Josh Hall (One Life to Live)

Josh Hall
One Life to Live character
Laurence Fishburne as Josh Hall
Portrayed by
Duration
  • 1973–77
  • 1985–86
First appearanceApril 1973 (April 1973)
Last appearance1986 (1986)
ClassificationFormer, regular
Created byAgnes Nixon
Introduced by
In-universe information
Other names
  • Joshua West
  • Joshua Hall
OccupationPhysician
Adoptive fatherEd Hall
Adoptive motherCarla Gray
SonsJared Hall
GrandmothersSadie Gray (adoptive)

Josh Hall is a fictional character on the American soap opera One Life to Live, originated by actor Laurence Fishburne from 1973 until 1976.[1][2] Todd Davis assumed the role in 1977.[3][4][5] Josh reappeared in fictional Llanview, Pennsylvania in 1985 as a doctor,[6] played by Guy Davis from 1985 until 1986.[7][8]

Background and reception

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One Life to Live creator Agnes Nixon created Joshua West, adopted as Joshua "Josh" Hall, as the first television or film role for eleven-year-old child actor Laurence Fishburne (credited as "Larry Fishburne") in 1973, first appearing in April.[9][10][11][12][13] Fishburne was cast for his premiere television role with Nixon by casting director Joan D'Incecco.[14]

Fishburne's 1973–74 portrayal of troubled teenaged youth Joshua West adopted by newly-married couple Ed Hall (Al Freeman Jr.) and Carla Gray (Ellen Holly) earned him the "Best Juvenile Actor" honor at the 1974 "Afternoon TV Writers and Editors Awards."[15] The family unit of Freeman's Ed, Holly's Carla and Fishburne's Josh was heralded as "daytime television's first African American family."[16]

While a castmember of One Life to Live, Fishburne starred in the 1975 film, Cornbread, Earl and Me. He left the series in 1976 at 14-year-old[13] to accept a role in the Francis Ford Coppola film, Apocalypse Now.[11] Fishburne lied to Coppola about his age to win the Apocalypse Now role of 17-year-old Vietnam War Navy PBR crewmember Tyrone "Mr. Clean" Miller.[10][17]

Todd Davis took over the role from Fishburne briefly in 1977. The character became a friend of Samantha Vernon.

Guy Davis played the character, who had become a medical doctor, from 1985 until its last appearance in 1986.[7]

References

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  1. ^ Coulton, Antoinette Y.; Pham, Thailan (January 16, 2012). "Farewell to One Life to Live". People. New York City: Time Inc. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  2. ^ Tierney, Tom (July 3, 1997). Favorite African-American Movie Stars Paper Dolls. Courier Corporation. pp. 2–. ISBN 978-0-486-29694-4.
  3. ^ Terrace, Vincent (1985). Encyclopedia of Television Series, Pilots and Specials. VNR AG. pp. 307–. ISBN 978-0-918432-61-2.
  4. ^ McNeil, Alex (1996). Total Television: The Comprehensive Guide to Programming from 1948 to the Present. Penguin Books. p. 621. ISBN 978-0-14-024916-3.
  5. ^ Lentz, Harris M. III (May 20, 2014). Obituaries in the Performing Arts, 2013. McFarland. pp. 84–. ISBN 978-0-7864-7665-7.
  6. ^ Reed, Jon-Michael (October 21, 1985). "Tune In Tomorrow". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. Sarasota, Florida. United Features Syndicate. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  7. ^ a b "Discography". Guy Davis – Bluesman. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  8. ^ Schemering, Christopher (1985). The Soap Opera Encyclopedia (Schemering book). Ballantine Books. pp. 321–. ISBN 978-0-345-32459-7.
  9. ^ Thompson, Clifford (2002). Current Biography Yearbook 2001. H. W. Wilson Co. p. 390. ISBN 978-9990016994.
  10. ^ a b Newsweek. Vol. 122. Newsweek, Incorporated. 1993. p. 234.
  11. ^ a b Waggett, Gerry (July 15, 2008). The One Life to Live 40th Anniversary Trivia Book. Hyperion Books. pp. 83–. ISBN 978-1-4013-2309-7.
  12. ^ Grayson, Richard (May 2006). And to Think That He Kissed Him on Lorimer Street. Richard Grayson. pp. 160–. ISBN 978-1-4116-7595-7.
  13. ^ a b Emmis Communications (October 2000). "Los Angeles Magazine". Los Angeles. Emmis Communications: 118–. ISSN 1522-9149.
  14. ^ Levin, Jay (December 19, 2016). "Casting director Joan D'Incecco, of River Edge, dies". The Record. North Jersey. Retrieved December 29, 2016.
  15. ^ Littell, John (July 21, 1974). "Winners Of The Second Annual Afternoon TV Writers And Editors Awards". The Ledger. Lakeland, Florida. Retrieved September 23, 2016.
  16. ^ Smith, Jessie Carney; Palmisano, Joseph M. (2000). Reference Library of Black America. Gale Group, Inc. p. 861. ISBN 978-0-7876-4367-6.
  17. ^ Cowie, Peter (1990). Coppola. Scribner. p. 19. ISBN 978-0-684-19193-5.