Rollins Ponders ‘Heat of Night’ Role

Howard Rollins, co-star of the NBC police series “In the Heat of the Night,” has missed three episodes of the show because of health problems and MGM-TV is allowing him to decide his future with the show, according to studio representatives.

Rollins, who stars with Carroll O’Connor in the one-hour series, is back home in Covington, Ga., where the show is filmed, after admitting himself to a rehabilitation center, said David Gerber, president of MGM-TV, which produces the show for NBC.

One month ago, Rollins was hospitalized after suffering chest pains on the set of the series, but was released in good condition three days later.

“The decision about whether he comes back is up to him,” Gerber said. “If he feels he can come back under the schedule, which is six days a week and sometimes more than 12 hours a day, he’ll always be welcome. Or he may want more time out.

“He’s not being replaced at the moment. He’s not being written out of the show. We’re allowing him to make that decision, and that should be forthcoming within a week. We can bring in guest stars. That’s the way Carroll wants it, and he’s very close to Howard.”

Rollins was arrested in Louisiana in early 1988 on charges of drunk driving and drug possession, but he said later he had faced up to his problems and had taken control of his life.

“He went into a rehabilitation center after the chest pains,” Gerber said. “He was very scared and nervous about coming back.”

Rollins is “resting up” at home, a representative of the actor said.

In the series, O’Connor plays a Southern police chief and Rollins portrays his chief of detectives.