Morgan Freeman is a highly celebrated American actor, producer, and narrator with a career spanning over fifty years. He is known for his work across diverse film genres, earning him an Academy Award, a Golden Globe, and a Screen Actors Guild Award, along with a Tony Award nomination. His contributions to the arts have been recognized with prestigious honors such as the Kennedy Center Honor, AFI Life Achievement Award, Cecil B. DeMille Award, and Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Morgan Freeman's mother, Mamie Edna Revere, was born in 1912.
Morgan Freeman's father, Morgan Porterfield Freeman, was born on July 6, 1915.
On June 1, 1937, Morgan Freeman was born in Memphis, Tennessee.
Morgan Freeman graduated high school and enlisted in the United States Air Force in 1955.
After serving in the United States Air Force from 1955 to 1959, Morgan Freeman moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting.
Morgan Freeman's father, Morgan Porterfield Freeman, passed away on April 27, 1961, due to cirrhosis.
Morgan Freeman showcased his talent as a dancer at the 1964 World's Fair.
Morgan Freeman's prolific film career commenced in 1964, marking the beginning of a long and illustrious journey in the entertainment industry.
Morgan Freeman appeared as an extra in Sidney Lumet's drama film "The Pawnbroker," starring Rod Steiger, in 1965.
Morgan Freeman married Jeanette Adair Bradshaw on October 22, 1967.
Morgan Freeman made his Off-Broadway debut in 1967, starring opposite Viveca Lindfors in "The Niggerlovers," a play about the Freedom Riders during the American Civil Rights Movement.
Morgan Freeman made his Broadway debut in 1968 in an all-black production of the musical "Hello, Dolly!," which also starred Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway.
Morgan Freeman performed on stage in the play "The Dozens" in 1969.
Morgan Freeman began starring in the children's television show "The Electric Company" and also performed in a theater production of "Purlie" in 1971.
The Attica Prison riot, a significant event in U.S. prison history, took place in 1971.
Morgan Freeman left the children's television show "The Electric Company" in 1975.
In 1978, Morgan Freeman received a Tony Award nomination for Best Featured Actor in a Play for his role as Zeke in Richard Wesley's "The Mighty Gents."
Morgan Freeman appeared in two stage productions in 1978: "The Mighty Gents" and "White Pelicans."
Morgan Freeman's marriage to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw ended on November 18, 1979.
Morgan Freeman earned an Obie Award for his performance in the play "Coriolanus" in 1979.
The original version of "Going in Style," which would later be remade with Morgan Freeman in 2017, was released in 1979.
Morgan Freeman appeared in two films in 1980: the drama "Brubaker" and the television film "Attica," which depicted the 1971 Attica Prison riot.
Morgan Freeman received an Obie Award in 1980 for his performance as the title character in the Shakespearean tragedy "Coriolanus."
Morgan Freeman was honored with an Obie Award for his role in the play "Mother Courage and Her Children" in 1980.
The French film "Garde à vue," which would later be remade in 2000 as "Under Suspicion" starring Morgan Freeman, was released.
Morgan Freeman joined the cast of the soap opera "Another World" in 1982, playing the role of architect Roy Bingham.
Stephen King's novella "Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption" was published in 1982, which would later be adapted into the acclaimed film "The Shawshank Redemption," starring Morgan Freeman.
Morgan Freeman married Myrna Colley-Lee on June 16, 1984.
Morgan Freeman's time on the soap opera "Another World" concluded in 1984.
Morgan Freeman starred in the film "Marie" and appeared in the miniseries "The Atlanta Child Murders" in 1985.
In 1987, Morgan Freeman's performance as a violent street hustler in "Street Smart" earned him critical acclaim, including praise from Roger Ebert and an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. This role, a departure from his previous work, is considered his breakthrough performance.
Morgan Freeman received his first Oscar nomination in 1987 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the film "Street Smart."
Morgan Freeman's involvement in the play "Driving Miss Daisy" began in 1987, marking the start of a successful run.
The original "Coming to America," which would later see a sequel starring Morgan Freeman, premiered in 1988.
Morgan Freeman won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor for his performance in "Driving Miss Daisy" in 1989.
In 1989, Freeman starred in four films, including "Lean on Me" and "Johnny Handsome." He reflected on his role in "Glory," expressing his pride in portraying the Black legacy as noble and heroic.
