Freeman was born on June 1, 1937 inMemphis, Tennessee.[4] He is the son of Mamie Edna (née Revere; 1912–2000), a teacher,[5] and Morgan Porterfield Freeman (July 6, 1915 – April 27, 1961),[2] a barber, who died ofcirrhosis in 1961.[6] He has three older siblings.[7] Some of Morgan's great-great-grandparents were slaves who migrated from North Carolina to Mississippi. He later discovered that his white maternal great-great-grandfather had lived with and was buried beside Freeman's black great-great-grandmother in thesegregated South, as the two could not legally marry at the time.[5] The DNA test suggested that among all of his African ancestors, a little over one-quarter came from the area that stretches from present-daySenegal toLiberia and three-quarters came from theCongo-Angola region.[8]
As an infant, Freeman was sent to his paternal grandmother inCharleston, Mississippi.[9][10] He moved frequently during his childhood, living inGreenwood, Mississippi,Gary, Indiana, and finallyChicago.[10] He made his acting debut aged nine, playing the lead role in a school play. He then attendedBroad Street High School, a building which serves today as Threadgill Elementary School in Greenwood.[11] At the age of 12, he won a statewide drama competition, and while settling into school, discovered music and theater. When Freeman was 16 years old, he contractedpneumonia.[12]
Beginning in 1971, Freeman starred in thePBS children's television showThe Electric Company, which gave him financial stability and recognition among American audiences.[10] His work on the show was tiring, so he quit in 1975.[14] Television producerJoan Ganz Cooney said that Freeman loathed appearing inThe Electric Company, saying "it was a very unhappy period in his life".[19] Freeman later acknowledged that he does not think about the show, but he was grateful to have been a part of it.[20] His first credited appearance in a feature film was in 1971'sWho Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!, a family drama starringJack Klugman.[18] Also that year, Freeman performed in a theater production ofPurlie.[21] After a short career break, he returned to work in 1978, appearing in two stage productions: 1978'sThe Mighty Gents, winning aDrama Desk Award and aClarence Derwent Award for his role as awino,[22] andWhite Pelicans.[23] Freeman continued to work in theater and a year later, appeared in theShakespearean tragediesCoriolanus, receiving the Obie Award in 1980 for the title role[15] as well asJulius Caesar.[24]
In addition to television films, in 1987, Freeman played a violent street hustler, a role that diverged from his previous roles, inStreet Smart co-starringChristopher Reeve andKathy Baker. Freeman's performance was praised by film critics, includingRoger Ebert who wrote: "Freeman has the flashier role, as a smart, very tough man who can be charming or intimidating-whatever's needed... Freeman creates such an unforgettable villain."[32] Freeman's performance earned him an Academy Award nomination forBest Supporting Actor.[33] He later said that he consideredStreet Smart to be hisbreakthrough role.[20] In his next film, he played Craig in the dramaClean and Sober with co-starsMichael Keaton and Kathy Baker. Although the film was not a box-office hit, it gained fair reviews;Roger Ebert gave the film 31⁄2 out of 4 stars and called the performances "superb".[34] Freeman also received Obie Awards for his roles as a preacher in the musicalThe Gospel at Colonus, and as Hoke Colburn in the playDriving Miss Daisy, respectively.[15]
His third release was the biographical dramaLean on Me, in which he portrays the principal of an under-performing and drug- and crime-ridden New Jersey high school. Jane Galbraith ofVariety magazine thought Freeman's casting was "wonderful".[39] Lastly in 1989, he starred inWalter Hill'sJohnny Handsome, a crime drama in which he plays a New Orleans police officer.[40] In a 1990 interview, Freeman said thatGlory was one of his favorite releases—"The Black legacy is as noble, is as heroic, is as filled with adventure and conquest and discovery as anybody else's. It's just that nobody knows it."[14] In 1990, Freeman provided the voice ofFrederick Douglass inThe Civil War, atelevisionminiseries about the American Civil War.[41] In the same year he played a key role in the critically pannedThe Bonfire of the Vanities. According to thereview aggregate siteRotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 16% based on 51 reviews.[42] In the summer of 1990, he played Petruchio, a role he had been thinking about for six years, in Shakespeare'sThe Taming of the Shrew, which opened atDelacorte theater in New York City. "[Petruchio] seems to have a lot of fun in life", he said.[43] In 1991, Freeman had a supporting role inRobin Hood: Prince of Thieves, an action-adventure starringKevin Costner. The film was a commercial success,[44] but garnered mixed reviews from critics;The New York Times'Vincent Canby thought Freeman played Azeem with "wit and humor" despite the "muddled" plot.[45]
