Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman
6.1
Morgan Freeman photo 1 Morgan Freeman photo 2 Morgan Freeman photo 3 Morgan Freeman photo 4
Comments (5)
Name:
Morgan Freeman
Who is:
Birth date:
(88 y.o.)
Place of birth:
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Height:
6'2 ft ()
Weight:
187 lb (85 kg)
Namesakes:
Birth Sign:
(characteristic)
Chinese zodiac:
Links:

Photos: Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman photo 1
Morgan Freeman photo 2
Morgan Freeman photo 3
Morgan Freeman photo 4
+12 Photos

Morgan Freeman's biography

"It's easy to be an actor, it's hard to become one" - these words belong to Morgan Freeman, whose name is known worldwide thanks to masterpieces like The Shawshank Redemption, Seven, Million Dollar Baby and many others. Net worth: $250 million.
In the photo: Morgan Freeman
In the photo: Morgan Freeman

Childhood

The actor's story begins in the American South, in Memphis. His parents met at the local hospital where they both worked. Freeman Sr. worked as an orderly, while his wife Mayme was a nurse. Their first child Morgan, named after his father, was born on June 1, 1937. Shortly after the birth of his sister, his parents broke up. Mayme, though patient and devout, couldn't tolerate her husband's drinking.

Job opportunities opened up in the northern states during the early '40s. Mayme forgave her husband, who came to her promising to quit drinking, and they moved to Chicago seeking a better life. The three-year-old Morgan and his sister were left in the care of their father's mother.
Morgan Freeman in youth
Morgan Freeman in youth
After the death of their grandmother in 1943 the Freemans took the children to Chicago. Morgan was seven when he met his father, whom he couldn't remember at all. His parents still couldn't get along - frequent fights ended with his father storming out, only to return days later.

Morgan began school in Chicago. The class had both Black and white children. This was 1945 - while segregation still officially existed in the South, it had been abolished in the North. But here the boy was still humiliated. Mayme's mother, visiting her daughter, took pity on the children and brought Morgan and his sister south to the small village of Greenwood.

Later, Freeman would remember his time with his grandmother as one of the happiest periods of his life. In Greenwood, he attended the school for Black children. Morgan was blessed with teachers who made the tall, easygoing boy believe he could make something of himself. He loved reading and at age 8 got his library card, where he devoured book after book, amazed by the diverse, beautiful world opening up to him.
Morgan Freeman at young age
Morgan Freeman at young age
When Morgan turned 12, he had to return to Chicago, where he first discovered movies. Tickets were cheap, but the boy was completely broke. He hunted for bottles to wash and return so he could afford a ticket. Movies became Morgan's obsession - he joined the drama club and by 15 was already the school's star performer.

The handsome black boy was also a dreamer. After watching a film about pilots, he began dreaming of flying, and after high school graduation became a cadet at a military academy in Texas. But reality was nothing like the world Morgan had imagined. With the Vietnam War beginning, Morgan feared being drafted. After graduation, he abandoned his military plans and headed to California.

25 years of obscurity

In Los Angeles, Morgan pounded the pavement at film studios for several years but couldn't land a single role. He was 21 years old, and he had neither money nor acquaintances. He loved the cinema with all his heart and sincerely didn't understand why he was refused. A few years later the young man moved to New York. There Freeman scraped by with odd jobs and performed in amateur theaters.
Morgan lived 25 years in New York. Theater work brought him neither satisfaction nor money. Having played many roles, he became increasingly convinced that his vocation was cinema.
In the late 60s, the actor managed to get a job on television. After working in a children's show for several years, he noticed he was developing a craving for alcohol. His father had already died of liver cirrhosis, and Morgan was afraid. He realized that he could repeat his fate. Getting himself together, he continued pursuing his dream, patiently enduring rejection after rejection.
Morgan Freeman in the Brubaker
Morgan Freeman in the Brubaker
Between 1975 and 1983, the actor managed to land small roles in Attica, Brubaker, and Eyewitness. Though the prison drama Brubaker earned critical acclaim and sparked social discussion, Morgan's role was too small—but recognition was just around the corner.

Rapid rise

In 1984, the 48-year-old actor landed a role in Harry and Son. The film wasn't a hit, but it brought Morgan some recognition. Over the next two years, he appeared in several films, but his real breakthrough came in 1986. His role in the drama Street Smart, where Morgan brilliantly played a pimp, made him a star overnight. He was nominated for an Oscar for this role in 1987.