Following the release of "Lean on Me" in 1989, Morgan Freeman's co-star Beverly Todd commended his acting style, highlighting his generosity and depth as a performer.
1989 was a significant year for Freeman's career, receiving two Oscar nominations: Best Actor for "Driving Miss Daisy" and Best Supporting Actor for "Glory."
1989 marked a successful year for Freeman with the release of "Glory" and "Driving Miss Daisy." He received praise for his performance in the critically acclaimed Civil War drama "Glory." "Driving Miss Daisy" became a commercial success, grossing $145 million worldwide, and earned Freeman an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
Freeman lent his voice to the documentary "The Civil War" as Frederick Douglass in 1990. He also took on the stage role of Petruchio in Shakespeare's "The Taming of the Shrew" and starred in the critically panned film "The Bonfire of the Vanities."
In 1991, Freeman appeared in the commercially successful film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," starring Kevin Costner, receiving mixed reviews for his performance as Azeem.
Morgan Freeman starred as Azeem in the adventure film "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," which was released in 1991.
Tom Clancy's novel "The Sum of All Fears," which would later be adapted into a film starring Morgan Freeman, was published.
Freeman starred in Clint Eastwood's Oscar-winning western "Unforgiven" in 1992, earning critical acclaim for his performance. He also played the lead role in the drama "The Power of One," based on Bryce Courtenay's 1989 novel.
In 1992, Morgan Freeman starred alongside Clint Eastwood in the Western film "Unforgiven."
Morgan Freeman made his directorial debut with the drama film "Bopha!" in 1993.
Freeman made his directorial debut in 1993 with "Bopha!," a drama set during South Africa's apartheid era. The film, starring Danny Glover, was well-received, with critics praising Freeman's directing skills.
Morgan Freeman received an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in 1994 for his memorable role in the critically acclaimed film "The Shawshank Redemption."
In 1994, Freeman starred as Red in "The Shawshank Redemption," a performance that earned him critical acclaim and an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor. That same year, he served as a jury member at the 44th Berlin International Film Festival.
Freeman appeared in two notable films in 1995: the medical thriller "Outbreak" alongside Dustin Hoffman and the crime thriller "Seven" with Brad Pitt. His performances in both films were praised by critics.
Morgan Freeman starred in the thriller film "Se7en" alongside Brad Pitt and Kevin Spacey, which was released in 1995.
The novel "Kiss the Girls" by James Patterson, which would later be adapted into a film starring Morgan Freeman, was published.
In 1996, Morgan Freeman starred in the period drama "Moll Flanders" to mixed reviews. This same year, driven by his desire for greater representation and exploring challenging issues on screen, Freeman partnered with producer Lori McCreary to form the film production company, Revelations Entertainment.
Morgan Freeman founded the film production company Revelations Entertainment with business partner Lori McCreary in 1996.
Morgan Freeman narrated the documentary film "The Long Way Home" in 1997.
Morgan Freeman starred in the historical drama film "Amistad," directed by Steven Spielberg, which was released in 1997.
In 1997, Morgan Freeman lent his voice to narrate the Academy Award-winning documentary "The Long Way Home." He also starred in Steven Spielberg's historical drama "Amistad" and the thriller "Kiss the Girls," based on James Patterson's novel.
In 1997, Morgan Freeman partnered with Lori McCreary to establish Revelations Entertainment, a film production company.
In 1997, Morgan Freeman owned a Nissan Maxima, the same car model he was driving during his accident in 2008.
"Kiss the Girls," a thriller film starring Morgan Freeman as Alex Cross, was released.
Dennis Lehane's novel "Gone Baby Gone" was published in 1998, later adapted into a film starring Morgan Freeman in 2007.
Joseph Finder's novel "High Crimes," which would later be adapted into a film starring Morgan Freeman and Ashley Judd, was published.
Charles Baxter published the novel "The Feast of Love" in 2000, which would later be adapted into the film "Feast of Love" starring Morgan Freeman in 2007.
In 2000, Morgan Freeman showcased his versatility, starring in the comedy "Nurse Betty" alongside Renée Zellweger and Chris Rock, which premiered at Cannes to positive reviews. He also co-starred with Gene Hackman in the thriller "Under Suspicion," a project Freeman had been developing for years under his production company, Revelations Entertainment.
