Morgan Freeman facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Morgan Freeman
Freeman in 2023
Born	(1937-06-01) June 1, 1937 (age 88) Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Occupation	Actor producer narrator
Years active	1964–present
Organization	Revelations Entertainment
Works	Full list
Spouse(s)	Jeanette Adair Bradshaw ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1979)​ Myrna Colley-Lee ​ ​ (m. 1984; div. 2010)​
Children	4
Awards	Full list
Military career
Branch	United States Air Force
Service years	1955–1959
Rank	Airman first class
Morgan Freeman's voice from BBC Radio 4's The Film Programme, September 12, 2008.
Signature

Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is a famous American actor, producer, and narrator. He has worked in movies and TV for over five decades. He has won many awards, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. People often say he is one of the greatest actors ever.

Freeman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. He grew up in Mississippi and started acting in school plays. He later studied acting in Los Angeles. In the 1970s, he became well-known for his role in the children's TV show The Electric Company. He also acted in plays by William Shakespeare, like Coriolanus and Julius Caesar.

He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the movie Million Dollar Baby (2004). He was also nominated for Oscars for Street Smart (1987), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), and Invictus (2009). Some of his other popular movies include Glory (1989), Lean on Me (1989), Se7en (1995), and The Bucket List (2007). He also played Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012).

Morgan Freeman is famous for his deep, calming voice. He has narrated many documentaries, such as March of the Penguins (2005) and Through the Wormhole (2010–2017). He also directed the movie Bopha! (1993). In 1996, he started a film company called Revelations Entertainment with his business partner Lori McCreary. They have produced many projects, including the TV show Madam Secretary.

Early Life and Education

Freeman was born on June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee. His mother, Mamie Edna, was a teacher. His father, Morgan Porterfield Freeman, was a barber. Morgan has three older brothers and sisters.

When he was a baby, Freeman lived with his grandmother in Charleston, Mississippi. He moved around a lot as a child. He lived in Mississippi, Indiana, and Chicago. He started acting at age nine, playing the main role in a school play. At 12, he won a statewide drama contest.

After high school in 1955, Freeman joined the United States Air Force. He worked as a radar repairman and became an airman first class. He served from 1955 to 1959. After the Air Force, he moved to Los Angeles. He took acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse and studied theater arts at Los Angeles City College.

Career Highlights

Starting Out in Acting (1964–1988)

Freeman began his career as a dancer at the 1964 World's Fair. He also acted in plays and had a small role in the 1965 film The Pawnbroker. He realized that acting was his true passion. His acting career really took off after a play called The Royal Hunt of the Sun.

In 1967, Freeman made his first appearance in an Off-Broadway play. The next year, he debuted on Broadway in an all-black version of Hello, Dolly!.

Freeman in 1998

From 1971 to 1975, Freeman starred in the PBS children's TV show The Electric Company. This show made him well-known across America. Even though the work was hard, he was thankful for being part of it. His first movie role was in Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! (1971).

After a short break, he returned to acting in 1978. He appeared in plays like The Mighty Gents and White Pelicans. He also acted in Shakespearean plays, including Coriolanus and Julius Caesar. For Coriolanus, he won an Obie Award.

In 1980, he had a small role in the drama Brubaker. He also appeared in the TV film Attica, about the 1971 Attica Prison riot. From 1982 to 1984, Freeman was on the soap opera Another World. In the mid-1980s, he started getting important supporting roles in movies. He became known for playing wise, fatherly characters.

In 1987, Freeman starred in Street Smart. Critics praised his performance, and he earned an Academy Award nomination. He considered this his breakthrough role. He also won Obie Awards for his roles in the play Driving Miss Daisy and the musical The Gospel at Colonus.

Hollywood Success (1989–1996)

In 1989, Freeman had four movies released. He played Sergeant Major John Rawlins in Glory. This movie was about an African-American regiment in the American Civil War. Critics praised Freeman and co-star Denzel Washington.

Next, he starred in the comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy. He played Hoke Colburn, a chauffeur for a Jewish widow. The movie was a big success and earned $145 million worldwide. Critics loved the performances of Freeman and Jessica Tandy. The film was nominated for nine Academy Awards, and Freeman was nominated for Best Actor.

His third movie was Lean on Me, where he played a high school principal. In 1990, he voiced Frederick Douglass in The Civil War miniseries. In 1991, Freeman had a supporting role in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves with Kevin Costner. The movie was a commercial hit.