Freeman also narratedThe True Story of Glory Continues, a documentary about the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.[46] In 1992, he appeared inClint Eastwood's westernUnforgiven, which won four Academy Awards includingBest Picture.[47] The film depicts William Munny (Eastwood), an agingoutlaw and killer who takes on one more job with old friend Ned Logan (Freeman).Unforgiven was widely acclaimed, with one critic calling Freeman's performance "outstanding".[48] Also in 1992 Freeman starred in theJohn G. Avildsen directed dramaThe Power of One acting oppositeStephen Dorf andJohn Gielgud in a loose adaptation ofBryce Courtenay's 1989novel of the same name, in which he plays boxing coach Geel Piet.[49] In 1993, Freeman made hisdirectorial debut with the dramaBopha!, which tells the story of a black policeman (Danny Glover) during South Africa'sapartheid era.Bopha! was well-received, in particular for Freeman's directing.Hal Hinson ofThe Washington Post wrote: "Freeman lays out the father-son dynamics with great skill and very little fuss. There's no hysteria in his approach; instead, he sticks to the facts, relying on his cast to provide the emotion. The result is a surprisingly powerful, insightful film."[50]Kenneth Turan fromLos Angeles Times also complimented Freeman's direction but thought the film was "more predictable than powerful".[51]
In 1994, Freeman portrayed Red, the redeemed convict inFrank Darabont's acclaimed dramaThe Shawshank Redemption, with co-starTim Robbins. It is based on the 1982Stephen King novellaRita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Freeman was cast at the suggestion of producer Liz Glotzer, despite the novella's character of a white Irishman.[52] Filming proved to be challenging, mainly because of Darabont's need for multiple takes. Freeman said, "The answer [I'd give him] was no... having to do something again and again for no discernible reason tends to be a bit debilitating to the energy."[52] Nevertheless, his performance was described as "quietly impressive" and "moving" byThe New York Times.[53] At the67th Academy Awards the film receivedAcademy Award nominations forBest Picture and a nomination for Freeman forBest Actor losing toTom Hanks inForrest Gump (1994).[54] Since its release,The Shawshank Redemption has remained popular among audiences.[52] In 1994, Freeman served as a member of the jury at the44th Berlin International Film Festival.[55]
Outbreak (1995), amedical thriller directed byWolfgang Petersen, was Freeman's next film. He played General Billy Ford, a doctor dealing with an outbreak of a fictional virus in a small town. The film starsDustin Hoffman,Rene Russo, andDonald Sutherland.Outbreak was a box-office success, grossing $189.8 million worldwide,[56] but gained a mixed critics' response.[57]Mick LaSelle of theSan Francisco Chronicle credited Freeman for his performance which may have been unappreciated by viewers.[58] In 1995, Freeman starred withBrad Pitt inDavid Fincher's crime thrillerSeven, the story of two detectives who attempt to identify aserial killer who bases his murders on the Christianseven deadly sins. Freeman's performance generated a positive response; Owen Gleiberman ofEntertainment Weekly wrote: "Freeman plays nearly every scene in a doleful hush; he makes you lean in to hear his words, to ferret out the hints of anger and regret that haunt this weary knight."[59] The critic fromVariety magazine called Freeman's acting "supremely nuanced".[60]
While filmingOutbreak, Freeman expressed an interest in starting a film production company. He turned toMcCreary, the producer ofBopha!, to be his business partner. Freeman explained that he wanted to achieverepresentation on screen, explore challenging issues and reveal hidden truths, so they chose to name their firmRevelations Entertainment.[61] A year later, he appeared inChain Reaction as Paul Shannon, a science-fiction thriller co-starringKeanu Reeves andRachel Weisz. The film was a critical and commercial disappointment.[62][63] Next, he was cast oppositeRobin Wright in 1996'sMoll Flanders, a period drama based on thenovel of the same name. The film received a mixed reception; Greg Evans fromVariety magazine said Freeman gave a "sweet" performance,[64] whileThe New York Times critic thought he was miscast.[65]
1997–2004: Critical success and established actor
Freeman in 1998