Morgan Freeman's mother, Mamie Edna Revere, passed away in 2000.
Morgan Freeman reprised his role as Alex Cross in "Along Came a Spider," the sequel to the 1997 thriller "Kiss the Girls." The film, however, received a mixed to negative reception from critics.
Stephen King's novel "Dreamcatcher," which would later be adapted into a film starring Morgan Freeman, was published.
Morgan Freeman starred in two thrillers in 2002. He played a CIA director alongside Ben Affleck in "The Sum of All Fears," based on the Tom Clancy novel, and took on a supporting role in the legal thriller "High Crimes," which co-starred Ashley Judd and Jim Caviezel.
Morgan Freeman starred as God in the comedy film "Bruce Almighty" in 2003.
Morgan Freeman starred in the science fiction horror film "Dreamcatcher," based on the Stephen King novel, which unfortunately received negative reviews and flopped at the box office. He also appeared in two less widely seen dramas, "Levity" and "Guilty by Association."
Morgan Freeman took on the divine role of God in the comedy "Bruce Almighty," starring alongside Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston. The film was a major hit with audiences.
Morgan Freeman won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor in 2004 for his performance in Clint Eastwood's sports drama "Million Dollar Baby."
Morgan Freeman had a momentous year in 2004, starring in the comedy "The Big Bounce" and, more notably, in Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby." His performance as a former boxer in the latter earned him his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, cementing his legacy in Hollywood.
Morgan Freeman received the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for his role in "Million Dollar Baby" in 2004.
In the wake of Hurricane Ivan's devastation in Grenada, Morgan Freeman co-founded the Grenada Relief Fund in 2004. This fund later evolved into PLANIT NOW, an organization dedicated to providing hurricane and severe storm preparedness resources.
2005 was a prolific year for Morgan Freeman. He appeared in six films, including the drama "An Unfinished Life" with Robert Redford, lent his voice to narrate Steven Spielberg's "War of the Worlds" and the Oscar-winning documentary "March of the Penguins," and took on the iconic role of Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins." He also starred in the action-thriller "Unleashed" with Jet Li and the thriller "Edison," which had a limited release.
In 2005, Morgan Freeman sparked controversy by criticizing the celebration of Black History Month. He argued that Black history is American history and that the way to combat racism is to stop dwelling on it. He also questioned why there isn't a "white history month."
Morgan Freeman provided the narration for the acclaimed nature documentary "March of the Penguins" in 2005.
Morgan Freeman's first appearance as Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's "Batman Begins," kicking off "The Dark Knight Trilogy."
Morgan Freeman received an honorary Doctor of Arts and Letters degree from Delta State University during their commencement ceremony on May 13, 2006.
Morgan Freeman was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award at the inaugural Mississippi's Best Awards in Jackson, Mississippi, on October 28, 2006, recognizing his contributions to film and theater.
Morgan Freeman co-founded ClickStar in 2006, a film download company that received investment from Intel Corporation.
In 2006, Morgan Freeman starred in "The Contract," an action thriller with John Cusack, "Lucky Number Slevin," a crime thriller featuring an ensemble cast, and the comedy "10 Items or Less" opposite Paz Vega. Notably, "10 Items or Less" was released on ClickStar, a film distribution company Freeman co-founded, shortly after its theatrical release, marking an early foray into digital distribution.
In December 2007, Morgan Freeman and Myrna Colley-Lee announced their separation.
After working with Morgan Freeman on "The Bucket List" in 2007, Beverly Todd reiterated his collaborative approach to acting, emphasizing his willingness to share the spotlight and prioritize the story over personal accolades.
In 2007, Morgan Freeman appeared in two notable films: the thriller "Gone Baby Gone" and the comedy-drama "The Bucket List."
In 2007, Morgan Freeman starred in several films, including "Evan Almighty," a sequel to "Bruce Almighty" (2003), "Feast of Love," "Gone Baby Gone," and "The Bucket List." However, "Evan Almighty" faced negative reception, with critics like The Guardian calling it a "deluge of sentimentality." Freeman also had a supporting role in "Gone Baby Gone," which received positive responses for its story and performances. "The Bucket List," co-starring Jack Nicholson, performed well commercially.
