Scott Hylands
Scott Hylands | |
|---|---|
.JPG) Hylands in 1977 | |
| Born | Scott Hylands Douglas 27 February 1943 Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada |
| Died | 29 July 2026 (aged 83) Victoria, British Columbia, Canada |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1965–2020 |
| Spouse | Veronica Hylands |
| Children | 2 |
Scott Hylands Douglas (27 February 1943 – 29 July 2026) was a Canadian actor who appeared in film, television, and on stage. Due to his longevity and versatility, critics have called him "one of Canada's greatest actors."[1]
Early years
[edit source]Scott Hylands Douglas[2] was born in 1943 in Lethbridge, Alberta.[3] His mother, Ruth (née White) Douglas (1913–2005), was a public health nurse, later a mathematics teacher, and his father, Walter Norman Douglas, was killed in action in 1945, during World War II.[2][4] He was raised and educated in southwest British Columbia, where he attended Shawnigan Lake Boys School[5] on Vancouver Island. He then attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and graduated in 1964.[6] Hylands initially studied zoology, but when the university began a theater arts major, he transferred into that program.[7]
Upon graduation, he left Canada to pursue an acting career in New York City, where his first role was as the lead in an off-Broadway production of the comedy Billy Liar.[8]
Career in the United States
[edit source]After appearing on Billy Liar in 1965, he spent several years in San Francisco, acting with the American Conservatory Theater. Then, in 1968, he was asked by Canadian-American Hollywood film director Mark Robson to audition for a movie role.[9] His first film appearance was in the 1969 suspense film Daddy's Gone A-Hunting. His performance received positive reviews, but his film debut was overshadowed by another film released at the same time, Midnight Cowboy.[10]
In August 1975, Hylands appeared onstage as Mercutio in the Los Angeles Free Shakespeare Society production of Romeo and Juliet at the John Anson Ford Theater, known at the time as The Pilgrimage Theatre, in the Cahuenga Pass.[11] He received critical praise, both for his acting skill and for his good looks.[12]
While he did not become a household name, he worked regularly, appearing in a number of movies, as well as in some American television shows. Among the television shows in which he acted were Cannon, The Waltons, Kung Fu, Baretta, and Ironside.[13]
On American television, he became well known for playing tough guy characters and villains: as he noted in an interview, if an actor was not the leading man, he generally plays a "heavy."[14]
Career in Canada
[edit source]In the early 1980s, Hylands returned to Canada.[15] He was cast as Detective Kevin "O.B." O'Brien on the television series Night Heat,[16] a police drama, produced in Toronto; it aired in both Canada on CTV and America on CBS from 1985 to 1989. This was his first television starring role.[17]
After Night Heat was canceled, Hylands continued to live in Canada, settling in Salt Spring Island, where he lived for 25 years with his wife, Veronica, a nurse, and their two children. They later relocated to Victoria.[13] He worked in both American and Canadian productions. He appeared as Father Travis in the ABC series V.[18]
Hylands appeared on numerous other programs, including the 1992 television film To Catch a Killer, a 1995 episode of the police drama NYPD Blue, and on four episodes of the revival of The Outer Limits from 1996 to 2001.[19] He also returned to the Canadian stage, playing leading roles in such productions as Waiting for Godot (2015), and The Tempest (1994), among others. He produced and directed a 2008 version of Waiting for Godot and performed in a solo version of A Christmas Carol. In addition, Hylands directed and performed in a 2006 production of Under Milk Wood that was staged in Victoria BC.[1]
