1. Theatre, Film, and Television Biographies
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Al Freeman, Jr. Biography (1934-)

Full name, Albert Cornelius Freeman Jr.; born March 21, 1934, in San Antonio,TX; son of Albert Cornelius (a jazz pianist) and Lottie Brisette (Coleman) Freeman; married Sevara E. Clemon, January 8, 1960 (separated, c. 1986). Addresses: Home--Lottie B., a sailboat. Office--College of Fine Arts, Howard University, Washington, DC 20059.

His favorite roles include Richard Henry in Blues for Mister Charlie.

Nationality

American

Gender

Male

Birth Details

March 21, 1934

San Antonio, Texas, United States

Famous Works

• Credits; Stage Appearances
• (Stage debut) Detective Story, Ebony Showcase, Los Angeles, 1954.
• (Broadway debut) Rex "Fishbelly" Tucker, The Long Dream, Ambassador Theatre, 1960.
• Silky Satin, Kicks and Co., Arie Crown Theatre, Chicago, IL, 1961.
• Dan Morris, Tiger, Tiger, Burning Bright, Booth Theatre, New York City, 1962.
• Reverend Ridgley Washington, Trumpets of the Lord, Astor Place Theatre, New York City, 1963.
• Member of ensemble, The Living Premise (revue), Premise Theatre, New YorkCity, 1963.
• Richard Henry, Blues for Mister Charlie, American National Theatre and Academy Theatre, New York City, 1964.
• John, Conversation at Midnight, Billy Rose Theatre, New York City, 1964.
• Walker Vessels, The Slave, St. Mark's Playhouse, New York City, 1964.
• Eddie Satin, Golden Boy, Majestic Theatre, New York City, 1964.
• The Toilet, St. Mark's Playhouse, 1964.
• Clay, Dutchman, Cherry Lane Theatre, New York City, 1964, then Warner Playhouse, Los Angeles, 1965.
• Diomedes, Troilus and Cressida, New York Shakespeare Festival, DelacorteTheatre, New York City, 1965.
• (London debut) Richard Henry, Blues for Mister Charlie, Actors Studio Theatre Company, Aldwych Theatre, 1965.
• Charles Dumaine, All's Well That Ends Well, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, 1966.
• Lucio, Measure for Measure, New York Shakespeare Festival, Delacorte Theatre, 1966.
• Kilroy, Camino Real, Playhouse in the Park, Cincinnati, OH, 1968.
• Stanley Pollack, The Dozens, Booth Theatre, 1969.
• Homer Smith, Look to the Lilies, Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, New York City, 1970.
• Paul Robeson, Are You Now or Have You Ever Been...?, Yale Repertory Theatre, New Haven, CT, 1972.
• Messenger, Medea, Circle in the Square, New York City, 1973.
• Willy Stepp, The Poison Tree, Westport Country Playhouse, Westport, CT, 1973.
• Scag, Photographer, Skull, Sheriff, Scarecrow, and Humdrum, The Great Macdaddy, Negro Ensemble Company, St. Mark's Playhouse, 1974.
• Sweet Talk, New York Shakespeare Festival, Other Stage Theatre, New YorkCity, 1974.
• 'Tis Pity She's a Whore, McCarter Theatre, Princeton, NJ, 1974.
• Dream on Monkey Mountain, Hartford, CT, 1976.
• Kennedy's Children, Marines Memorial Theatre, San Francisco, CA, 1976.
• Bulldog, One Crack Out, Phoenix Theatre, Marymount Manhattan Theatre, NewYork City, 1978.
• Jamie Tyrone, Long Day's Journey into Night, Theatre at St. Peter's Church, New York City, 1981.
• Also appeared in A Soldier's Play. Appeared with Ebony Showcase, Los Angeles, 1954-59.
• Credits; Major Tours
• A Raisin in the Sun, U.S. cities, 1962.
• Credits; Stage Work
• Director, Time Out of Time, New Federal Theatre, Louis Abrons Arts for Living Center, New York City, 1986.
• Credits; Film Appearances
• The Clown, 1953.
• Torpedo Run, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1958.
• This Rebel Breed, Warner Bros., 1960.
