Scott Hylands

Scott Hylands Douglas[1] (born 1943) is a Canadian actor who has appeared in movies, on television, and on the stage. Because of his longevity and versatility, critics have called him "one of Canada's greatest actors."[2]

Scott Hylands
Born
Scott Hylands Douglas

1943 (age 7778)
NationalityCanadian
OccupationActor
Years active1969–present

Early years

Hylands was born in 1943 in Vancouver, British Columbia.[3] His mother Ruth was a science teacher, and his father Walter died during World War II.[1] Hylands was raised and educated in Vancouver, where he attended Shawnigan Lake Boys School;[4] he then attended the University of British Columbia and graduated in 1964.[5] Hylands at first studied zoology, but when the university began a theater arts major, he transferred into that program.[6] 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.[7]

Career in the United States

After that 1965 debut role, he spent several years in San Francisco, acting with the American Conservatory Theater. Then, in 1968, he was asked by Hollywood director Mark Robson to audition for a movie role.[8] His first movie appearance was in the 1969 suspense film Daddy's Gone A-Hunting. He got good reviews, but his movie debut was overshadowed by another film that came out at the same time: Midnight Cowboy.[9]

In August 1975 Hylands appeared onstage as Mercutio in the Los Angeles Free Shakespeare Society production of Romeo and Juliet at the Pilgrimage Theatre in the Cahuenga Pass.[10]

He won some critical praise, both for his acting skill and for his good looks. He was even compared to Paul Newman.[11] And while he did not become famous, he worked regularly, appearing in a number of movies, as well as in some American television shows. Among the TV shows in which he acted were Cannon, The Waltons, Baretta, and Ironside.[12] On American TV, he became well known for playing tough guy characters and villains: as he noted in an interview, if an actor is not the leading man, he generally plays a "heavy."[13]

Career in Canada

In the early 1980s, Hylands returned to Canada, settling in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia.[14] He also got an opportunity to play a good guy, the role of Detective Kevin "O.B." O'Brien on the television series Night Heat,[15] Night Heat was a police drama, produced in Toronto; it aired on both Canadian (CTV) and American (CBS) TV, from 1985 to 1989. This was his first starring role on any TV program.[16]

After Night Heat was canceled, Hylands continued to live in Canada, with his wife Veronica, a nurse, and their two children;[12] but he worked in both American and Canadian productions. He appeared as Father Travis in the ABC-TV series V.[17] He was seen on numerous other programs, including the 1992 TV movie To Catch a Killer, a 1995 episode of the hit cop drama NYPD Blue, and on four episodes of the remade version of The Outer Limits from 1996-2001.[18] 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, he directed, as well as performed in, a 2006 production of Under Milk Wood that was staged in Victoria BC.[2] In his early 70s, he has expressed no interest in retiring, and continues to be involved with theater.[19]

Partial filmography

References

  1. Roy Shields. "B.C. to B'Way-- In a Hurry." Toronto Star, April 10, 1965, p. 31
  2. Adrian Chamberlain. "Milk Wood Memories." (Victoria B.C.)Times-Colonist, February 23, 2006, p. D. 7.
  3. Rudy Haugeneder. "Massive Fire Climax of Movie." Lethbridge (Alberta) Herald, July 15, 1972, p. 14.
  4. Adrian Chamberlain. "Dickens Classic a One-Man Show." (Victoria B.C.) Times-Colonist, December 10, 2009, p. D8.
  5. Scott Hylands. "Readers Pay Tribute to Vancouver Playhouse." Vancouver (BC) Sun, March 19, 2012, p. A10.
  6. Ray Conlogue. "This Macho Man Has Many Faces." Toronto Globe & Mail, June 26, 1982, p. E3.
  7. Carol Gault. "Night Heat Gives Hylands the Right Slot." Toronto Globe & Mail, April 19, 1986, p. 7.
  8. Marci MacDonald. "How Scott Hylands Became a Matinee Idol Without a Suit." Toronto Star, December 7, 1968, p. 69.
  9. Jim Bawden. "Night Heat." Toronto Star, March 24, 1985, p. G1.
  10. Progress Bulletin from Pomona California, July 20, 1975, p 25. Accessed 5 February 2018
  11. Helen Bullock. "Acting is for the Hardy." Toronto Star, June 22, 1982, p. F1.
  12. Michael D. Reid. "Actor Exults in Beckett's Booby-Traps." (Victoria BC) Times-Colonist. March 13, 2015, p. C12.
  13. Carol Gault. "Night Heat Gives Hylands the Right Slot." Toronto Globe & Mail, April 19, 1986, p. 7.
  14. Adrian Chamberlain. (Victoria BC) Times-Colonist, January 21, 1994, p. 1.
  15. Newhouse, Miriam; Messaline, Peter (1 February 1999). The Actor's Survival Kit. Dundurn Press Ltd. pp. 29–. ISBN 9780889242784. Retrieved 4 July 2012.
  16. Diane Smith. "Great Scott." Toronto Star, March 29, 1986, p. S4.
  17. Christine Van Reeuwyk. (Sidney, B.C.) Peninsula News Review. December 10, 2009, p. 18
  18. Eirik Knutzen. "TV Talkback." Toronto Star, April 20, 2002, p. S8.
  19. Michael D. Reid. "Actor Exults in Beckett's Booby-Traps." (Victoria B.C.) Times-Colonist. March 13, 2015, p. C12.
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.