Al Freeman Jr.

Biography: Black lead actor who often played earnest young men; his screen persona is tinged with self-knowledge, self-discipline, high intelligence, cunning cool, and a sense of detachment. He debuted onscreen in This Rebel Breed (1960), and went on to an intermittent screen career. He directed and acted in the film A Fable (1971), and co-wrote the film Countdown at Kusini (1976). He also did much work on TV, including recurring roles on the soap opera One Life to Live and the sitcom Hot L Baltimore, a part on the mini-series Roots, plus many guest appearances on series.