• Sniper Ridge, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1961.
• Taru, Ensign Pulver, Warner Bros., 1964.
• Intern, The Troublemaker, Janus, 1964.
• Tom Newcomb, Black like Me (also known as No Man Walks Alone), Continental, 1964.
• Clay, Dutchman, Continental, 1966.
• For Pete's Sake!, World Wide, 1966.
• Robbie, The Detective, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1968.
• Howard, Finian's Rainbow, Seven Arts, 1968.
• Private First Class Alistair Benjamin, Castle Keep, Columbia, 1969.
• Dennis Laurence, The Lost Man, Universal, 1969.
• Charles Roberts, My Sweet Charlie, Universal, 1970.
• Leader, A Fable (also known as The Slave), MFR, 1971.
• Co-narrator, Thermidor, Altura, 1971.
• Danny Larwin, Seven Hours to Judgment, Trans World Entertainment, 1988.
• Elijah Muhammad, Malcolm X, Warner Bros., 1992.
• Poppa, Once upon a Time ... When We Were Colored, IRS Releasing, 1996.
• Credits; Film Work
• Producer and director, A Fable (also known as The Slave), MFR, 1971.
• Director, The Lost Man, Universal, 1969.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Series
• Captain Ed Hall, One Life to Live, ABC, 1972-85.
• Charles Bingham, Hot l Baltimore, ABC, 1975.
• Narrator, The American Experience, PBS, 1989.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Miniseries
• Damon Lockwood, King, NBC, 1978.
• Malcolm X, Roots: The Next Generations (also known as Roots II), ABC, 1979.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Movies
• Charles Roberts, My Sweet Charlie, NBC, 1970.
• Lieutenant Cooper, Perry Mason Returns, NBC, 1985.
• Old Johnson Whittaker, Assault at West Point (also known as Conduct Unbecoming: The Court-Martial of Johnson Whittaker), Showtime, 1994.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Specials
• "To Be Young, Gifted and Black," NET Playhouse, National Educational Television (now PBS), 1972.
• Jerry Hudson, "A Piece of Cake," A Special Treat, NBC, 1977.
• Richard Henry, "Blues for Mister Charlie" in "James Baldwin: The Price ofthe Ticket," American Masters, PBS, 1989.
• Credits; Television Appearances; Episodic
• General Electric Theatre, CBS, 1955.
• "The Good Killing," Adventures in Paradise, ABC, 1961.
• "A Couple of Dozen Tiny Pills," The Doctors and the Nurses, CBS, 1965.
• "Nobody Asks What Side You're On," The Defenders, CBS, 1965.
• "The Right to Kill," For the People, CBS, 1965.
• "There's a Penguin in My Garden," Mr. Novak, NBC, 1965.
• "Question: What's a Swan Song for a Sparrow?" Slattery's People, CBS, 1965.
• "The Blue Steel Suite," Trials of O'Brien, CBS, 1966.
• "The Enemies," The FBI, ABC, 1968.
• "View from the Ivory Tower," Judd, for the Defense, ABC, 1969.
• "Basis of Need," On Being Black, syndicated, 1969.
• "Kill Gently, Sweet Jessie," Mod Squad, ABC, 1972.
• Maude, CBS, 1974.
• "The Chicago Conspiracy Trial," Hollywood Television Theatre, PBS, 1975.
• "A Need to Know," Kojak, CBS, 1976.
• "Back to the Track, Jack," The Cosby Show, NBC, 1985.
• Reverend Thayer, "Poison Ivy," Law and Order, NBC, 1990.
• Police Commissioner Harris, "Partners," Homicide: Life on the Street, NBC, 1994.
• Police Commissioner Harris, "Cradle to Grave," Homicide: Life on the Street, NBC, 1995.
• Appeared in episodes of Suspicion, NBC; The Millionaire,CBS; Bourbon Street Beat, ABC; and Day in Court (also known as Accused), ABC.
• Writings;Screenplays
• A Fable (also known as The Slave), MFR, 1971.
• (With Ossie Davis and Ladi Ladebo) Countdown at Kusini, Columbia, 1976.

Further Reference

Periodicals:

• Ebony, March, 1993, p. 84.