In 2021, at age 78, Hylands expressed no interest in retiring and continued to be involved with theater until sidelined by health issues.[20]
Health and death
[edit source]In 2021, shortly after his daughter's wedding, Hylands was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. A GoFundMe account was posted by his wife to help pay for the well-regarded but expensive medication, Venclexta, needed for Hylands' chemotherapy treatment.[21]
Hylands died from complications of acute myeloid leukemia after five years of remission on 29 July 2026, at the age of 83.[22][23][24] His death was publicly announced by his son.[25][26]
Filmography
[edit source]Film
[edit source]- Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969) – Kenneth Daly
- Operation Snafu (1970) – Reginald Wollington
- Fools (1970) – David Appleton
- Slipstream (1973) – Terry
- The Visitor (1974)
- Earthquake (1974) – Asst. Caretaker – Hollywood Reservoir Dam
- Bittersweet Love (1976) – Michael Lewis
- The Boys in Company "C" (1978) – Capt. Collins
- Coming Out Alive (1980) – Jocko
- Death Hunt (1981) – The Pilot
- Isaac Littlefeathers (1984) – Jesse Armstrong
- The Oasis (1984) – Jake
- Decoy (1996) – Jenner
- Ignition (2001) – Carlsen
- Freezer Burn: The Invasion of Laxdale (2008) – Arnie Filmore
- Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010) – Dr. Mercurio Arboria
- Knockout (2011) – Grandfather Charlie Putman
- Becoming Redwood (2012) – Earl
- Rememory (2017) – Charles
- Norman (2019, Short film) – Norman
- Elsewhere (2019) – Mr. Black
Television
[edit source] |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971 | Earth II | Jim Capa | Television film |
| 1972 | The Sixth Sense | Jason | 1 episode |
| 1972–1974 | Ironside | Joe Grainger / Philip Thomas | 2 episodes |
| 1973 | Griff | Assassin | 1 episode |
| 1973 | Kung Fu | Randy Bucknell / Saunders | 2 episodes |
| 1974 | The Magician | Hal | 1 episode |
| 1975 | Harry O | Luke Turner | 1 episode |
| 1976 | Cannon | Joe Gantry | 2 episodes |
| 1976 | Baretta | Hatfield | 1 episode |
| 1977 | Wonder Woman | Paul Bjornsen | 2 episodes |
| 1977 | Baa Baa Black Sheep | Padre John | 1 episode |
| 1977 | Police Story | Lt. Carl Inforzato | 2 episodes |
| 1978 | The Winds of Kitty Hawk | Glenn Curtiss | Television film |
| 1978 | Centennial | Laseter | Miniseries |
| 1981 | The Waltons | Curt Willard Packard | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Hart to Hart | Alan Chambers | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Shocktrauma | Dr. "Tex" Goodnight | Television film |
| 1984 | George Washington | General Greene | Miniseries |
| 1984 | Blue Thunder | Peter Anson | 1 episode |
| 1985–1989 | Night Heat | Detective Kevin O'Brien | 96 episodes |
| 1991 | Counterstrike | Colonel Nathan | Episode: "The Dilemma" |
| 1992 | To Catch a Killer | Delta Squad Sergeant Mike Paxton | Television film |
| 1993 | Ordeal in the Arctic | Fred Ritchie | Television film |
| 1993 | Scales of Justice | Harry Oakes | Episode: "Rex v De Marigny" |
| 1993 | Kung Fu: The Legend Continues | Gant | 1 episode |
| 1995 | NYPD Blue | Roy Sandquist | 1 episode |
| 1996 | Titanic | John Jacob Astor IV | Miniseries |
| 1996–2001 | The Outer Limits | Various characters | 4 episodes |
| 1997 | The X-Files | Gen. Benjamin Bloch | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Stargate SG-1 | Dr. Timothy Harlow | 1 episode |
| 2007 | Anna's Storm | Clint Corbin | Television film |
| 2007 | Eureka | Pierre Sandrov | 1 episode |
| 2009 | V | Father Tarvis | 11 episodes |
| 2011 | Supernatural | Judge Tye Mortimer | 1 episode |
| 2012 | The Horses of McBride | Preston | Television film |
| 2017 | Fargo | Ennis Stussy | 3 episodes |
| 2019 | Heartland | Lucky Butch Connelly | 1 episode |
| 2020 | Wynonna Earp | Wyatt Earp | 1 episode |
References
[edit source]- 1 2 Chamberlain, Adrian (23 February 2006). "Milk Wood Memories". Times Colonist. Victoria B.C. p. D7.