Morgan started getting film offers but didn't dare leave his theater work. The Driving Miss Daisy stage production he starred in was a huge hit with theatergoers and was later adapted for film. Morgan played the driver who becomes the unlikely best friend of an arrogant Jewish woman, played by Jessica Tandy. This story about the complex relationship between two people from different social classes earned four Oscars and became 1990's Best Picture. The actor himself received a Golden Globe.
Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy
Morgan Freeman in Driving Miss Daisy
Between 1990 and 1994, Morgan—who broke into cinema at an age when other actors are already writing their memoirs—became a worldwide star. In 1991 he turned 54, but he was full of energy and worked with youthful passion. Every film he appeared in became a hit, and critics wondered how the industry had overlooked such an outstanding actor for 25 years. Two films from this period stand out as the actor's personal favorites.
Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman in the Unforgiven
Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman in the Unforgiven
The 1992 crime drama Unforgiven is considered one of the greatest westerns in cinema history and ranks among Hollywood's finest films. The brilliant Clint Eastwood, often called the American Dostoevsky, directed the film, which won four Oscars and two Golden Globes. Morgan, who played Ned, was at his peak and held his own alongside Clint Eastwood and Gene Hackman, who were already global cinema superstars.
Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption
Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption
According to Zoomboola.com, The Shawshank Redemption immediately became a cult classic—and it couldn't have been otherwise. The adaptation of the novel by American literary icon Stephen King originally involved Tom Hanks and Harrison Ford, but both actors were committed to other projects.
Morgan Freeman in The Shawshank Redemption (episode)
After casting Tim Robbins as Andy Dufresne, director Frank Darabont gave the role of Red to Morgan Freeman without hesitation. The fact that Red was a fiery-red Irishman in King's novel didn't faze Darabont at all. The screenwriters didn't even change the plot.
Interview with Morgan Freeman
Morgan's character's response to Andy's question about why he's called Red was seen by audiences as a brilliant inside joke. "Probably because I'm Irish," replied the Black actor, Morgan Freeman.

Main roles

In 1995, David Fincher's Seven premiered with Freeman starring alongside Brad Pitt. The dark thriller, shot in neo-noir style established by Martin Scorsese in the mid-20th century, stunned audiences. Surprisingly, the filmmakers never expected Morgan Freeman to accept the detective role, thinking the plot was too brutal. But Freeman later joked that he wasn't interested in the plot—just the paycheck—though everyone assumed he was kidding. Freeman is actually known for being quite business-minded about his career choices.
Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt in the Seven
Morgan Freeman and Brad Pitt in the Seven
From 1996 to 2004, Freeman's filmography included Moll Flanders with Robin Wright Penn and John Lynch, the thriller Hard Rain alongside Christian Slater and Minnie Driver, and Chain Reaction, where he starred with Brian Cox, Rachel Weisz, and the incredibly handsome Keanu Reeves.

