Scott Hylands

Scott Hylands Douglas (27 February 1943 – 29 July 2026) was a Canadian actor who appeared in film, television, and on stage. Due to his longevity and versatility, critics have called him "one of Canada's greatest actors."

Early years Scott Hylands Douglas was born in 1943 in Lethbridge, Alberta. His mother, Ruth ( White) Douglas (1913–2005), was a public health nurse, later a mathematics teacher, and his father, Walter Norman Douglas, was killed in action in 1945, during World War II. He was raised and educated in southwest British Columbia, where he attended Shawnigan Lake Boys School on Vancouver Island. He then attended the University of British Columbia in Vancouver and graduated in 1964. Hylands initially studied zoology, but when the university began a theater arts major, he transferred into that program.

Upon graduation, he left Canada to pursue an acting career in New York City, where his first role was as the lead in an off-Broadway production of the comedy Billy Liar.

Career in the United States After appearing on Billy Liar in 1965, he spent several years in San Francisco, acting with the American Conservatory Theater. Then, in 1968, he was asked by Canadian-American Hollywood film director Mark Robson to audition for a movie role. His first film appearance was in the 1969 suspense film Daddy's Gone A-Hunting. His performance received positive reviews, but his film debut was overshadowed by another film released at the same time, Midnight Cowboy.

In August 1975, Hylands appeared onstage as Mercutio in the Los Angeles Free Shakespeare Society production of Romeo and Juliet at the John Anson Ford Theater, known at the time as The Pilgrimage Theatre, in the Cahuenga Pass. He received critical praise, both for his acting skill and for his good looks.

While he did not become a household name, he worked regularly, appearing in a number of movies, as well as in some American television shows. Among the television shows in which he acted were Cannon, The Waltons, Kung Fu, Baretta, and Ironside.

On American television, he became well known for playing tough guy characters and villains: as he noted in an interview, if an actor was not the leading man, he generally plays a "heavy."

Career in Canada In 1980, Hylands, while still living in California, was cast in Canada's Norfolk television production of Jack London's Tales of the Klondike in the one hour episode In A Far Country playing the lead opposite Robert Carradine and filmed in Canada (produced in Toronto; it aired in 1981 on CBC, Channel 4 [UK], and German, French and Italian television). This was the beginning of his Canadian career and he played leading roles at the Stratford Festival afterwards in 1981-1982 season and this occasioned his return to work and live in Canada. He was subsequently cast as Detective Kevin "O.B." O'Brien on the television series Night Heat, a police drama, produced in Toronto; it aired in both Canada on CTV and America on CBS from 1985 to 1989. This was his first recurring television starring role.

After Night Heat was canceled, Hylands continued to live in Canada, settling in Salt Spring Island, where he lived for 25 years with his wife, Veronica, a nurse, and their two children. They later relocated to Victoria.

Hylands appeared on numerous other programs, including the 1992 television film To Catch a Killer, a 1995 episode of the police drama NYPD Blue, and on four episodes of the revival of The Outer Limits from 1996 to 2001. He also returned to the Canadian stage, playing leading roles in such productions as Waiting for Godot (2015), and The Tempest (1994), among others. He produced and directed a 2008 version of Waiting for Godot and performed in a solo version of A Christmas Carol. In addition, Hylands directed and performed in a 2006 production of Under Milk Wood that was staged in Victoria BC.

Health and death In 2021, shortly after his daughter's wedding, Hylands was diagnosed with acute myeloid leukemia. A GoFundMe account was posted by his wife to help pay for the well-regarded but expensive medication, Venclexta, needed for Hylands' chemotherapy treatment.

Hylands died from complications of acute myeloid leukemia after five years of remission, on 29 July 2026, at the age of 83. His death was publicly announced by his son.

Filmography Film

Daddy's Gone A-Hunting (1969) – Kenneth Daly Operation Snafu (1970) – Reginald Wollington Fools (1970) – David Appleton Slipstream (1973) – Terry The Visitor (1974) Earthquake (1974) – Asst. Caretaker – Hollywood Reservoir Dam Bittersweet Love (1976) – Michael Lewis The Boys in Company "C" (1978) – Capt. Collins Coming Out Alive (1980) – Jocko Death Hunt (1981) – The Pilot Isaac Littlefeathers (1984) – Jesse Armstrong The Oasis (1984) – Jake Decoy (1996) – Jenner Ignition (2001) – Carlsen Freezer Burn: The Invasion of Laxdale (2008) – Arnie Filmore Beyond the Black Rainbow (2010) – Dr. Mercurio Arboria Knockout (2011) – Grandfather Charlie Putman Becoming Redwood (2012) – Earl Rememory (2017) – Charles Norman (2019, Short film) – Norman Elsewhere (2019) – Mr. Black

Television

+ Year Title Role Notes 1971 Earth II Jim Capa Television film 1972 The Sixth Sense Jason 1 episode 1972–1974 Ironside Joe Grainger / Philip Thomas 2 episodes 1973 Griff Assassin 1 episode 1973 Kung Fu Randy Bucknell / Saunders 2 episodes 1974 The Magician Hal 1 episode 1975 Harry O Luke Turner 1 episode 1976 Cannon Joe Gantry 2 episodes 1976 Baretta Hatfield 1 episode 1977 Wonder Woman Paul Bjornsen 2 episodes 1977 Baa Baa Black Sheep Padre John 1 episode 1977 Police Story Lt. Carl Inforzato 2 episodes 1978 The Winds of Kitty Hawk Glenn Curtiss Television film 1978 Centennial Laseter Miniseries 1980 Jack London's Tales of the Klondike Carter Weatherbe 1 episode 1981 The Waltons Curt Willard Packard 1 episode 1982 Hart to Hart Alan Chambers 1 episode 1982 Shocktrauma Dr. "Tex" Goodnight Television film 1984 George Washington General Greene Miniseries 1984 Blue Thunder Peter Anson 1 episode 1985–1989 Night Heat Detective Kevin O'Brien 96 episodes 1991 Counterstrike Colonel Nathan Episode: "The Dilemma" 1992 To Catch a Killer Delta Squad Sergeant Mike Paxton Television film 1993 Ordeal in the Arctic Fred Ritchie Television film 1993 Scales of Justice Harry Oakes Episode: "Rex v De Marigny" 1993 Kung Fu: The Legend Continues Gant 1 episode 1995 Falling from the Sky: Flight 174 First Officer Maurice Quintal Television film 1995 NYPD Blue Roy Sandquist 1 episode 1996 Titanic John Jacob Astor IV Miniseries 1996–2001 The Outer Limits Various characters 4 episodes 1997 The X-Files Gen. Benjamin Bloch 1 episode 1998 Stargate SG-1 Dr. Timothy Harlow 1 episode 2007 Anna's Storm Clint Corbin Television film 2007 Eureka Pierre Sandrov 1 episode 2009 V Father Tarvis 11 episodes 2011 Supernatural Judge Tye Mortimer 1 episode 2012 The Horses of McBride Preston Television film 2017 Fargo Ennis Stussy 3 episodes 2019 Heartland Lucky Butch Connelly 1 episode 2020 Wynonna Earp Wyatt Earp 1 episode