On the evening of August 3, 2008, Morgan Freeman was involved in a serious car accident near Ruleville, Mississippi. He and his passenger sustained injuries and were extracted from the vehicle using hydraulic tools.
Morgan Freeman was named a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2008, a prestigious recognition of his contributions to the performing arts.
Morgan Freeman starred in the action film "Wanted," which was released in 2008.
Morgan Freeman publicly endorsed Barack Obama's bid for the presidency in 2008, though he clarified that he wouldn't be actively involved in the campaign.
In 2008, Morgan Freeman was awarded the Kennedy Center Honor for his contributions to American culture through the performing arts.
ClickStar, the film download company co-founded by Morgan Freeman, ceased operations in 2008.
In 2008, Morgan Freeman starred in the action-thriller "Wanted," lent his voice to "The Love Guru," and reprised his role as Lucius Fox in "The Dark Knight." Freeman also made a comeback to Broadway after 18 years in Clifford Odets' play "The Country Girl" alongside Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher.
Morgan Freeman, who had endorsed Barack Obama's presidential campaign, provided the narration for Disney World's Hall of Presidents when Obama was added to the exhibit. The updated exhibit reopened on July 4, 2009.
In 2009, Morgan Freeman starred in "Thick as Thieves" and "The Maiden Heist." However, the highlight of the year was his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in "Invictus," directed by Clint Eastwood. Freeman's performance received critical acclaim, earning him nominations for Best Actor at the Academy Awards, Golden Globes, and Screen Actors Guild Awards.
In 2009, Morgan Freeman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela in the film "Invictus."
On September 15, 2010, Morgan Freeman's divorce from Myrna Colley-Lee was finalized.
In December 2010, Morgan Freeman joined a delegation that included former President Bill Clinton, Sunil Gulati (President of the United States Soccer Federation), and soccer player Landon Donovan to present the US bid for hosting the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Zurich.
The science documentary series "Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman" premiered in 2010, with Freeman as host and narrator.
Morgan Freeman starred in the action-comedy film "Red," which was released in 2010.
Morgan Freeman starred in the action-comedy film "Red" in 2010, alongside Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich. The film, adapted from the comic book series, was both a critical and commercial success, with praise for the cast's performance.
"Dolphin Tale," featuring Morgan Freeman as Dr. McCarthy, was released in 2011 and was followed by a sequel in 2014.
In 2011, Morgan Freeman lent his voice to "Conan the Barbarian" and appeared in "Dolphin Tale." He also returned to Broadway in Dustin Lance Black's play "8," portraying Attorney David Boies in a reenactment of the Perry v. Brown case.
In 2011, Morgan Freeman received the AFI Life Achievement Award, a testament to his significant impact on the film industry.
Morgan Freeman received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2011, recognizing his significant contributions to American cinema.
Morgan Freeman was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards in 2012, recognizing his lifetime achievement in film.
Morgan Freeman reprised his role as Lucius Fox in "The Dark Knight Rises," concluding Christopher Nolan's "The Dark Knight Trilogy."
In 2012, Morgan Freeman was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globe Awards, recognizing his outstanding contributions to the entertainment industry.
In 2012, Morgan Freeman starred in the drama film "The Magic of Belle Isle" and reprised his role as Lucius Fox in "The Dark Knight Rises," the final installment of Christopher Nolan's Batman trilogy.
Boston University awarded Morgan Freeman an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in 2013.
Morgan Freeman appeared in several successful films in 2013, including the action-thriller "Olympus Has Fallen," the science fiction drama "Oblivion" with Tom Cruise, the thriller "Now You See Me," and the comedy "Last Vegas." His performance in "Olympus Has Fallen" was particularly noted for its supporting role, while "Last Vegas" was lauded for the cast's chemistry.
Morgan Freeman appeared in two films in 2013: the science fiction film "Oblivion" and the heist thriller "Now You See Me."
Concerned about the decline of honeybees, Morgan Freeman decided to convert his 124-acre ranch into a bee sanctuary in July 2014. He started with 26 beehives.
On November 12, 2014, Morgan Freeman was granted the Freedom of the City by the City of London, a prestigious honor.
Morgan Freeman starred in the science fiction action film "Lucy," which was released in 2014.