- 1 2 Shields., Roy (10 April 1965). "B.C. to B'Way-- In a Hurry". Toronto Star. p. 31.
- ↑ Haugeneder, Rudy (15 July 1972). "Massive Fire Climax of Movie". Lethbridge Herald. Alberta. p. 14.
- ↑ "Flight Lieutenant Walter Norman Douglas". veterans.gc.ca. 20 February 2019. Retrieved 14 July 2023.
- ↑ Chamberlain, Adrian (10 December 2009). "Dickens Classic a One-Man Show". Times Colonist. Victoria. p. D8.
- ↑ Hylands, Scott (19 March 2012). "Readers Pay Tribute to Vancouver Playhouse". Vancouver Sun. p. A10.
- ↑ Conlogue, Ray (26 June 1982). "This Macho Man Has Many Faces". Globe & Mail. Toronto. p. E3.
- ↑ Gault, Carol (19 April 1986). "Night Heat Gives Hylands the Right Slot". Globe & Mail. Toronto. p. 7.
- ↑ MacDonald, Marci (7 December 1968). "How Scott Hylands Became a Matinee Idol Without a Suit". Toronto Star. p. 69.
- ↑ Bawden, Jim (24 March 1985). "Night Heat". Toronto Star. p. G1.
- ↑ Progress Bulletin from Pomona California, 20 July 1975, pg. 25. Accessed 5 February 2018.
- ↑ Helen Bullock. "Acting is for the Hardy", Toronto Star, 22 June 1982, pg. F1.
- 1 2 Michael D. Reid. "Actor Exults in Beckett's Booby-Traps", Victoria Times-Colonist. 13 March 2015, pg. C12.
- ↑ Carol Gault. "Night Heat Gives Hylands the Right Slot", Toronto Globe & Mail, 19 April 1986, pg. 7.
- ↑ Chamberlain, Adrian (21 January 1994). "Scott Hylands news". Victoria Times-Colonist. p. 1.
- ↑ Newhouse, Miriam; Messaline, Peter (1 February 1999). The Actor's Survival Kit. Dundurn Press Ltd. pp. 29–. ISBN 9780889242784. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
- ↑ Diane Smith. "Great Scott." Toronto Star, 29 March 1986, pg. S4.
- ↑ Christine Van Reeuwyk. (Sidney, B.C.) Peninsula News Review. 10 December 2009, pg. 18
- ↑ Eirik Knutzen. "TV Talkback", Toronto Star, 20 April 2002, pg. S8.
- ↑ Michael D. Reid. "Actor Exults in Beckett's Booby-Traps", Victoria Times-Colonist, 13 March 2015, pg. C12.
- ↑ Braun, Liz (22 November 2021). "GoFundMe set up to help beloved Canadian actor Scott Hylands". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 1 August 2023.
- ↑ Barnes, Mike (1 August 2026). "Scott Hylands, Star of TV's 'Night Heat' on Both Sides of the Border, Dies at 83". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ Brioux, Bill. "Scott Hylands 1943 – 2026". brioux.tv. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ "Scott Hylands, Dead at 83". Toronto Mike. Toronto Mike. Retrieved 1 August 2026.
- ↑ Alan, Editorial (3 August 2026). "Scott Hylands, Renowned Actor from Night Heat and Fargo, Passes Away at 83". Policy Wire. Retrieved 2 August 2026.
- ↑ "Editing Scott Hylands (section) - Wikipedia". en.wikipedia.org. Retrieved 3 August 2026.
External links
[edit source]
- Scott Hylands at IMDb
- Scott Hylands at the Internet Broadway Database
- Scott Hylands profile (Aveleyman)
- Scott Hylands discography at Discogs