In 1997, Freeman narrated the Academy Award-winning documentaryThe Long Way Home, aboutJewish refugees' liberation after World War II and the establishment of Israel.[23] He also appeared inSteven Spielberg's historical epicAmistad alongsideDjimon Hounsou,Anthony Hopkins, andMatthew McConaughey. Based on the events in 1839 aboard the slave shipLa Amistad, the film was mostly well-received and earned four nominations at the Academy Awards.[66][67] The critic fromSalon magazine, however, thought the film lacked inspiration and Freeman's role was "utterly cryptic".[68] In that same year, he was cast as psychologist Alex Cross inKiss the Girls, a thriller based onJames Patterson's1995 novel of the same name. In a mixed review, Peter Stack ofSan Francisco Chronicle thought Freeman and co-starAshley Judd gave strong performances despite the lengthy plot.[69]
Freeman went on to star inDeep Impact (1998), a science-fiction disaster film in which he played President Tim Beck.[70] The story depicts humanity's attempt to destroy a 7-mile (11 km) widecomet set to collide with Earth and cause a mass extinction. The film was a box-office hit, despite competition fromArmageddon, another summer blockbuster of the year.[71] Continuing with the disaster genre, he then starred oppositeChristian Slater in 1998'sHard Rain, centering on a heist and man-made treachery amidst anatural disaster in a smallIndiana town. The film was unpopular with critics;Lawrence Van Gelder ofThe New York Times called the characters "one-dimensional" and the film "routine".[72] Freeman returned to the screen in 2000 with the lead role of Charlie in the comedyNurse Betty, featuringRenée Zellweger,Chris Rock, andGreg Kinnear. The film premiered at theCannes Film Festival to mainly positive reviews; the critic fromVariety magazine thought Freeman and Rock had "wonderful chemistry".[73] Next, he appeared inUnder Suspicion (2000), a thriller remake of the 1981 French filmGarde à vue. The film had been "carting round" for twelve years before Freeman was able to produce it under Revelations Entertainment.[74] He co-starred withGene Hackman; "Working with Gene was wonderful. I didn't find it too hard working with an icon I so respected", Freeman said.[74] Upon release,Under Suspicion was met with lukewarm reception;[75]CNN's Paul Tatara praised the actors but thought the film was "too tawdry to be completely entertaining, and too static to generate much excitement".[76]
In 2001, Freeman reprised his role of Alex Cross inAlong Came a Spider, a sequel to 1997'sKiss the Girls. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews.[77] Susan Wloszczyna ofUSA Today observed that "Freeman strides with noble authority" but thought the overall film was unmemorable.[78] In 2002, Freeman was cast oppositeBen Affleck in the spy thrillerThe Sum of All Fears. It is based onTom Clancy's 1991novel of the same name, about a plot by an AustrianNeo-Nazi to trigger anuclear war between the United States and Russia, so that he can establish a fascist superstate in Europe.The Sum of All Fears received moderate reviews,[79] but was a commercial success, grossing $193.9 million worldwide.[80] Next, Freeman starred alongside Ashley Judd andJim Caviezel inHigh Crimes (2002), a legal thriller based onJoseph Finder's 1998 novel of the same name. The story follows lawyer Claire (Judd), whose husband (Caviezel) is arrested and placed on trial for the murder of villagers while he was in theMarines. Although several critics were unimpressed with the story, they credited Freeman and Judd for their chemistry and performances.[81][82] In 2003, Freeman appeared as God in the hit comedyBruce Almighty withJim Carrey andJennifer Aniston.[83]
Next, he starred in the science fiction horrorDreamcatcher, adapted fromStephen King's 2001novel of the same name. The film was a box-office flop,[84] and garnered mostly negative reviews;Dreamcatcher has an approval rating of 28% on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.[85] Also in 2003, Freeman starred in two other dramas that were not widely seen,Levity andGuilty by Association.[86][87] His 2004 releases were comedyThe Big Bounce and sports dramaMillion Dollar Baby.[88][89] In the latter, directed by Clint Eastwood, Freeman portrayed an elderly former boxer. The film won four Academy Awards, including Best Picture,Best Director,Best Actress (Hilary Swank), and Best Supporting Actor, earning Freeman his first Academy Award.[10] Freeman was also nominated for a Golden Globe Award in the same category.[90] Roger Ebert complimented Freeman's "flat and factual" narration,[91] andTimeout magazine thought the cast fully inhabited their roles.[92]
2005–2014: Continued success
Freeman in 2007