Revelations Entertainment, co-founded by Morgan Freeman, produced the CBS political drama series "Madam Secretary," which premiered in 2014.
Morgan Freeman lent his voice to narrate "What's Possible," a film that premiered at the United Nations climate summit in 2014.
In 2014, Morgan Freeman voiced Vitruvius in the animated hit "The Lego Movie," starred in the science fiction thriller "Transcendence" and the action film "Lucy," reprised his role in "Dolphin Tale 2," appeared in the comedy-drama "5 Flights Up," and made an appearance as himself in the documentary "Lennon or McCartney."
E'dena Hines, Morgan Freeman's step-granddaughter, was tragically murdered in New York City on August 16, 2015, at the age of 33.
During the 2015 Baltimore protests, Morgan Freeman expressed strong support for the demonstrators. He characterized the situation as "terrorism we suffer from the police" and condemned the excessive use of force by law enforcement, particularly against Black individuals.
In 2015, Morgan Freeman starred in "Last Knights" and "Ted 2," showcasing his range in action and comedy. He also took on a recurring role as Chief Justice Frawley in "Madam Secretary," a series he executive produced and even directed an episode of. He ended the year with a role in the thriller "Momentum."
During the 2016 Democratic National Convention, Morgan Freeman provided the voiceover for the video that introduced Hillary Clinton as the Democratic presidential candidate.
In 2016, Morgan Freeman reprised his roles in the sequels "London Has Fallen" and "Now You See Me 2." He also starred as Sheik Ilderim in the historical drama "Ben-Hur." While "London Has Fallen" and "Now You See Me 2" saw commercial success, "Ben-Hur" unfortunately flopped.
Morgan Freeman hosted the National Geographic documentary series "The Story of God" in 2016.
The documentary series "The Story of God with Morgan Freeman" premiered in 2016, exploring various religious and spiritual beliefs around the world.
In August 2017, it was announced that Morgan Freeman would receive the 54th Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award, acknowledging his illustrious career and humanitarian efforts.
On September 19, 2017, Morgan Freeman appeared in a video released by the committee to Investigate Russia. In the video, he made serious allegations, stating that the United States was "at war" with Russia and accusing Russia of waging cyberattacks and spreading disinformation.
Morgan Freeman starred in two comedies in 2017, "Going in Style," a remake of the 1979 classic, and "Just Getting Started" alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Rene Russo. He also lent his voice as host for National Geographic documentaries "The Story of God" and "The Story of Us" in 2016 and 2017.
The science documentary series "Through the Wormhole with Morgan Freeman" concluded in 2017, after exploring a wide range of scientific concepts.
On May 24, 2018, CNN published an investigative report featuring accusations from eight women who alleged that Morgan Freeman had engaged in inappropriate behavior and comments on film sets and at his production company.
In 2018, Morgan Freeman lent his voice to narrate the historical drama "Alpha." He also starred in Disney's "The Nutcracker and the Four Realms" and had an uncredited role as Jerome in the biographical drama "Brian Banks."
Morgan Freeman received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2018, honoring his career and legacy in film and television.
Morgan Freeman starred alongside John Travolta in "The Poison Rose" and reprised his role as Allan Trumbull in "Angel Has Fallen." Although "Angel Has Fallen" received mixed reviews, it performed well at the box office.
Reports emerged in 2019 suggesting that Morgan Freeman had found religion in Zoroastrianism.
The documentary series "The Story of God with Morgan Freeman" concluded in 2019, after examining diverse religious perspectives.
On December 8, 2020, La Opinión highlighted a 2018 Spanish-language blog post that alleged CNN had fabricated its report on the allegations against Morgan Freeman.
Morgan Freeman joined an ensemble cast in the crime comedy "The Comeback Trail," released in 2020.
In June 2021, Morgan Freeman and Linda Keena, a professor at the University of Mississippi, made a significant donation of $1 million to establish the Center for Evidence-Based Policing and Reform at the university.
Morgan Freeman appeared in "Coming 2 America," the sequel to the 1988 comedy.
Morgan Freeman narrated the nature documentary series "Our Universe," released in 2022.
The United States aimed to host the FIFA World Cup in 2022, with Morgan Freeman among those involved in the bidding process.
Morgan Freeman narrated the nature documentary "Life on Our Planet," released in 2023.