Harvey Oberst — In the Heat of the Night Character Profile

About Harvey Oberst

Left-handed suspect initially accused of murder

Harvey Oberst — Character Profile

Alignment

Neutral

Species

Human

Abilities

Local business, Community presence, Communication, Observation, Resilience

• Strength: 5/10
• Intelligence: 5/10
• Charisma: 5/10
• Morality: 7/10
• Influence: 4/10

Character Facts

Played by

Scott Wilson

Appears in

In the Heat of the Night (1967)

Role

Supporting

Relationships (3)

• Harvey Oberst — Professional Wrongful Suspect & Exonerator — Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier)

  Tibbs corrects a police error, demonstrating professional competence.

• Harvey Oberst — Social Local Acquaintances — Delores Purdy (Quentin Dean)

  Peripheral connection through shared status as local figures under scrutiny.

• Harvey Oberst — Social Local Citizens — Eric Endicott (Larry Gates)

  Shared social standing as prominent townspeople caught in the case.

Explore the full interactive character relationship map of In the Heat of the Night

More characters from In the Heat of the Night

• Virgil Tibbs (Sidney Poitier)
• Police Chief Bill Gillespie (Rod Steiger)
• Deputy Sam Wood (Warren Oates)
• Deputy Courtney (Peter Whitney)
• Delores Purdy (Quentin Dean)
• Mrs. Leslie Colbert (Lee Grant)
• Henderson (Kermit Murdock)
• Watkins (Larry D. Mann)
• Dr. Stuart (Fred Stewart)
• Shagbag (Timothy Scott)
• Endicott's Butler (Jester Hairston)
• McNeil (William Watson)