One Life to Live Message Board

Al Freeman, Jr., who played Ed Hall on ONE LIFE TO LIVE from 1972-87 and reprised the role in 1988 and 2000, passed away on August 9. He was 78. On OLTL, Freeman was most associated with his character's love story with Ellen Holly's Carla. The actor made history in 1979 when he became the first African-American to take home the Daytime Emmy as Lead Actor. He was also the first African-American to direct a soap (OLTL). After leaving daytime, Freeman starred in Spike Lee's Malcolm X and was a professor of theater at Howard University. Said former Llanview co-star Judith Light (ex-Karen) on Twitter, "Al freeman Jr. amazing man,extraordinary actor,a joy 2 work with on the soap opera OLTL. He will missed. Rip dearest Al."