Scott Hylands facts for kids

Scott Hylands (born in 1943) is a talented Canadian actor. He has appeared in many movies, TV shows, and plays. People who review movies and plays have called him "one of Canada's greatest actors." This is because he has acted for a very long time and can play many different kinds of characters.

About Scott Hylands

Early Life and Education

Scott Hylands was born in 1943 in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada. His birth name was Scott Hylands Douglas. His mother, Ruth Douglas, was a nurse and later a math teacher. His father, Walter Norman Douglas, sadly passed away in 1945 during World War II.

Scott grew up and went to school in British Columbia. He attended a school called Shawnigan Lake Boys School on Vancouver Island. After that, he went to the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. He graduated from university in 1964.

When he first started university, Scott studied zoology, which is the study of animals. But then, the university started a new program for theater arts. He decided to switch to that program instead, which was all about acting and plays.

Starting His Acting Career

After finishing university, Scott Hylands moved to New York City to become an actor. His very first acting job was in 1965. He played the main character in a comedy play called Billy Liar. This play was shown in a smaller theater, not on Broadway.

Acting in the United States

After his first play, Scott spent several years in San Francisco. He acted with a group called the American Conservatory Theater. In 1968, a famous director named Mark Robson asked him to try out for a movie.

Scott's first movie was a suspense film called Daddy's Gone A-Hunting in 1969. He received good reviews for his acting. However, another big movie, Midnight Cowboy, came out at the same time. This meant his movie did not get as much attention.

In 1975, Scott Hylands acted in a play called Romeo and Juliet. He played the character Mercutio. This play was shown in Los Angeles. People praised his acting skills and even mentioned his good looks.

Even though he did not become a super famous star, Scott worked steadily. He appeared in many movies and American TV shows. Some of the TV shows he acted in include Cannon, The Waltons, Kung Fu, Baretta, and Ironside. On American TV, he often played tough characters or villains. He once said that if an actor is not the main hero, they often play the "bad guy."

Returning to Canada

In the early 1980s, Scott Hylands moved back to Canada. This gave him a chance to play a good guy! He got a starring role as Detective Kevin "O.B." O'Brien. This was on a police TV show called Night Heat. The show was made in Toronto and was shown in both Canada and the United States from 1985 to 1989. This was his first main role on a TV series.

After Night Heat ended, Scott continued to live in Canada. He settled in Salt Spring Island, British Columbia, where he lived for 25 years. He lived there with his wife, Veronica, who is a nurse, and their two children. Later, they moved to Victoria.

Scott continued to work in both American and Canadian shows. He played Father Travis in the ABC-TV series V. He also appeared in many other programs. These included the TV movie To Catch a Killer in 1992. He was also in an episode of the popular police show NYPD Blue in 1995. From 1996 to 2001, he appeared in four episodes of the updated version of The Outer Limits.

Scott also returned to acting on stage in Canada. He played main roles in plays like Waiting for Godot in 2015 and The Tempest in 1994. He even produced and directed a version of Waiting for Godot in 2008. He also performed a solo show of A Christmas Carol. In 2006, he directed and acted in a play called Under Milk Wood in Victoria, BC.

In 2021, when he was 78 years old, Scott Hylands still loved acting. He did not want to stop. He continued to be involved with theater until he faced some health challenges.

Later Career and Health

In 2021, Scott Hylands faced a serious health issue. He was diagnosed with a type of blood cancer. His wife set up a special fund to help pay for his medical treatments. This showed how much support he had from his family and community during a difficult time.

A Look at His Films and TV Shows

Scott Hylands has been in many movies and TV shows. Here are some of them:

• Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969)
• Earthquake (1974)
• Wonder Woman (1977, TV Series)
• The Boys in Company "C" (1978)
• Death Hunt (1981)
• Night Heat (1985–1989, TV series) – Detective Kevin O'Brien
• Titanic (1996) – John Jacob Astor IV
• V (2009, TV series) – Father Tarvis
• Fargo (2017, TV Series) – Ennis Stussy
• Heartland (2019, TV Series) – Lucky Butch Connelly
• Wynonna Earp (2020, TV Series) – Wyatt Earp