Howard Rollins

He had been diagnosed with the condition approximately six weeks earlier. Though born in New York, Smits has deep Puerto Rican roots and he frequently visits the island. Rollins died in 1996 after complications from lymphoma. Bigger audiences became aware of Smits for his appearance as Senator Bail Organa in the Star Wars Episodes II and III. He is best remembered for his role of Virgil Tibbs on the In the Heat of the Night television series. Smits has received various nominations for the Golden Globe and the Emmy Awards. Howard Ellsworth Rollins Jr. (October 17, 1950 - December 8, 1996) was an African American actor. from Cornell University in 1982.

He achieved a M.F.A. Law and NYPD Blue. Jimmy Smits (born July 9, 1955) is a Puerto Rican-American actor, perhaps best known for his long-running roles on the TV series L.A.