He later had guest roles on Hill Street Blues and Miami Vice, and appeared in Louis Malle's 1984 film Crackers.

[3] In 1988, he won the role of Frank Williams on the long-running nighttime soap Knots Landing, becoming the series' first regular African American cast member.

Riley also created a musical tribute to Louis Jordan entitled "Let The Good Times Roll", which enjoyed success at the Cinegrill of the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in 1988.

"[1] Fearful that news of his diagnosis would ruin his career, Riley did not disclose his illness to anyone except his wife and continued working on Knots Landing until his death.

To explain his dramatic weight loss, Riley claimed that he was suffering from kidney failure due to high blood pressure.

[1] On June 6, 1992, Riley died of AIDS-related kidney failure in Burbank, California, only fourteen days short of his 40th birthday.