Ed Hall ( One life to Live ) - wikipedia Ed Hall ( One life to Live ) Ed Hall One Life to Live character Portrayed by Al Freeman Jr. Duration 1972 -- 88 2000 First appearance January 1972 ( January 1972 ) Last appearance April 7, 2000 ( April 7, 2000 ) Created by Agnes Nixon Introduced by Doris Quinlan Jill Farren Phelps ( 2000 ) Classification Former, regular Profile Occupation Police officer Politician show Family Brothers Gus Hall Spouse Carla Gray ( 1974 -- 79 ) Adoptive sons Josh Hall Grandsons Jared Hall ( adoptive ) Ed Hall is a fictional character from the American soap opera One Life to Live, played by Al Freeman Jr. Contents 1 Casting and reception 2 Major storyline 2.1 1972 -- 74 2.2 1979 -- 85 3 References 3.1 Notes Casting and reception The role was originated and played by actor Al Freeman Jr. from January 1972 until 1987, with a brief interruption in 1975. In the process, he earned a Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1979, becoming the first actor from the show as well as the first African American to earn the award. Freeman later earned nominations in the category of Outstanding Supporting Actor in 1986 and 1987. The actor briefly reprised the role in 1988 and 2000. Major storyline 1972 -- 74 Freeman first appears in the role of Lieutenant Hall in January 1972 when Hall begins to lead an investigation into the murder of Marcy Wade ( Francesca James ), a secretary for the Lord family newspaper, The Banner. For the previous year, Marcy masqueraded around Llanview as `` Niki Smith '', the alter - ego and symptom of publishing heiress Viki Lord Riley 's ( Erika Slezak ) dissociative identity disorder, hoping to create a rift in the budding relationship between Viki and new executive editor Steve Burke ( Bernard Grant ). Later in a hostage situation that involves Steve, Marcy holds Vinny Wolek ( Antony Ponzini ) hostage. Steve struggles with Marcy for the gun and accidentally, but fatally, wounds her. Though Steve vows he did not murder her, Lt. Hall develops a theory that Steve and Marcy were carrying on an illicit affair without Viki 's knowledge, and when Marcy was to tell Viki that Steve killed her. Steve is indicted and charged with first - degree murder. Steve 's conviction is only halted for the Only Marcy 's purse, containing an incriminating note saying that Niki Smith planned to kill Vince Wolek, could save him. Steve is later exonerated when a presumed dead Joe Riley ( Lee Patterson ) reappears possessing Marcy Wade 's purse. In his downtime after the investigation, Ed Hall courts Carla Gray ( Ellen Holly ). Supercouple Ed ( Freeman ) and Carla ( Holly ), c. 1976 In 1973, siblings - in - law Meredith Lord Wolek ( Lynn Benesch ) and Vinny, and baby Daniel Wolek were taken hostage by thieves in the Llanfair carriage house. During hostage negotiations with Ed, the burglars demand the Llanview Police Department arrange for a plane to transport them to South America, where they would later release the hostages. One of the criminals shoots the other. Meredith attempts to escape and is fatally injured after falling on her head against the edge of a table. The other robber is killed by the Llanview Police while attempting to escape, and Vince and Daniel escape alive. Lieutenant Hall makes a great impression on Carla, causing her to end her budding romance with politico Bert Skelly. Meanwhile, Ed mentors downtrodden youth Joshua `` Josh '' West ( Laurence Fishburne ). Ed would later propose marriage, and although Carla was enamored with Ed 's integrity and his devotion toward the mentorship of Josh, Carla fell deeper in love with Ed, but grew troubled with the prospect of being in a relationship with the life - threatening work of law enforcement. Unable to ignore her feelings, she accepts his proposal in March 1973. Ed and Carla adopt Josh together in April 1974. When the wedding date approaches, family members of Ed and Carla began receiving anonymous threats. Carla feels her life threatened when her car brakes are cut, and their now - adoptive son Josh is informed he would be retaliated against for the death of the victim of a Llanview murder investigation. Vince discovers the veiled threats are from a recently released