Actor Al Freeman Jr. [Ed Hall, OLTL] 1934-2012 - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Zoneboy · 08-10-2012, 09:08 PM

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The son of African American stage actor Al Freeman (1884-1956), and star of stage, TV and film, Al Freeman Jr. (born Albert Cornelius Freeman Jr., on March 21, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas), has died at the age of 78 years old.

His career, as an actor primarily, as well as a writer and director, spans several decades, dating back to the 1950s.

He made his big screen debut in 1960's melodrama The Rebel Breed.

Most notably, in 1967, Freeman Jr. co-starred with Shirley Knight in the film version of Leroi Jones' (Amiri Baraka's) off-Broadway play Dutchman, in a performance that earned him excellent reviews, and further attention for his portrayal of a black subway passenger victimized by a frantic white woman.

Dutchman would later be adapted for the screen, with Freeman Jr. and Knight reprising their roles - a film we've featured on this site on more than one occasion, and will likely feature again shortly, in light of today's news.

Three years later, Freeman Jr. co-starred with Patty Duke in the landmark TV movie My Sweet Charlie (1970), playing a volatile New York City lawyer stranded in a small Texas town with a white unwed mother.

Freeman Jr. is likely best best known to daytime-drama fans for his lengthy stint as Lt. Ed Hall on One Life to Live - a role that won him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series in 1979, and setting his place in history as the first African American actor to win that specific award.

And more recently, he'll also be remembered for his portrayal of Elijah Muhammed in Spike Lee's 1992 opus Malcolm X - a role he first played in the 1979 miniseries, Roots: The Next Generations.

Freeman was also a screenwriter, penning screenplays for Ossie Davis' Countdown at Kusini (1976), and was a director himself, helming (and starring in) the 1971 feature A Fable, from a script written by Amiri Baraka, based on his own play (The Slave: A Fable), about a black radical who violently and fatally torments his white ex-wife and children, after they start a new family with a white man.

On TV, Freeman Jr appeared in serials like The Cosby Show, and Homicide: Life on the Street.

His Broadway theatre credits include Blues for Mister Charlie (1964), Look to the Lilies (1970) and Medea (1974).

Up until his death, Freeman Jr. was a professor at Howard University, in the Department of Theatre Arts, teaching acting. He served as Chairman/Artistic Director of the Department for six years.

I was informed this afternoon that he died last night, August 9th; although the cause of his death hasn't yet been made public.

RIP.

Zoneboy · 08-10-2012, 09:20 PM

sabrelucynut · 08-10-2012, 10:24 PM

I remember him fondly back in the heyday of OLTL. He will be so missed.

catlover79 · 08-11-2012, 05:04 PM

He was also great in several guest appearances on the L&O shows. Wonderful actor and human being.

80sTrivia · 08-12-2012, 07:01 AM

So very sad to hear of his passing...

MickeyMac · 08-12-2012, 03:37 PM

Oh no

Freeman was a very underrated actor. His performance in Dutchman is remarkable.

comedyfreak · 08-16-2012, 03:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MickeyMac

Oh no

Freeman was a very underrated actor. His performance in Dutchman is remarkable.

He was a very underrated actor. I loved his portrayal of Ed Hall on One Life To Live. I always was rooting for him and Carla.

Janice · 08-16-2012, 02:02 PM

I loved him on OLTL. Rest in Peace, Al Freeman Jr.

08-10-2012, 09:08 PM	#1
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338	Actor Al Freeman Jr. [Ed Hall, OLTL] 1934-2012 Link The son of African American stage actor Al Freeman (1884-1956), and star of stage, TV and film, Al Freeman Jr. (born Albert Cornelius Freeman Jr., on March 21, 1934, in San Antonio, Texas), has died at the age of 78 years old. His career, as an actor primarily, as well as a writer and director, spans several decades, dating back to the 1950s. He made his big screen debut in 1960's melodrama The Rebel Breed. Most notably, in 1967, Freeman Jr. co-starred with Shirley Knight in the film version of Leroi Jones' (Amiri Baraka's) off-Broadway play Dutchman, in a performance that earned him excellent reviews, and further attention for his portrayal of a black subway passenger victimized by a frantic white woman. Dutchman would later be adapted for the screen, with Freeman Jr. and Knight reprising their roles - a film we've featured on this site on more than one occasion, and will likely feature again shortly, in light of today's news. Three years later, Freeman Jr. co-starred with Patty Duke in the landmark TV movie My Sweet Charlie (1970), playing a volatile New York City lawyer stranded in a small Texas town with a white unwed mother. Freeman Jr. is likely best best known to daytime-drama fans for his lengthy stint as Lt. Ed Hall on One Life to Live - a role that won him a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series in 1979, and setting his place in history as the first African American actor to win that specific award. And more recently, he'll also be remembered for his portrayal of Elijah Muhammed in Spike Lee's 1992 opus Malcolm X - a role he first played in the 1979 miniseries, Roots: The Next Generations. Freeman was also a screenwriter, penning screenplays for Ossie Davis' Countdown at Kusini (1976), and was a director himself, helming (and starring in) the 1971 feature A Fable, from a script written by Amiri Baraka, based on his own play (The Slave: A Fable), about a black radical who violently and fatally torments his white ex-wife and children, after they start a new family with a white man. On TV, Freeman Jr appeared in serials like The Cosby Show, and Homicide: Life on the Street. His Broadway theatre credits include Blues for Mister Charlie (1964), Look to the Lilies (1970) and Medea (1974). Up until his death, Freeman Jr. was a professor at Howard University, in the Department of Theatre Arts, teaching acting. He served as Chairman/Artistic Director of the Department for six years. I was informed this afternoon that he died last night, August 9th; although the cause of his death hasn't yet been made public. RIP.
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08-10-2012, 10:24 PM	#3
sabrelucynut sabrelucynut Occasional Poster Join Date: Sep 07, 2011 Location: Cheektowaga NY Posts: 90	I remember him fondly back in the heyday of OLTL. He will be so missed.
	__________________ Janice Lover of classic TV

08-11-2012, 05:04 PM	#4
catlover79 God Bless Val Forum Addict Join Date: May 29, 2006 Location: Bewitched in Ohio Posts: 70,376	He was also great in several guest appearances on the L&O shows. Wonderful actor and human being.
	__________________ "Jesus loves you and He approves this message." "I'm alive. I'm feeling good. I'm trying to live every moment as much as I can." - Valerie Harper, March 2013

08-12-2012, 07:01 AM	#5
80sTrivia Member Forum Celebrity Join Date: May 23, 2002 Posts: 21,715	So very sad to hear of his passing...
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08-10-2012, 09:20 PM	#2
Zoneboy RIP, I'LL NEVER FORGET YOU :( Moderator Forum Superstar Join Date: Jul 13, 2003 Location: AT HOME WISHING ALL THIS WAS JUST A DREAM AND THAT I'LL WAKE UP FROM THIS NIGHTMARE. Posts: 34,338

08-12-2012, 03:37 PM	#6
MickeyMac Member Forum Star Join Date: Jun 18, 2008 Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan Posts: 19,004	Oh no Freeman was a very underrated actor. His performance in Dutchman is remarkable.

08-16-2012, 02:02 PM	#8
Janice Retired Admin - Hollywood Swingin' Forum Legend Join Date: Aug 03, 2001 Location: Beantown Posts: 36,389	I loved him on OLTL. Rest in Peace, Al Freeman Jr.