The Canadian actor died on Wednesday, July 29, according to his son

NEED TO KNOW

• Scott Hylands, the Canadian actor best known for starring as Detective Kevin “O.B.” O’Brien in Night Heat, has died at age 83
• Hylands built a decades-long career in film, television and theater, also appearing in shows like Fargo, The X-Files and NYPD Blue
• The actor was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2021, though it is unclear whether his death was related to the illness

Actor Scott Hylands, best known for his role on the television series Night Heat, has died. He was 83.

Hylands died on Wednesday, July 29, according to his son, Luke, who announced the news in an Instagram post shared on Friday, July 31.

“Husband, Father, Actor, Director, Writer, Storyteller, Friend, and lover of life,” the camera and electrical technician wrote in his tribute.

“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 continued.

“There simply are not enough words I can say about you right now. You are my forever hero and my best friend,” Luke said, adding, “Always and forever. I love you. Goodbye Dad. xo”

The post was accompanied by a carousel of images of the actor both alone and with loved ones.

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Hylands was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia in 2021, according to The Hollywood Reporter, which was the first outlet to report the news of Hylands’ death.

It remains unclear whether the actor’s death was related to the prior diagnosis.

Hylands was born in Lethbridge, a city in Alberta, Canada, in 1943, according to his IMDb bio page.

He was raised in Vancouver and graduated with honors from the University of British Columbia with a Bachelor of Arts in theater in 1964.

After performing in a stage production in New York City, Hylands went on to become an original member of the American Conservatory Theatre in San Francisco, where he appeared in more than 20 productions, including Death of a Salesman and King Lear.

He made his film debut in the 1969 horror comedy Daddy’s Gone A-Hunting. He then went on to accrue an extensive list of movie and TV credits before landing the lead role in the series Night Heat.

In the series — which aired in Canada on CTV and in the U.S. on CBS from 1985 to 1989 — Hylands played Kevin “O.B.” O’Brien, a seasoned detective working the night shift alongside a younger, more impulsive partner.

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The show was the first original Canadian drama series to simultaneously broadcast in the U.S., according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Hylands made dozens of TV appearances over the following three decades, including in shows like The X-Files, NYPD Blue and a three-episode run in season 3 of the FX series Fargo. He last appeared in the Syfy show Wynonna Earp in 2020.

In addition to his son, Luke, Hylands is survived by his wife, Veronica, and daughter, Rebecca.

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