In this powerful conclusion to their two-part conversation, host Tony Miros and actress Anne-Marie Johnson dive into the dramatic, complicated, and career-defining years she spent on “In the Heat of the Night.” She recounts her intense audition process, her memorable first meeting with Carroll O’Connor, and her surprise when she discovered who would play her TV husband Virgil Tibbs. She shares both funny & deeply personal stories about her co-star Howard Rollins—his humor, his struggles, and the challenges he faced as a gay Black man working in the Deep South during the 1980s. Determined to understand her character’s world, she even attended a Ku Klux Klan rally & immersed herself in local culture, an experience she describes with honesty & insight.
She reflects on the fame that followed and the show's fearless storytelling, including the powerful two-episode arc in which her character is assaulted. She reveals why Carroll O’Connor was initially opposed to the storyline, how the cast convinced him it needed to be told, and why she considers it her strongest work on the series. Her memories of working with Howard are touching and bittersweet, especially as she recalls his demons, their joyful on-set chemistry, and the heartbreak of losing him years later.
The conversation then shifts to her time on “Melrose Place,” where she stepped into the world of glossy, high-stakes soap drama. She shares behind-the-scenes insights about Aaron Spelling’s famously strict set, her fiery exit storyline, and the reason why her character was written off the show. She also talks about her groundbreaking work as the first African American Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild.
Finally, she opens up about what she considers the greatest work of her career—her new film “The Addiction of Hope,” written and directed by her husband.
ANNE MARIE JOHNSON
Los Angeles–born actress Anne-Marie Johnson began honing her craft early, graduating from John Marshall High School and later earning her B.A. in Acting and Theatre from UCLA. She made her first on-camera appearances as a contestant on several game shows, including “Card Sharks” and “Child’s Play,” before landing her first major role on NBC’s “Double Trouble.” Guest spots on “Diff’rent Strokes,” “Hill Street Blues,” and a 3-season run on “What’s Happening Now!!” followed, along with standout comedic turns in the cult classics “Hollywood Shuffle” and “I’m Gonna Git You Sucka.”
Johnson became widely known for her role as Althea Tibbs on the drama “In the Heat of the Night” (1988–1993), during which she also appeared in films such as “Robot Jox,” “The Five Heartbeats," and “Strictly Business.” After leaving the series, she joined the final season of “In Living Color." Her career continued with memorable roles on “Melrose Place” and “JAG,” along with guest appearances on a wide range of popular series including “Ally McBeal,” “Girlfriends,” “CSI,” “NCIS,” “Living Single,” and “Grey’s Anatomy.”
Beyond her acting accomplishments, Johnson served as First National Vice President of the Screen Actors Guild from 2005 to 2010 and continued building an impressive list of credits with roles in NBC’s “The InBetween,” OWN’s “Cherish the Day,” and ABC’s “How to Get Away with Murder.” She now stars in the powerful new film “The Addiction of Hope,” directed by her husband Martin A. Gottlieb.
Tickets For “The Addition of Hope” - https://www.laemmle.com/film/addiction-hope
Film Website - https://www.theaddictionofhopefilm.com
Film Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/theaddictionofhope/
The Official Hollywood Obsessed Website - https://www.hollywoodobsessedthepodcast.com/
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