana Tinkley .... assistant: Mr. Schwary
Tom Udell .... production accountant
Chuck Velasco .... costumer: men
Edward A. Warschilka .... assistant editor (as Edward A. Warschilka Jr.)
Philip C. Pfeiffer .... director of photography: second unit (uncredited)
Crew believed to be complete
Production Companies
* Caldix
* Columbia Pictures Corporation [us]
* Delphi
Distributors
* Columbia Pictures [us]
* Sony Pictures Video [jp]
LINKS:
www.factmonster.com/ipka/A0763131.html
www.french.imdb.com/name/nm0738415/filmogenre
www.us.imdb.com/Bio?Rollins+Jr.%2C+Howard+E.
www.infoplease.com/cgi-bin/id/A0763131.html
www.us.imdb.com/Name?Rollins%2C+Howard