Josh Hall (One Life to Live)

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]

Josh Hall
One Life to Live character
Laurence Fishburne as Josh Hall
Portrayed by	Laurence Fishburne (1973–76) Todd Davis (1977) Guy Davis (1985–86)
Duration	1973–77 1985–86
First appearance	April 1973 (1973-04)
Last appearance	1986 (1986)
Classification	Former, regular
Created by	Agnes Nixon
Introduced by	Doris Quinlan Paul Rauch (1985)
In-universe information Other names Joshua West Joshua Hall Occupation Physician Adoptive father Ed Hall Adoptive mother Carla Gray Sons Jared Hall Grandmothers Sadie Gray (adoptive)

Background and reception

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]