Freeman made six appearances in various films in 2005. In the dramaAn Unfinished Life, Freeman plays Mitch, a neighbor of a Wyoming rancher (Robert Redford). The film had a mixed response;The Guardian critic thought it was amiable but questioned the purpose of Freeman's "sidekick" role.[93] Freeman's authoritative voice led to his narration of two documentaries; Steven Spielberg'sWar of the Worlds and the Academy Award-winningMarch of the Penguins.[23] He also appeared inChristopher Nolan'sBatman Begins, the first installment in what would becomeThe Dark Knight Trilogy, as the fictionalLucius Fox.[94] After this, he co-starred withJet Li in the action-thrillerUnleashed, playing Sam, a blind piano tuner who helps Li's character turn his life around. The film gained a mixed-to-positive reception; Peter Hartlaub ofSan Francisco Chronicle was confused with the genre and thought Freeman's character interrupted the narrative.[95] Freeman's next role was in the thrillerEdison, which bombed at the box office.[96] In his last release of 2005, he provided the voice ofNeil Armstrong in the documentaryMagnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D.[97]
Freeman starred in 2006'sThe Contract, as assassin Frank Carden oppositeJohn Cusack. The film was releaseddirect-to-video, which critic John Cornelius suggests was unsurprising, considering the generic formula of the thriller.[98] Freeman next appeared inLucky Number Slevin (2006), a crime thriller directed byPaul McGuigan. Starring a principal cast ofJosh Hartnett,Bruce Willis,Lucy Liu,Stanley Tucci, andBen Kingsley, the film garnered mixed reception.[99] David Mattin ofBBC wrote: "Kingsley and Freeman shine individually, but their inevitable, climactic clash of heads lacks force. Like its leading man [Hartnett], this movie presents a charming façade with nothing much underneath."[100] Next, Freeman portrayed himself in the low-budget comedy10 Items or Less oppositePaz Vega.[101] Two weeks after its theatrical release,10 Items or Less was made available for download fromClickStar, a film distribution company that Freeman co-founded that year.[102]
In 2007, Freeman reprised his role as God inEvan Almighty, a sequel to 2003'sBruce Almighty, withSteve Carell.Evan Almighty was a box-office failure[103] and negatively received;[104]The Guardian critic wrote: "A cast full of people who have been frequently funny elsewhere flounder in this deluge of sentimentality andCGI. Avoid like theTen Plagues."[105] The dramaFeast of Love was Freeman's second release of 2007. It is based on the 2000 novelThe Feast of Love byCharles Baxter, about a group of friends living in suburban Oregon who come into contact with a free spirit who changes their outlook on life;Peter Bradshaw ofThe Guardian sarcastically remarked that it was great to see Freeman in a challenging role.[106] Freeman had a supporting part inGone Baby Gone (2007), a mystery thriller that was also Ben Affleck's directorial debut. Adapted from the 1998novel of the same name byDennis Lehane, Freeman plays Captain Jack Doyle of theBoston Police Department. The story and cast performances were positively received;Time Out magazine called it "flawed but impressive".[107] Afterward, he starred inRob Reiner's 2007 comedyThe Bucket List oppositeJack Nicholson.[108] The plot follows twoterminally ill men on a road trip with a list of things to do before they die. The film grossed $175 million worldwide.[109]
In 2008, Freeman was cast in the action-thrillerWanted, a loose adaptation ofthe comic book miniseries byMark Millar andJ. G. Jones. The plot revolves around Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), a frustrated account manager who discovers that he is the son of a professionalassassin and decides to join the Fraternity, asecret society of which Sloan (Freeman) is the leader.Principal photography took place in Chicago; co-starrapperCommon remarked on the set atmosphere: "Freeman is a cool guy. He'd be walking around joking and singing and just dancing. You know, artists are free and I just felt the freedom in him."[110] The film received generally favorable reviews; Peter Howell ofToronto Star thought it was original and one of Freeman's bolder performances to date.[111] Freeman narratedThe Love Guru (2008),[112] before appearing inThe Dark Knight (2008), the second installment of Christopher Nolan'sDark Knight Trilogy, in which he reprised his role as Lucius Fox.[113] Freeman returned to Broadway in 2008 after an eighteen-year absence to co-star withFrances McDormand andPeter Gallagher inClifford Odets' play,The Country Girl, directed byMike Nichols.[114]
