Al Freeman Jr.

Actor and director on stage, in film and on television -- via Playbill. A solid and versatile pro, he worked extensively in theater at the beginning of his career, culminating in his role as Jamie in "Long Day's Journey into Night" in 1981. He was a long-time player on the soap opera "One Life to Live"; and he did many films, most notably in the role of Elijah Muhammad in Spike Lee's "Malcom X."

He had to overcome two sets of stereotypes. He was old enough to have played some subservient "Negro" types early in his career; then, in the wake of growing opportunities for black actors, he was often typecast in the mold of the articulate, examplary "noble Negro" of the 1960s, in the wake of Sidney Poitier's dominant screen persona.

He was vastly more talented than that, and proved it often. Would have loved to see him do more work. Thanks, Al!