driving under the influence. Due to his ongoing personal and legal issues, Rollins was dismissed from the series at the end of Season 6. Rollins returned for several guest appearances in the seventh season of the show in 1993 – 1994. While on the series, Rollins recorded "Twas the Night Before Christmas" for the 1991 In the Heat of the Night Christmas CD Christmas Time's A Comin' produced by his co-stars Randall Franks and Alan Autry. Franks wrote the musical score for the classic Christmas story that featured Rollins telling the story to children related to fellow cast members. After being fired from In the Heat of the Night, Rollins achieved sobriety and worked on rebuilding his career and reputation. In 1995, he appeared in a guest role on New York Undercover, followed by a role in the film Drunks. In 1996, he appeared in a guest role on Remember WENN. His final acting role was in the 1996 television movie Harambee!. Personal life Legal issues In 1988, Rollins pled guilty to cocaine possession in Louisiana. In 1992 and 1993, he was arrested on three occasions for driving under the influence. In 1994, he served a month in jail for reckless driving and driving under the influence. Because of his legal problems, Rollins was dropped from In the Heat of the Night. After attending drug rehab, he returned to In the Heat of the Night as a guest star. Death On December 8, 1996, Rollins died at age 46 at St. Luke's-Roosevelt Hospital Center in New York City from lymphoma-related complications. His funeral was held on December 13 in Baltimore. Legacy On October 25, 2006, a wax statue of Rollins was unveiled at the Senator Theatre in Baltimore. The statue is now at Baltimore's Great Blacks in Wax Museum. Howard is a distant relative to Philadelphia Phillies Jimmy Rollins. Filmography References External links The Howard E. Rollins Foundation 1950 births 1996 deaths 20th-century American male actors Male actors from New York (state) American male film actors African-American male actors American male soap opera actors AIDS-related deaths in New York (state) Deaths from cancer in New York (state) Deaths from lymphoma Male actors from Baltimore Towson University alumni American male stage actors American male television actors 20th-century African-American people