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Stephen Rollins (born Stephen Emmanuel Rollins) is an American actor, writer, producer, and director. He began his film career with his acting debut as an extra in the motion pictures "Glory" and "Career Opportunities" and his first speaking roles in the television series "In the Heat of the Night" and "I'll Fly Away". He would go on to appear in over 30 feature films and television productions.
Rollins was born on September 10th, to Dianne (born Dorothy Dianne Hicks), a telecommunications specialist with Bell South and President of the Atlanta chapter of the Telephone Pioneers of America, and James Rollins, a Fulton County, Georgia deputy sheriff. Stephen's father served in the United States Army Rangers, and his Uncle Edward Rollins served in the Marines and worked in various roles within the Government. Stephen is the youngest of four children, two step brothers and one step-sister from his father's previous marriage, and is a graduate of Lithia Springs High School, in Lithia Springs, Georgia. Following graduation, Stephen continued his studies at Mercer University, focusing on Communications, Business Management, and Law.
In 1991, Stephen added producer to his resume, launching his own production company and producing the short film Mikey Was Here, which garnered Academy Award "Best Live Action Short Film" consideration. Stephen quickly established relationships that flourished with opportunity with many of Hollywood's studios, gaining the ability to take projects directly to the heads of Acquisitions at studios such as Universal Studios and 20th Century Fox. Throughout the early to mid 90's, his career continued to successfully progress, collecting various acting awards and being presented with the "Young Filmmaker's Horizons Award" for his accomplishments in front of and behind the camera. Late in 1995, Stephen briefly experienced studio life himself, working with Sony Pictures Studios withing the film and television vault department. With the scheduling conflicts that this position created, acting, producing, and hockey, Stephen decided that this position was not for him. In 1996, Stephen was cast as the lead in his first leading role, the UPN sitcom Billy's Magic. Production never moved forward from the pilot, and soon after, Stephen left the industry in late 1995 and returned to Atlanta to care for both of his parents after learning that both were diagnosed with cancer six days apart, and remained there following their deaths.
Stephen spent his early years playing sports, mainly hockey and has skated with players from several different NHL, AHL, and IHL.
In the summer of 2004, among the midst of the NHL lockout, Stephen brought together business and hockey professionals to launch the EHL, Exhibition Hockey League, providing NHL hockey players and their fans with hockey games during the NHL lock out. The league was set up as a non-profit league with the proceeds of each game going to benefit local charities.
Stephen returned to the film industry in September 2001, to work on a film in New York City. Following the merge of his former company into Lightning Pictures, as CEO, Stephen wrote, produced, and made his directorial debut with the film American Identity, a tribute to the victims of 9/11, and to the men and women of the United States Armed Forces.