Freeman at the 62nd Academy Awards in 1990

In 1992, he appeared in Clint Eastwood's western Unforgiven. This movie won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Critics called Freeman's performance "outstanding". He also starred in The Power of One, playing a boxing coach.

In 1993, Freeman directed his first movie, Bopha!. It was about a black policeman during South Africa's apartheid era. Critics praised Freeman's directing.

In 1994, Freeman played Red in The Shawshank Redemption, with Tim Robbins. This drama was based on a story by Stephen King. His performance was described as "quietly impressive" and "moving". The film was nominated for many Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Freeman. The Shawshank Redemption is still very popular today.

Freeman's next film was Outbreak (1995), a medical thriller. He played General Billy Ford, a doctor dealing with a virus outbreak. The movie was a box-office success. In 1995, Freeman also starred with Brad Pitt in the crime thriller Seven. Critics praised Freeman's performance.

While filming Outbreak, Freeman decided to start a film production company. He teamed up with Lori McCreary to create Revelations Entertainment. They wanted to show more diverse stories on screen. In 1996, he appeared in Chain Reaction and Moll Flanders.

Established Actor (1997–2004)

Freeman in 1998

In 1997, Freeman narrated the documentary The Long Way Home. He also appeared in Steven Spielberg's historical movie Amistad, about events on a slave ship. That same year, he played psychologist Alex Cross in the thriller Kiss the Girls.

Freeman starred in Deep Impact (1998), a science-fiction disaster film. He played President Tim Beck. The movie was a box-office hit. He then starred in Hard Rain (1998).

In 2000, Freeman played Charlie in the comedy Nurse Betty. He also appeared in Under Suspicion (2000) with Gene Hackman. Freeman said working with Hackman was "wonderful."

Freeman at the 2005 Cannes Film Festival

In 2001, Freeman returned as Alex Cross in Along Came a Spider. In 2002, he starred with Ben Affleck in the spy thriller The Sum of All Fears. He also appeared in High Crimes (2002) with Ashley Judd. In 2003, Freeman played God in the hit comedy Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey.

His 2004 movies included the comedy The Big Bounce and the sports drama Million Dollar Baby. In Million Dollar Baby, directed by Clint Eastwood, Freeman played an elderly former boxer. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Freeman won his first Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for this role.

Documentaries and Thrillers (2005–2013)

Freeman in 2007

In 2005, Freeman appeared in six films. He narrated two documentaries: Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds and the Academy Award-winning March of the Penguins. He also played Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, the first movie in The Dark Knight Trilogy. He co-starred with Jet Li in the action-thriller Unleashed.

In 2006, Freeman starred in The Contract and Lucky Number Slevin. He also played himself in the comedy 10 Items or Less. He co-founded ClickStar, a film download company, that year.

In 2007, Freeman played God again in Evan Almighty, a sequel to Bruce Almighty. He also had a supporting role in the mystery thriller Gone Baby Gone. Afterward, he starred in the comedy The Bucket List with Jack Nicholson. The movie was about two men with a serious illness who go on a road trip. It earned $175 million worldwide.

Freeman was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Nelson Mandela (pictured) in the film Invictus (2009)

In 2008, Freeman was in the action-thriller Wanted. He also returned as Lucius Fox in The Dark Knight. Freeman went back to Broadway in 2008 for the play The Country Girl.

In 2009, Freeman starred in the heist movie Thick as Thieves. He also wanted to make a film about Nelson Mandela. He bought the rights to a book about Mandela and rugby. This became the movie Invictus, with Freeman playing Mandela. Critics praised his performance, and he received Best Actor nominations for the role.

Freeman in 2009

In 2010, Freeman starred in Red with Bruce Willis and Helen Mirren. He played a CIA mentor. The film was a success. In January 2010, he became the voiceover for the CBS Evening News. He also became the presenter for the Science Channel show Through the Wormhole (2010–17), which explored space and the universe.

In 2011, Freeman narrated Conan the Barbarian. He also appeared in the family drama Dolphin Tale. In 2012, he starred in The Magic of Belle Isle and returned as Lucius Fox in The Dark Knight Rises.

In 2013, Freeman was in several hit movies. He appeared in Olympus Has Fallen, playing Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull. He also starred in the science fiction drama Oblivion with Tom Cruise. He played an ex-magician in Now You See Me. Finally, he played a retiree in Last Vegas with Michael Douglas and Robert De Niro.

Continued Success (2014–Present)

Freeman at the Invictus Games in 2016

In 2014, Freeman voiced Vitruvius in The Lego Movie, a popular animated film. He also starred in the science fiction thriller Transcendence and the action film Lucy. He appeared in Dolphin Tale 2 and the comedy-drama 5 Flights Up.

