Abdul Salaam El Razzac was an American actor and acting teacher best known for his roles in films such as Pretty Woman, Terminator 2: Judgment Day, and Malcolm X. Born Allen Johnson II on May 8, 1944, in Cleveland, Ohio, he had a significant impact on the theater scene and education in acting until his passing on December 25, 2018.
Personal and Family Life
Abdul Salaam El Razzac graduated from East Technical High School in Cleveland, Ohio, and later attended the University of Minnesota. He was a proud founding member of the Penumbra Theater company located in Saint Paul, Minnesota. Throughout his career, he also contributed to the education of aspiring actors by teaching at the Saint Paul Learning Center and Saint Paul Central High School.
Death and Legacy
Abdul Salaam El Razzac passed away on December 25, 2018, due to complications from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease related to a heart attack. His legacy lives on in the performances he delivered and the many students he inspired during his teaching career. He was posthumously recognized for his contributions to the arts, particularly within the African American theater community.
Filmography
| Title | Release Date | Character |
|---|---|---|
| Death Warrant | 1990-09-14 | Priest |
| Framed | 1990-06-24 | Agent Joak |
| Terminator 2: Judgment Day | 1991-07-03 | Gibbons |
| Malcolm X | 1992-11-18 | Fox |
| Deadly Game | 1991-07-10 | Rashid |
| Crazy | 2008-03-02 | Green Light Bartender |
| Pretty Woman | 1990-03-23 | Happy Man |
| Beretta’s Island | 1994-05-05 | Lieutenant |
| Blood Widow | 2020-01-17 | Doctor Corazon |
| Glory | 1989-12-15 | ‘A’ Company Soldier |
| The Specials | 2000-09-22 | Eight |
| A Minor Variation | Tarquin | |
| Female Perversions | 1996-11-21 | Homeless Man |
| 8 Mile | 2002-11-08 | Joe Lee Patton |
| Conversations with God | 2006-01-25 | Chef |
| Adam and Eve | 2005-11-04 | Homeless Man |
| Frasier | 1993-09-16 | Paul |
| Empty Nest | 1988-10-08 | The Piano Player |
| 1775 | 1992-09-05 | Joseph |
| Out All Night | 1992-09-19 | Nate |
| The John Larroquette Show | 1993-09-02 | Clyde |
| Madman of the People | 1994-09-22 | Babfumi |
| Grey’s Anatomy | 2005-03-27 | Ralph Tennison |