Photo credit: Howard University

Albert Cornelius Freeman Jr. passed away at 78 years old, Reuters reported last night. He portrayed Nation of Islam leader Elijah Muhammad in Spike Lee’s 1992 film Malcolm X, as well as taught acting at Howard University.

Freeman was a pioneering actor. He was the first African-American actor to win the Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor In A Drama Series for his role as Lt. Ed Hall on One Life to Live. He played the part from 1972 to 1987.

Film credits included Dutchman (1967), Down in the Delta Delta (1998) and the TV mini-series Roots: The Next Generations (1979), in which he played Malcolm X. On Broadway, he was in Blues for Mister Charlie (1964), Look to the Lilies (1970) and Medea (1974).

For the past 16 years, Freeman has taught at Howard University, according to IMDb.

Freeman was born in San Antonio on March 21, 1934 to Lottie Brisette (née Coleman) and Albert Cornelius Freeman, a jazz pianist.