| Series: | One Life to Live |
| Josh Hall | |
| Classification: | Former, regular |
| Image1: | File:Fishburne Josh 1973.png |
| Caption1: | Laurence Fishburne as Josh Hall |
| Creator: | Agnes Nixon |
| Occupation: | Physician |
| Sons: | Jared Hall |
| Adoptivefather: | Ed Hall |
| Adoptivemother: | Carla Gray |
| Grandmothers: | Sadie 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]
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]