mental institution patient named Lester Brock. Before word can get out, Lester calls Carla, telling her Ed wants to meet her at the jewelry store that afternoon. Unknown to Carla, she goes to the jewelry store, where she is almost shot at, save for the quick action of Joe Riley ( Lee Patterson ). After the ruckus, Ed, Vince, and other Llanview officers arrive at the scene, arresting Lester. Following the trying travail, Ed and Carla continue with their plans to marry. On October 5, 1974, Ed and Carla marry with Josh as Ed 's best man and real - life jazz singer Hazel Scott as Carla 's aunt and maid of honor in the first on - screen wedding of Black characters on soap operas. 1979 -- 85 Ed is shot during a police altercation in 1979 by the estranged redneck husband of Becky Lee Abbott ( Mary Gordon Murray ), Luke Johnson. Luke was quickly apprehended and Ed rushed to Llanview Hospital, where the Lieutenant is operated on by newly arrived surgeon Dr. Jack Scott ( Arthur Burghardt ). Following hours of being in critical condition, Dr. Scott removes the bullet from a wound near Ed 's heart. An overly grateful Carla falls in love with Dr. Jack as Ed 's focused less attention on her at the height of the Marco Dane ( Gerald Anthony ) murder trial involving Karen Wolek ( Judith Light ). Ed was promoted to police captain, but not long afterwards Carla requests a divorce in 1979 to marry the surgeon who saved Ed 's life, to which he concedes. Later, social climber and Llanview District Attorney Herb Callison runs as the fictional governor of Pennsylvania with Captain Hall as his running mate in 1980. In exchange for the manipulation of the election, undiscovered to Ed, Herb and fiancée Dr. Dorian Cramer Lord each obtain illegal campaign contributions from Asa Buchanan ( Philip Carey ). In January 1981, Ed uncovers the illegality in the election of Herb, the day he is to serve as a groomsman for Herb at his wedding. Herb and Ed are sworn - in as Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Pennsylvania, respectively, in February 1981. Soon afterwards, news of the political impropriety of Governor and First Lady Callison is revealed in the news, to the shame of Ed who resigns in the midst of the scandal. Herb soon follows, and with Ed 's career ruined, he proceeded to pick up the pieces of his shattered life. Assuming work as a private investigator, Ed acquires a steady clientele of work. When the assumed father of the ward of Viki Lord, Tina Clayton ( Andrea Evans ) escapes from jail, he arrives in Llanview in search of Tina. Now a con artist, Ted seeks a way to gain the Lord family fortune by getting back into the good graces of Tina, who grew weary of her estranged father 's attempts at bonding. Unsuccessful at getting Tina to regard him, Ted dons a wig and follows Tina to an art gallery. Attempting to seriously harm Tina, Ed shoots and kills the disguised Ted after it is uncovered that he killed now - Llanview Police Lieutenant Vince Wolek. Ed is rehired by the Llanview Police Department later that year. In 1982, the rapist of Karen Wolek, deranged Dr. Ivan Kipling, implants brain chips into the heads of Karen 's ex-husband Dr. Larry Wolek ( Michael Storm ) and later Ed, hoping to manipulate the two men and kidnap to South America. Dr. Kipling 's caper was foiled when the chips were removed from Ed and Larry 's heads and Karen rescued. Freeman was fired from the series in 1987 by OLTL executive producer Paul Rauch, following in a series of administrative moves by Rauch which ultimately removed regular African American cast members. Leading black cast members would be absent from the series until new executive producer Linda Gottlieb and headwriter Michael Malone introduced Hank Gannon, played by actor Nathan Purdee, in 1992. Freeman briefly reprised in the role in 1988 and 2000. References Jump up ^ `` 25 Years of One Life Started Many Careers ''. Orlando Sentinel. 15 July 1993. Retrieved 30 March 2012. Jump up ^ John N. Goudas ( 26 May 1986 ). `` Soaps get their Emmy day ''. Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 March 2012. Jump up ^ Associated Press ( 8 May 1987 ). `` World Leads Daytime Emmy Race ''. Toronto Star. Retrieved 30 March 2012. Jump up ^ Lynda Hirsch ( 8 April 2000 ). `` Three Siblings Score on Soaps Day and Night ''. Fort Lauderdale Sun - Sentinel. Retrieved 1 April 2012. Jump up ^ `` Blacks in the Soaps ''. Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 33 ( 5 ) : 140. 1978. Retrieved 30 March 2012. Jump up ^ Howell, Ronald O. ( 1979 ). `` Ellen Holly : One Life to Live Star Will Have Eight Million Guests at Her TV Wedding ''. Ebony. Johnson Publishing Company. 34 ( 12 ) : 168. Retrieved 30 March 2012. Notes 1. ^ Actor Arthur Pendleton briefly assumed the role when Freeman co-starred in the short - lived ABC sitcom Hot l Baltimore. One Life to Live Characters In order of generation and first appearance Key : ( Name ) = character 's spouse ( s ), ( a. ) = adopted family member Lord family 1st gen. Victor Lord Eugenia Randolph Irene Manning Dorian Cramer Gwendolyn Lord Jonathan Abbott 2nd gen. Victoria Lord Roger Gordon Joe Riley Steve Burke Clint Buchanan Sloan Carpenter Ben Davidson Charlie Banks Meredith Lord Larry Wolek Tony Lord Cathy Craig Pat Ashley Richard Abbott Becky Lee Hunt Tina Lord Cord Roberts Cain Rogan David Vickers Todd Manning Blair Cramer Téa Delgado Powell Lord III Victor Lord Jr. Blair Cramer Téa Delgado 3rd gen. Daniel Wolek Brian Kendall Kevin Lord Riley Buchanan LeeAnn Demerest Cassie Callison Kelly Cramer Joey Riley Buchanan Kelly Cramer Jennifer Rappaport Aubrey Wentworth Jessica Buchanan Tico Santi Antonio Vega Nash Brennan Robert Ford Cutter Wentworth C.J. Roberts Megan Gordon Jake Harrison Sarah Roberts Starr Manning Natalie Buchanan Mitch Laurence Cristian Vega Jared Banks Jack Manning Sam Manning Danielle Manning 4th gen. Duke Buchanan Bree Brennan Hope Manning - Thornhart Ryder Ford Liam McBain 5th gen. Zane Buchanan Riley family 1st gen. Joe Riley Victoria Lord Eileen Riley Dave Siegel Tom Dennison Carol Harper 2nd gen. Tim Siegel Jenny Wolek Julie Siegel Mark Toland Megan Craig Riley Kevin Lord Riley Buchanan LeeAnn Demerest Cassie Callison Kelly Cramer Joey Riley Buchanan Kelly Cramer Jennifer Rappaport Aubrey Wentworth Mari Lynn Dennison 3rd gen. Duke Buchanan 4th gen. Zane Buchanan Wolek family 1st gen. Larry Wolek Karen Martin Meredith Lord Karen Wolek Laurel Chapin Anna Wolek Jim Craig Vince Wolek Wanda Webb Jenny Wolek Tim Siegel Brad Vernon Peter Janssen David Renaldi Karen Wolek Larry Wolek 2nd gen. Cathy Craig ( a. ) Tony Lord Daniel Wolek 3rd gen. Megan Craig Riley Cramer family 1st gen. Lou Cramer Sonya Roskova Betsy Cramer 2nd gen. Dorian Cramer Victor Lord Herb Callison Manuel Santi David Vickers Buchanan Mel Hayes Mitch Laurence Melinda Cramer Peter Janssen Addie Cramer David Vickers 3rd gen. Cassie Reynolds Rob Coronal Bo Buchanan Andrew Carpenter Kevin Buchanan Blair Cramer Asa Buchanan Todd Manning Max Holden Victor Lord Jr. John McBain Elijah Clarke Kelly Cramer Joey Buchanan Kevin Buchanan Paul Cramer Babe Carey Adriana Cramer Rex Balsom Langston Wilde ( a. ) 4th gen. River Carpenter ( a. ) Starr Manning Jack Manning Zane Buchanan 5th gen. Hope Manning - Thornhart Buchanan family 1st gen. Wanda Webb Vince Wolek Paul Webb Donna Webb Asa Buchanan Olympia Bonard Delilah Ralston Becky Lee Hunt Pamela Stuart Renée Divine Blair Cramer Alex Olanov Gabrielle Medina Rae Cummings Pike Buchanan Rebecca Buchanan 2nd gen. Clint Buchanan Victoria Lord Lindsay Farrell Nora Hanen Kimberly Andrews Bo Buchanan Delilah Ralston Didi O'Neill Sarah Gordon Cassie Callison Nora Hanen Rafe Garretson ( a. ) Samantha Vernon Delilah Ralston Austin Buchanan Jason Webb Ben Davidson Skye Chandler Victoria Lord 3rd gen. Kevin Lord Riley Buchanan ( a. ) LeeAnn Demerest Cassie Callison Kelly Cramer Joey Riley Buchanan ( a. ) Kelly Cramer Jennifer Rappaport Aubrey Wentworth Drew Buchanan Sammi Garretson Cord Roberts Tina Lord Kate Sanders Jessica Buchanan Tico Santi Antonio Vega Nash Brennan Robert Ford Cutter Wentworth David Vickers Buchanan Tina Lord Dorian Cramer Alex Olanov Addie Cramer Matthew Buchanan Natalie Buchanan Mitch Laurence Cristian Vega Jared Banks Rex Balsom Jennifer Rappaport Adriana Cramer Gigi Morasco 4th gen. C.J. Roberts Sarah Roberts Duke Buchanan Bree Brennan Shane Balsom Liam McBain Ryder Ford Drew Buchanan II 5th gen. Zane