In Memoriam: Al Freeman Jr., legendary actor, dies at 78

Pioneering actor Al Freeman Jr. , best known for his role as Elijah Muhammad in Spike Lee’s 1992 film “Malcolm X” has died, said Howard University.

He was 78.

Al Freeman Jr death details

“It is with tremendous sadness that the passing of our beloved Professor Al Freeman Jr. is confirmed,” Kim James Bey, chair of the university’s theater department said in a statement.

Freeman was a faculty member at the university.

The university gave no details on Freeman’s death, but said a statement would be released later.

Career

Al Freeman Jr’s long career in film, television and theater included an enduring role playing police Captain Ed Hall on the TV soap opera “One Life to Live” from 1972 through 1987.

He was credited with being the first African American to win a Daytime Emmy Award for outstanding lead actor for his work on the soap opera, a prize he was awarded in 1979.

Freeman’s theater credits included a starring role on Broadway in James Baldwin’s “Blues for Mister Charlie” in 1964.