Night Heat & Fargo star Scott Hylands dead at 83 as heartbroken son pays tribute to his ‘forever hero’
BELOVED actor Scott Hylands has died at the age of 83 as his family pay tribute to their “forever hero and best friend”.
The Canadian actor was best known for his role as Detective Kevin O’Brien in 1980s cop show Night Heat and playing Ennis Stuccy on season three of Fargo.
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He was most famous for his role as Detective Kevin O’Brien in Night HeatCredit: Alamy
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Scott Hylands appeared in his first film in 1969Credit: Alamy
His heartbroken son Luke Hylands revealed that his dad had passed away on July 29.
In a post to Facebook on Saturday, he paid tribute to a “Husband, Father, Actor, Director, Writer, Storyteller, Friend, and lover of life”.
He wrote: “I am heartbroken to share the news that my Dad Scott has passed away Wednesday night. Myself and my family are still trying to process this horrible loss.”
He added: “You are my forever hero and my best friend. Always and forever.”
Hylands had been diagnosed with the fast-spreading bone and blood disease myeloid leukemia in October 2021.
Born in 1943 in Canada, Hylands initially studied Zoology at University of British Columbia before swapping to theatre.
He then moved to New York City – and first appeared on-screen in 1969 in the thriller film ‘Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting’.
Hylands performed in a wave of shows across the 1970s, appearing in the films ‘Slipstream’, ‘Earthquake’ and ‘The Boys in Company C’.
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Scott Hylands (left) with Jeff Wincott (right) starred together in cop show Night HeatCredit: Alamy
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Scott Hylands (rear) and Dennis Patrick in thriller film ‘Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting’Credit: Alamy
He also worked on TV series The Streets of San Francisco, Kung Fu, Harry O, Police Woman, Cannon, Medical Center, Baretta, Wonder Woman and Police Story.
Over the years he had guest appearances on NYPD Blue, The Outer Limits, The X-Files, Supernatural, Fargo, Heartland and Wynonna Earp, as well as films like ‘Rememory’ and ‘Elsewhere’.
But he was most famous for starring alongside Jeff Wincott as a detective duo tackling a smuggling ring in Night Heat.
The cop show ran for four seasons and 96 episodes from 1985 to 1989.
His co-actor Jeff told the Toronto Sun in 2021: “I was lucky to have worked with him on my first big acting job.
“He taught me a lot. He was always prepared, professional, and he cared deeply about doing good work, a lesson and example I carried with me throughout my career.”
Scott Hylands is survived by his wife Veronica and his two children Scott and Rebecca.