The subtle psychological thriller Under Suspicion particularly stands out among films of that era, where Morgan Freeman and Gene Hackman's characters engage in a psychological game that inevitably leads to one man's downfall. While the film didn't dominate the box office, it became a cult favorite among discerning audiences.
Morgan Freeman in the Under Suspicion
Morgan Freeman in the Under Suspicion
In the detective thrillers based on James Patterson's novels, Morgan brought detective Alex Cross to life. Freeman's character isn't your typical detective—he's an intellectual with expertise in psychology, blessed with sharp intuition and razor-sharp analytical skills. Critics agreed that Freeman was perfectly cast in the role. The partners of the actor were Monica Potter, Carey Elwes, and Ashley Judd. The films shattered box office records, largely thanks to Freeman's magnetic screen presence.
Morgan Freeman as detective Alex Cross
Morgan Freeman as detective Alex Cross
Between 2004 and 2014, Freeman appeared in over 30 films. Among Hollywood's elite, he's reached that rare level of influence where he can call his own shots with producers and directors. However, he doesn't abuse this power—except when it comes to action sequences. Freeman's joint issues make him hesitant to take on physically demanding roles.
Morgan Freeman with Oscar
Morgan Freeman with Oscar
Three-time Oscar nominee with numerous prestigious awards under his belt, Freeman finally claimed the golden statuette in 2005 for his role as Eddie "Scrap-Iron" Dupris in Million Dollar Baby alongside Hilary Swank.
Million Dollar Baby - Trailer
Freeman's involvement in the Batman saga came as a surprise. In Christopher Nolan's trilogy, he played the brilliant inventor who equipped the Dark Knight with cutting-edge gadgets for his war on crime.
Morgan Freeman and Christian Bale in the Batman Begins
Morgan Freeman and Christian Bale in the Batman Begins
Freeman's casting as God in Bruce Almighty and Evan Almighty adds an intriguing layer, considering the actor is an atheist who questions religious doctrine and demands evidence. He's openly stated in interviews that he views God as pure fantasy.
Morgan Freeman in the Evan Almighty (episode)
In 2009, Freeman embodied Nelson Mandela in Invictus, chronicling the fight against apartheid.
Morgan Freeman in the Invictus
Morgan Freeman in the Invictus
The 2010 action-comedy RED, where Freeman joined Bruce Willis and John Malkovich in proving that age is just a number, dominated the box office and scored multiple Golden Globe nominations.
Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich in the RED
Morgan Freeman and John Malkovich in the RED
Freeman continued exploring themes of aging gracefully in the 2013 comedy Last Vegas. He eagerly signed on, particularly since his longtime friends Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Michael Douglas had already committed to the project.
Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas in the Last Vegas comedy
Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman and Michael Douglas in the Last Vegas comedy
In the political thrillers, Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen the actor played the Speaker of The House, and then the vice-president of the United States. Gerard Butler and Aaron Eckhart also featured in the pictures.
Morgan Freeman in the Now You See Me
Morgan Freeman in the Now You See Me
Both Now You See Me films benefited from Freeman's presence, as he once again delivered exceptional acting in his signature role. The actor played an intellectual who exposed scammers and could calculate situations several moves ahead.

In 2017, the actor appeared alongside Michael Caine and Christopher Lloyd in the comedy Going in Style. The story of three retirees who decide to pull off a daring bank heist earned audience acclaim and rave reviews from critics. Matt Dillon also appeared in the picture, playing the detective.
Going in Style - Trailer
That same year saw the release of the comedy Just Getting Started, which also featured Rene Russo and Tommy Lee Jones. Freeman played former criminal Duke, who's hiding from the mafia while working for modest pay at a nursing home.
Morgan Freeman in the Just Getting Started
Morgan Freeman in the Just Getting Started
In the 2018 fantasy film The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, Freeman played Drosselmeyer.
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms - Trailer

Morgan Freeman's personal life

The actor has two sons from previous relationships, Alfonso and Saifoulaye. In 1967 Morgan Freeman got married for the first time. He married Jeanette Bradshaw, who had a daughter named Dinu from her previous marriage. Morgan adopted the girl, and in 1979 the couple had their common child, daughter Morgana. Shortly after her birth, Morgan and Jeanette split up.
Morgan Freeman and his wives Jeanette and Myrna (from the right)
Morgan Freeman and his wives Jeanette and Myrna (from the right)
The actor's second wife was costume designer Myrna. The marriage lasted about 30 years. In 2010 it became known about the official divorce of the couple. Around the same time, media reports surfaced about Morgan Freeman's alleged affair with his stepgranddaughter E'dena, who later died under mysterious circumstances.
Morgan Freeman with his granddaughter E'dena
Morgan Freeman with his granddaughter E'dena
Since then, Morgan Freeman has refused to discuss his personal life. According to unconfirmed information, he is single since 2010.

Morgan Freeman nowadays

  In 2019, two films were released with the participation of the actor. These were the thriller "The Poison Rose," where Freeman played Doc, and the action thriller "Angel Has Fallen," where he reprised his role as Allan Trumbull. He's also set to appear in "The Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard," which began filming in 2019. The premiere is scheduled for 2021.

Morgan Freeman: latest news and articles

  • No wonder the famous actor - only high-grossing films, only serious roles. My compliments to Freeman!
    2021-05-14 23:17:46
  • Old Man Freeman always fit into any plot for any genre of film
    2021-05-07 23:25:08
  • I can remember every film with his participation - that`s a great actor!
    2021-05-04 17:10:15
  • Probably not count all the films where Freeman played, a very cool guy!
    2021-03-31 08:33:58
  • Morgan Freeman is a cute actor, I always liked the way he plays, and the films with his participation are cool
    2021-02-19 13:33:18
5