In 2015, Freeman starred in Last Knights and joined the cast of Ted 2, a comedy sequel. He played a civil rights attorney in Ted 2. He also had a recurring role as Chief Justice Frawley in the TV series Madam Secretary, where he was also an executive producer.

In 2016, Freeman returned as Allan Trumbull in London Has Fallen, a sequel to Olympus Has Fallen. He also reprised his role as Thaddeus Bradley in Now You See Me 2. He had a leading role in the historical drama Ben-Hur.

In 2017, Freeman appeared in two comedies: Going in Style and Just Getting Started. He also hosted the National Geographic shows The Story of God with Morgan Freeman and The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman.

In 2018, Freeman narrated Alpha and starred in Disney's The Nutcracker and the Four Realms. In 2019, he starred with John Travolta in The Poison Rose. He also returned as Allan Trumbull in Angel Has Fallen, the third movie in the Has Fallen series.

Freeman appeared in the crime comedy The Comeback Trail (2020) and Coming 2 America (2021). In November 2022, he performed at the opening ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. He is set to appear in Now You See Me: Now You Don't in 2025.

Other Activities

Caring for the Environment

In 2004, Freeman helped create the Grenada Relief Fund to help people affected by Hurricane Ivan. This fund later became PLANIT NOW, which helps people prepare for hurricanes and severe storms. In 2014, he narrated a video about climate change for the United Nations.

After learning about the decline of honeybees, Freeman turned his 124-acre ranch into a bee sanctuary in 2014. He started with 26 beehives.

Business Ventures

In 1997, Freeman and Lori McCreary founded Revelations Entertainment, a film production company. They also started ClickStar in 2006, a company for downloading movies, but it closed in 2008. Freeman owns and runs Ground Zero, a blues music club in Clarksdale, Mississippi.

Personal Life

Freeman with daughter Morgana at the 62nd Academy Awards in 1990

Morgan Freeman has four children: Alfonso, Deena, Morgana, and Saifoulaye. He also helped raise his step-granddaughter, E'dena Hines.

Freeman lives in Charleston, Mississippi, and has a home in New York City. He earned a private pilot's license at age 65. He has owned several private airplanes, including a Cessna Citation 501.

When asked about his beliefs, Freeman has said that he thinks humans created the idea of God. He also said that working on The Story of God with Morgan Freeman did not change his views on religion.

Artistry and Recognition

Freeman at the 2018 Deauville American Film Festival

Morgan Freeman's deep voice is very special and easy to recognize. This is why he is often chosen to narrate films and documentaries. He says he developed his voice by speaking in a lower tone and clearly saying each word.

Freeman is known for carefully choosing his roles. He studies each character to make sure he plays them with depth and feeling. He likes to play "character" roles, which are often supporting roles that are very important to the story. He believes it's important to listen carefully while acting.

Waxwork of Freeman at Madame Tussauds in London

In 2006, Freeman received a Lifetime Achievement Award for his work in film and theater. He has also received honorary degrees from universities. In 2014, he was given the honor of Freedom of the City by the City of London.

In 2008, Freeman was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors. In 2011, he received the AFI Life Achievement Award for his contributions to movies. Many famous actors, like Sidney Poitier and Clint Eastwood, honored him at this event. In 2012, he won the Golden Globe Cecil B. DeMille Award, which celebrates lifetime achievement in film. In 2017, he received the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.

Film and Theater Roles

Key Filmography

Morgan Freeman has been in many movies since 1964. He is known for roles in dramas, historical films, thrillers, action movies, science fiction, and comedies. Some of his most famous and highest-earning films include:

Select Theater Roles

Select Television Roles

Awards and Nominations

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has recognized Morgan Freeman for these performances:

• 60th Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Supporting Actor for Street Smart (1987)
• 62nd Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Actor for Driving Miss Daisy (1989)
• 67th Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Actor for The Shawshank Redemption (1994)
• 77th Academy Awards: Won Best Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby (2004)
• 82nd Academy Awards: Nominated for Best Actor for Invictus (2009)

Freeman has been nominated for five Golden Globe Awards. He won one for Best Actor in Driving Miss Daisy (1989). He has also been nominated for three Screen Actors Guild Awards. He won one for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role in Million Dollar Baby (2004). He earned an Obie Award for his theater roles in Coriolanus (1979), Mother Courage and Her Children (1980), and Driving Miss Daisy (1987–90).

See also

In Spanish: Morgan Freeman para niños

• African Americans in Mississippi