Freeman continued to accept roles in a diverse range of genres. In 2009, Freeman starred oppositeAntonio Banderas in the heist movieThick as Thieves.[115] Next, he collaborated withChristopher Walken andWilliam H. Macy for the comedyThe Maiden Heist. For some time, Freeman expressed a desire to do a film based onNelson Mandela. Initially, he wanted to adapt Mandela's autobiographyLong Walk to Freedom into a screenplay, but plans were never finalized.[116] Instead, he purchased the film rights to John Carlin's book:Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Game That Made a Nation.[117] The book was adapted into a film which Clint Eastwood directed,Invictus, starring Freeman as Mandela andMatt Damon as rugby team captainFrancois Pienaar.[118] The biographical drama received positive reviews for Freeman's performance; Roger Ebert wrote: "Freeman does a splendid job of evoking the man Nelson Mandela ... He shows him as genial, confident, calming, over what was clearly a core of tempered steel."[119] Freeman received Best Actor nominations at the Academy Awards and Golden Globes, as well as a nomination forOutstanding Performance by a Male Actor at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.[120][121][122] The same year he provided the narration forJanet Langhart'sAnne and Emmett, a play featuring an imaginary conversation betweenEmmett Till andAnne Frank, both killed as young teenagers because of racial persecution.[123]
Freeman in 2009
Freeman's sole film release of 2010 wasRed with co-starsBruce Willis,Helen Mirren, andJohn Malkovich.[124]Red is loosely adapted from thecomic-book seriesRed, created byWarren Ellis andCully Hamner and published by theDC Comics imprintHomage. Freeman plays CIAmentor Joe, who helps retired fellow agent Frank (Willis) to uncover some assassins. The film was a critical and commercial success;[125] writing for Melbourne'sThe Age, Jim Schembri praised Freeman and the cast who "bring an infectious comic energy to their roles".[126]
Besides film, Freeman worked on other projects. In January 2010, he replacedWalter Cronkite as the voiceover introduction to theCBS Evening News presented byKatie Couric.[127] CBS gave the need for consistency in introductions for regular news broadcasts and special reports as the basis for the change.[127] Deborah Myers, head ofScience Channel, approached Freeman to be the presenter ofThrough the Wormhole (2010–17). She had heard that he was "really interested in space and the universe", and the pair agreed to develop the series together.[128]
In 2014, Freeman voiced the characterVitruvius inThe Lego Movie, a commercially successful 3D animation.[142] He starred inTranscendence, a science fiction thriller directed byWally Pfister in his directorial debut, in which Freeman plays scientist Joseph Tagger. Critic reviews of the film were generally mixed, according toMetacritic.[143] Next, he co-starred in the actionLucy (2014), about a woman (Scarlett Johansson) who gainspsychokinetic abilities when anootropic drug is absorbed into her bloodstream. Freeman plays Professor Samuel Norman, who helps her research the condition. ProducerVirginie Silla wanted Freeman for the part because of his experience in portraying a character of wisdom.[144] "He was the perfect actor", she said.[144] Upon the release ofLucy, critical reception ranged from mixed-to-positive.[145] In the same year Freeman appeared inDolphin Tale 2, the sequel to 2011'sDolphin Tale,[146] and5 Flights Up, a comedy-drama.[147] At the end of 2014, Freeman appeared as himself, among other celebrities, in the documentaryLennon or McCartney.[148]
2015–2024: Independent films, return to television, and box office bombs
Kazuaki Kiriya's action-thrillerLast Knights was Freeman's first film of 2015, starring oppositeClive Owen. The plot centers on a band of warriors who seek to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of a corrupt minister. Reviews were largely underwhelming;[149] Sara Stewart ofNew York Post called it "bloody bad", adding: "Once-proud box office names are its first casualties."[150] Freeman next joined the cast ofTed 2, a comedy sequel toTed, directed bySeth MacFarlane. The story follows the talking teddy bear Ted as he fights for civil rights in order to be recognized as a person. Freeman portrays Patrick Meighan, a highly respected civil rights attorney.[151] A television series,Madam Secretary, also occupied Freeman's time. He playedChief Justice Frawley of the United StatesSupreme Court in a recurring role in the series. He and his producing partner Lori McCreary were executive producers.[152] Freeman directed the first episode; McCreary remarked of his directing style, "What's riveting is that he can achieve a complete tonal change in performance with the least amount of direction... Everybody behaves better when Morgan is there... but he's very fun."[153] At the end of 2015, Freeman played a U.S. senator in the thrillerMomentum.[154]
