Hugh O'Connor

Hugh Edward Ralph O'Connor (born April 7, 1962 in Rome; died March 28, 1995 in Pacific Palisades, California) was an American actor, known for his role as Det./ Lt. Lonnie Jamison on In the Heat of the Night from 1988-1995.

Biography

When he was six days old he was adopted by Carroll O'Connor and his wife Nancy. Carroll was in Rome filming Cleopatra. He was named after Carroll O'Connor's brother, who died in a motorcycle accident in 1961. When he was 16 he was diagnosed with Hodgkins Lymphoma. He survived the cancer with cheomotherapy and two surgeries, but became addicted to drugs. He had been taking prescription drugs for the pain and marijuana for nausea. He quickly became addicted to harder drugs. Despite numerous stays at rehab clinics, he never conquered his addiction.

Related Topics:
Carroll O'Connor - Cleopatra - 1961 - Hodgkins Lymphoma - Cancer

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He was married to Angela Clayton, a wardrobe assistant on In the Heat of the Night, on March 28, 1992, and their son Sean Carroll O'Connor was born in 1993.

Related Topics:
March 28 - 1992 - 1993

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On March 28, 1995 on the third anniversary of his marriage; O'Connor called his father to tell him he was going to end his life. He told his father he believed he could not beat the drugs and could not face another drug rehabilitation program. Carroll called the police, who arrived at Hugh's Pacific Palisades home just as he shot himself in the head. The police later determined he had cocaine in his blood.

Related Topics:
March 28 - 1995 - Pacific Palisades

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