Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Morgan Freeman
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Morgan Freeman made an impact.
Morgan Freeman is a highly acclaimed American actor, producer, and narrator with a career spanning six decades. He's received numerous awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, plus lifetime achievement awards from AFI, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award. He was also a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2008. In 2022, he was voted one of the 50 greatest actors of all time by Empire magazine readers, highlighting his significant impact and enduring popularity in the film industry.
1964: Began Acting in Films
Since 1964, Morgan Freeman has been acting in films, playing roles ranging from dramas, historical epics, thrillers, action adventure, science fiction, and comedies.
1989: Acted in 'Lean on Me'
In 1989, Morgan Freeman co-starred in 'Lean on Me'.
1994: The Shawshank Redemption and Berlin Film Festival Jury
In 1994, Morgan Freeman played Red in "The Shawshank Redemption". Despite challenges during filming, his performance was well-received. The film received Academy Award nominations, including one for Freeman. Also, in 1994, Freeman served as a jury member at the 44th Berlin International Film Festival.
1995: Starring in Outbreak and Seven
In 1995, Morgan Freeman starred in "Outbreak" as General Billy Ford, which had mixed reviews but was a box office success. Also in 1995, he starred in "Seven", receiving positive reviews for his performance as a detective.
1996: Starring in Chain Reaction and Moll Flanders
In 1996, Morgan Freeman appeared in "Chain Reaction", which was critically and commercially unsuccessful. He also starred in "Moll Flanders", which received mixed reviews, with Freeman's performance being viewed differently by various critics.
1997: Founded Revelations Entertainment
In 1997, Morgan Freeman and Lori McCreary founded Revelations Entertainment, a film production company.
1997: Narration and Acting Roles in 1997
In 1997, Morgan Freeman narrated "The Long Way Home", an Academy Award-winning documentary. He also appeared in Steven Spielberg's "Amistad", which received mostly positive reviews. Additionally in 1997, he starred as Alex Cross in "Kiss the Girls", receiving mixed reviews.
1997: Kiss the Girls film
In 1997, Morgan Freeman starred in "Kiss the Girls".
1998: Starring in Deep Impact and Hard Rain
In 1998, Morgan Freeman starred in "Deep Impact" as President Tim Beck, which was a box-office hit. Also in 1998, he starred in "Hard Rain", which was unpopular with critics.
2000: Starring in Nurse Betty and Under Suspicion
In 2000, Morgan Freeman starred in "Nurse Betty", which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival and received mainly positive reviews. He also appeared in "Under Suspicion", a film he produced under Revelations Entertainment, which received a lukewarm reception.
2001: Starring in Along Came a Spider
In 2001, Morgan Freeman reprised his role as Alex Cross in "Along Came a Spider", a sequel to "Kiss the Girls". The film received mixed-to-negative reviews.
2002: Starring in The Sum of All Fears and High Crimes
In 2002, Morgan Freeman starred in "The Sum of All Fears", which was a commercial success. Also in 2002, he starred in "High Crimes", with critics praising his and Ashley Judd's performances.
2003: Starring as God in Bruce Almighty
In 2003, Morgan Freeman appeared as God in the comedy "Bruce Almighty", which was a hit.
2003: Bruce Almighty film
In 2003, Morgan Freeman starred in "Bruce Almighty".
2003: Starring in Various Films
In 2003, Morgan Freeman starred in "Dreamcatcher", which was a box-office flop. Also in 2003, he starred in "Levity" and "Guilty by Association", which were not widely seen.
2004: Helped Form the Grenada Relief Fund
In 2004, Morgan Freeman helped form the Grenada Relief Fund to aid people affected by Hurricane Ivan on the island of Grenada. The fund later became PLANIT NOW.
2004: Academy Award Win for Million Dollar Baby
In 2004, Morgan Freeman starred in "The Big Bounce" and "Million Dollar Baby". "Million Dollar Baby" won four Academy Awards, and Freeman won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.
2005: Multiple Film Appearances in 2005
In 2005, Morgan Freeman appeared in "An Unfinished Life", narrated "War of the Worlds" and "March of the Penguins", co-starred in "Batman Begins" and "Unleashed", acted in "Edison", and voiced Neil Armstrong in "Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D".
2006: Founded ClickStar
In 2006, Morgan Freeman and business partner Lori McCreary founded ClickStar, a film download company, with investment from Intel Corporation.
2006: Appearances in The Contract, Lucky Number Slevin, and 10 Items or Less
In 2006, Morgan Freeman starred in "The Contract", appeared in "Lucky Number Slevin", and portrayed himself in "10 Items or Less". "10 Items or Less" was later available for download from ClickStar, a company Freeman co-founded.
2007: Acted in 'The Bucket List'
In 2007, Morgan Freeman co-starred in 'The Bucket List'.
2007: Roles in Evan Almighty, Feast of Love, Gone Baby Gone, and The Bucket List
In 2007, Morgan Freeman reprised his role as God in "Evan Almighty", starred in "Feast of Love", had a supporting part in "Gone Baby Gone", and starred in "The Bucket List".
2008: ClickStar Ceases Operations
In 2008, ClickStar, the film download company co-founded by Morgan Freeman, ceased operations.
2008: Roles in Wanted, The Love Guru, The Dark Knight, and The Country Girl
In 2008, Morgan Freeman was cast in "Wanted", narrated "The Love Guru", reprised his role in "The Dark Knight", and returned to Broadway in "The Country Girl".
2008: Endorsed Barack Obama
In 2008, during the presidential election, Morgan Freeman endorsed Barack Obama's presidential bid.
