Scott Hylands
Scott Hylands (real name: Scott Hylands Douglas) is a Canadian actor who has appeared in movies, on television, and on the stage. Because of his longevity and versatility, critics have called him "one of Canada's greatest actors."
Early years
Hylands was born in 1943 in Lethbridge, Alberta, but his family left there when he was still an infant. His mother Ruth was a science teacher, and his father Walter died during World War II. Hylands was raised and educated in Vancouver, British Columbia, where he attended Shawnigan Lake Boys School; he then attended the University of British Columbia and graduated in 1964. Hylands at first 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 that 1965 debut role, he spent several years in San Francisco, acting with the American Conservatory Theater. Then, in 1968, he was asked by Hollywood director Mark Robson to audition for a movie role. His first movie appearance was in the 1969 suspense film "Daddy's Gone A-Hunting." He got good reviews, but his movie debut was overshadowed by another film that came out at the same time-- "Midnight Cowboy." His work as an actor got him some critical praise, both for his acting skill and for his good looks. He was even compared to Paul Newman. And while he did not become famous, he worked regularly, appearing in a number of movies, as well as in some American television shows. Among the TV shows in which he acted were "Cannon," "The Waltons," "Baretta," and "Ironsides." On American TV, he became well-known for playing tough guy characters and villains: as he noted in an interview, if an actor is not the leading man, he generally plays a "heavy."