Scott Hylands, the Canadian actor known for his roles in Night Heat and Fargo, died on Wednesday, July 29, at the age of 83. His son Luke confirmed the death on Instagram, saying the family is still trying to process this horrible loss.
“I am heartbroken to share the news that my Dad Scott has passed away Wednesday night,” Luke wrote alongside a series of family photos. “There simply are not enough words I can say about you right now. You are my forever hero and my best friend. Always and forever. I love you. Goodbye Dad.”
The final image in Luke’s Instagram post was a short video of him sitting beside his father in a hospital bed. The two raised plastic cups and toasted to life.
A Career Spanning Decades
Hylands was born in Lethbridge, Alberta in 1943 and raised in Vancouver, British Columbia. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in theatre from the University of British Columbia in 1964 before relocating to New York City, where he landed the lead role in the off-Broadway production of Billy Liar.
He went on to become one of the first members of the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, performing in productions including Death of a Salesman. His first on-screen credit came in the 1969 film Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting, alongside Carol White and Paul Burke.
Through the 1970s, Hylands appeared in both film and television, with credits including Operation Snafu (1970), Earthquake (1974), and TV series such as Cannon, Wonder Woman, and Police Story.
Night Heat and Later Work
Hylands earned wider recognition in 1985 when he was cast as Detective Kevin O’Brien in the Canadian police drama Night Heat, which also aired on CBS in the United States. The series ran for four seasons, ending in 1989, and won the Gemini Award for Best Drama Series in Canada in both 1986 and 1987. The cast also included Jeff Wincott, Allan Royal, and Louise Vallance.
After Night Heat wrapped, Hylands took on guest roles across a range of series including NYPD Blue, The X-Files, and Stargate SG-1. In the 2000s he appeared in episodes of The Dead Zone and Eureka, and in 2011 had a role in Supernatural.
He later portrayed the character Ennis in the third season of the FX anthology series Fargo. His last credited role was in a 2020 episode of Wynonna Earp.
In 2021, Hylands was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia. His family launched a GoFundMe campaign to help cover the costs of his medical treatment.
He is survived by his wife Veronica and their two children, Luke and Rebecca.