2009: Starred in Thick as Thieves and Invictus
In 2009, Morgan Freeman starred in "Thick as Thieves" alongside Antonio Banderas and "The Maiden Heist" with Christopher Walken and William H. Macy. He also starred as Nelson Mandela in "Invictus", a biographical drama directed by Clint Eastwood. His performance in "Invictus" earned him Best Actor nominations at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards. Additionally, in 2009, he narrated Janet Langhart's "Anne and Emmett".
January 2010: Replaced Walter Cronkite as the Voice of CBS Evening News and became presenter of Through the Wormhole
In January 2010, Morgan Freeman replaced Walter Cronkite as the voiceover for the CBS Evening News. Also in 2010, he became the presenter of the Science Channel series "Through the Wormhole".
December 2010: Presentation for U.S. Hosting Rights for FIFA World Cup
In December 2010, Morgan Freeman joined Bill Clinton and others in Zurich for a presentation to bid for the U.S. hosting rights for the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
2010: Starred in Red
In 2010, Morgan Freeman's sole film release was "Red", adapted from the DC Comics comic-book series Red, starring alongside Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich. He played CIA mentor Joe in the film.
2011: Endorsed Bill Luckett
In 2011, Morgan Freeman endorsed his friend Bill Luckett, who unsuccessfully ran for Governor of Mississippi.
2011: Narrated Conan the Barbarian and starred in Dolphin Tale
In 2011, Morgan Freeman narrated the fantasy film "Conan the Barbarian" and appeared in the family drama "Dolphin Tale" as Dr. McCarthy. Also in 2011, he performed in the Broadway debut of Dustin Lance Black's play "8", playing Attorney David Boies.
2012: Starred in The Magic of Belle Isle and The Dark Knight Rises
In 2012, Morgan Freeman played the lead role in "The Magic of Belle Isle", and reprised his role as Lucius Fox in "The Dark Knight Rises".
2013: Starred in Olympus Has Fallen, Oblivion, Now You See Me, and Last Vegas
In 2013, Morgan Freeman appeared in several films: "Olympus Has Fallen" as Allan Trumbull, "Oblivion" with Tom Cruise, "Now You See Me" as an ex-magician, and "Last Vegas" with Michael Douglas, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Mary Steenburgen.
July 2014: Turned his ranch into a bee sanctuary
In July 2014, Morgan Freeman decided to turn his 124-acre ranch into a bee sanctuary, starting with 26 beehives, after learning about the decline of honeybees.
2014: Narrated What's Possible and Donated to the Mississippi Horse Park
In 2014, Morgan Freeman narrated a clip titled "What's Possible" at the United Nations climate summit. Freeman also donated to the Mississippi Horse Park.
2014: Voiced Vitruvius in The Lego Movie, starred in Transcendence and Lucy, appeared in Dolphin Tale 2 and 5 Flights Up
In 2014, Morgan Freeman voiced Vitruvius in "The Lego Movie", starred in "Transcendence" as Joseph Tagger, co-starred in "Lucy" as Professor Samuel Norman, appeared in "Dolphin Tale 2", and appeared in "5 Flights Up". He also appeared in the documentary "Lennon or McCartney".
2015: Starred in Last Knights and Ted 2, played Chief Justice Frawley in Madam Secretary and directed its first episode, acted in Momentum.
In 2015, Morgan Freeman starred in "Last Knights", co-starred in "Ted 2" as Patrick Meighan, and played Chief Justice Frawley in a recurring role on "Madam Secretary", also directing the first episode. He also played a U.S. senator in the thriller "Momentum".
2016: Appeared in London Has Fallen, Now You See Me 2, and Ben-Hur
In 2016, Morgan Freeman reprised his role as Allan Trumbull in "London Has Fallen", reprised his role as Thaddeus Bradley in "Now You See Me 2", and played Sheik Ilderim in "Ben-Hur".
2016: Voiceover for Hillary Clinton video
In 2016, on day four of the Democratic National Convention, Morgan Freeman provided the voiceover for the video introduction of Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton.
September 19, 2017: Appears in Committee to Investigate Russia video
On September 19, 2017, Morgan Freeman appeared in a video by the Committee to Investigate Russia group, declaring "we [United States] are at war" and accusing Russia of "launching cyber attacks and spreading false information".
2017: Appeared in Going in Style and Just Getting Started, Hosted The Story of God and The Story of Us
In 2017, Morgan Freeman appeared in the comedies "Going in Style" and "Just Getting Started". He also hosted National Geographic's "The Story of God with Morgan Freeman" and "The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman".
2018: Narrated Alpha, starred in The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, and had an uncredited role in Brian Banks
In 2018, Morgan Freeman narrated "Alpha", starred in Disney's "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms", and had an uncredited role in "Brian Banks".
2019: Starred in The Poison Rose and Angel Has Fallen
In 2019, Morgan Freeman starred in "The Poison Rose" opposite John Travolta, and reprised his role as Allan Trumbull in "Angel Has Fallen".
2020: Appeared in The Comeback Trail
In 2020, Morgan Freeman appeared in George Gallo's crime comedy, "The Comeback Trail".
June 2021: Donation to University of Mississippi
In June 2021, Morgan Freeman and Linda Keena donated $1 million to the University of Mississippi, establishing the Center for Evidence-Based Policing and Reform.
2021: Appeared in Coming 2 America and The Kominsky Method
In 2021, Morgan Freeman appeared in "Coming 2 America", a sequel to the 1988 film, and took a guest starring role in the Netflix comedy "The Kominsky Method", earning a Primetime Emmy Award nomination.
2023: Portrayed a United States Secretary of State in Lioness
Since 2023, Morgan Freeman has portrayed a United States Secretary of State in the Taylor Sheridan created Paramount+ spy thriller series "Lioness".
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