LOS ANGELES — Albert Freeman Jr., the veteran actor who played Elijah Muhammad in Spike Lee’s epic film ‘‘Malcolm X,’’ has died. He was 78.

Howard University in Washington, D.C., confirmed his death Friday night. Mr. Freeman taught acting there and served as artistic director of its theater arts department.

‘‘He was a brilliant professor, a renowned actor, and a master director who made his mark in the classroom as well as on stage, screen, and television,’’ a university spokeswoman said.

Mr. Freeman earned an NAACP Image Award for playing Malcolm X’s mentor in Lee’s 1992 biographical film.

He also received an Emmy nomination for his role as Malcolm X in the 1979 miniseries ‘‘Roots: The Next Generations.’’ He won a best-actor Daytime Emmy that year for his work as Ed Hall on ‘‘One Life to Live.’’