Buchanan Minor families Craigs Jim Craig Anna Wolek Cathy Craig Tony Lord Megan Craig Riley Grays Sadie Gray Carla Gray Ed Hall Jack Scott Josh Hall ( a. ) Hazel Scott Jared Hall Vernons Will Vernon Naomi Vernon Brad Vernon Jenny Wolek Connie O'Neill Samantha Vernon Asa Buchanan Rafe Garretson Kristine Karr Sammi Garretson Laurences Mitch Laurence Dorian Cramer Natalie Buchanan Walker Laurence Miles Laurence Sanders Elizabeth Sanders Charles Sanders Judith Russell Kate Sanders Cord Roberts Jamie Sanders Geoff McGrath Medinas Dante Medina Julia Wheaton Gabrielle Medina Al Holden Max Holden Asa Buchanan Debra Medina Al Holden Gordons Roger Gordon Victoria Lord Carrie Gordon Sarah Gordon Bo Buchanan Megan Gordon Jake Harrison Anna Gordon Thornharts Patrick Thornhart Marty Saybrooke Cole Thornhart Hope Manning - Thornhart Gannons Hank Gannon Nora Hanen Sheila Price Rachel Gannon R.J. Gannon Vegas Diego Vega Carlotta Espinoza Cristian Vega Roseanne Delgado Natalie Buchanan Vanessa Montez Antonio Vega Andy Harrison Jessica Buchanan Delgados Téa Delgado Todd Manning Ross Rayburn Victor Lord Jr. Roseanne Delgado Cristian Vega Tomás Delgado Yvette Moreau Baz Moreau Rappaports Sam Rappaport Lindsay Farrell Will Rappaport Jennifer Rappaport Balsoms Roxy Balsom Walter Balsom Max Holden Natalie Buchanan ( a. ) Mitch Laurence Cristian Vega Jared Banks Rex Balsom ( a. ) Jennifer Rappaport Adriana Cramer Gigi Morasco Shane Balsom Schuyler Joplin Liam McBain Williamsons Clarence Williamson Lisa Williamson Evangeline Williamson Layla Williamson McBains Thomas McBain Eve McBain Michael McBain Marcie Walsh John McBain Blair Cramer Shannon McBain Gabriel McBain Liam McBain Evanses Richard Evans Phylicia Wenton Shaun Evans Destiny Evans Greg Evans Drew Buchanan II Fords Eddie Ford Inez Salinger Robert Ford Jessica Buchanan Nate Salinger James Ford Ryder Ford O'Neills Harry O'Neill Didi O'Neill Connie O'Neill Joy O'Neill Pete O'Neill Miscellaneous characters Arturo Bandini Nigel Bartholomew - Smythe Babe Carey Skye Chandler Wade Coleman Rae Cummings Marco Dane Echo DiSavoy Billy Douglas Oliver Fish Steve Hardy Carlo Hesser Max Holden Vincent Jones Jeffrey King Kyle Lewis Hannah O'Connor Alex Olanov Allison Perkins Carl Peterson Rama Patel Vimal Patel Ross Rayburn Markko Rivera Talia Sahid Mark Toland Spencer Truman Cutter Wentworth Aubrey Wentworth Full character list 1960s -- 1970s characters 1980s characters 1990s characters 2000s characters 2010s characters Senior cast ( 20 or more years ) Erika Slezak Michael Storm Robert S. Woods Philip Carey Patricia Elliott Robin Strasser Peter Bartlett Hillary B. Smith Kassie DePaiva Executives Creator : Agnes Nixon Executive producers Doris Quinlan ( 1968 -- 77 ) Joseph Stuart ( 1977 -- 83 ) Jean Arley ( 1983 -- 84 ) Paul Rauch ( 1984 -- 91 ) Linda Gottlieb ( 1991 -- 94 ) Susan Bedsow Horgan ( 1994 -- 96 ) Maxine Levinson ( 1996 -- 97 ) Jill Farren Phelps ( 1997 -- 2001 ) Gary Tomlin ( 2001 -- 02 ) Frank Valentini ( 2003 -- 12 ) Jennifer Pepperman ( 2013 ) Head writers Agnes Nixon Gordon Russell Sam Hall Peggy O'Shea Henry Slesar John William Corrington Joyce Hooper Corrington S. Michael Schnessel Craig Carlson Leah Laiman Josh Griffith Michael Malone Jean Passanante Peggy Sloane Claire Labine Matthew Labine Pamela K. Long Megan McTavish Lorraine Broderick Christopher Whitesell Brian Frons Frank Valentini Dena Higley Ron Carlivati Gary Tomlin Thom Racina Susan Bedsow Horgan Storylines 1968 -- 79 1980 -- 89 1990 -- 99 2000 -- 13 Related topics and sites Llanview Mendorra Full character list Cast members Crew members ABC Daytime Prospect Park OLTL on ABC.com OLTL on Hulu Retrieved from `` https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ed_Hall_(One_Life_to_Live)&oldid=819023932 '' Categories : One Life to Live characters Fictional characters introduced in 1972 Fictional African - American people Fictional police lieutenants Fictional private investigators Fictional police detectives Fictional police commissioners Fictional politicians Talk Contents About Wikipedia Add links This page was last edited on 6 January 2018, at 23 : 37 ( UTC ). About Wikipedia

Question: who played ed hall on one life to live
Answer: Al Freeman Jr.