Malcolm X is a 1992 American
biographical drama film about the
Afro-American activist
Malcolm X. Directed and co-written by
Spike Lee, the film stars
Denzel Washington in the title role, as well as
Angela Bassett,
Albert Hall,
Al Freeman, Jr., and
Delroy Lindo. Lee has a supporting role as Shorty, a character based partially on real-life acquaintance Malcolm "Shorty" Jarvis, a fellow criminal and
jazz saxophonist.
Black Panther Party co-founder
Bobby Seale, the Rev.
Al Sharpton, and future South Africa president
Nelson Mandela have
cameo appearances. This is the second of four film collaborations between Washington and Lee.