Reprising his role as Allan Trumbull, Freeman appeared inLondon Has Fallen, the 2016 sequel toOlympus Has Fallen. The film follows a plot to assassinate the world leaders of theG7 as they attend theBritish Prime Minister's funeral in London, as well asSecret Service agent Mike Banning's efforts to protect U.S. President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) from being killed. The film was a commercial success;[155] however, writing forThe A.V. Club,Ignatiy Vishnevetsky criticized the cheap filmmaking, saying: "The movie periodically cuts to overqualified supporting actors—including Freeman,Melissa Leo, andRobert Forster... (As it turns out, it's possible to write something that will sound like garbage even when spoken in Freeman's sonorous voice.)"[156] Next, Freeman reprised his role as Thaddeus Bradley, starring inNow You See Me 2 (2016),[157] the sequel toNow You See Me, the sequel grossing a successful $334.9 million worldwide.[158] Finally, he had a leading role in the historical dramaBen-Hur, the fifthfilm adaptation of the 1880 novelBen-Hur: A Tale of the Christ byLew Wallace. Freeman expressed interest in playingSheik Ilderim, a wealthyNubiansheik, stating: "This character has quite a bit of power in the story. And I like playing power. It's something about my own personal ego."[159]Ben-Hur turned out to be one of 2016's biggestbox-office bombs.[160][161]
Freeman at a private screening inThe Pentagon in 2023
Freeman is set to return to the heist franchise acting inNow You See Me: Now You Don't which is set to release November 2025. It marks his first theatrical release in several years.[178] Speaking about the possibility of retiring, Freeman said: "Sometimes the idea of retirement would float past me but, as soon as my agent says there's a job or somebody wants you or they've made an offer, the whole thing just boils back into where it was yesterday. 'how much you're going to pay, where we’re gonna be?' The appetite is still there. I will concede that it's dimmed a little. But not enough to make a serious difference."[179]
Other ventures
Environmental activism
In 2004, Freeman helped form the Grenada Relief Fund to aid people affected byHurricane Ivan on the island ofGrenada. The fund has since become PLANIT NOW, an organization that seeks to provide preparedness resources for people living in areas affected by hurricanes and severe storms.[180] In 2014, he narrated a clip titledWhat's Possible which had its debut at the United Nationsclimate summit.[181] Freeman has donated to the Mississippi Horse Park inStarkville, Mississippi, part ofMississippi State University and Freeman has several horses that he takes there.[182]
After learning about thedecline of honeybees, Freeman decided to turn his 124-acre ranch into a bee sanctuary in July 2014 beginning with 26 beehives.[183]
In 2005, Freeman criticized the celebration ofBlack History Month, saying: "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history."[185] He opined that the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it, and he noted that there is no "white history month".[185] In an interview with60 Minutes'sMike Wallace, Freeman said: "I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man."[185][186] Freeman supported the defeated proposal to change theMississippi state flag, which incorporated theConfederatebattle flag at the time.[187][188] In an interview on CNN'sPiers Morgan Tonight, Freeman drew controversy when he accused theTea Party movement of racism.[189][190][191] Regarding the2015 Baltimore protests, Freeman said he was "absolutely" supportive of the protesters. "That unrest [in Baltimore] has nothing to do with terrorism at all, except the terrorism we suffer from the police... Because of the technology—everybody has a smartphone—now in reaction to thedeath of Freddie Gray we can see what the police are doing. We can show the world, 'Look, this is what happened in that situation.' So why are so many people dying in police custody? And why are they all Black? And why are all the police killing them white? What is that? The police have always said, 'I feared for my safety.' Well, now we know. OK. You feared for your safety while a guy was running away from you, right?"[192]
In June 2021, he and Linda Keena, a professor at theUniversity of Mississippi, donated $1 million to the university, establishing the Center for Evidence-Based Policing and Reform.[203]
Freeman was married to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw from October 22, 1967, until November 18, 1979.[207] He married Myrna Colley-Lee on June 16, 1984,[207] the couple separated in December 2007[208] and divorced on September 15, 2010.[208] Freeman has four children: Alfonso, Deena, Morgana, and Saifoulaye.[209] Freeman and Colley-Lee also raised Freeman's step-granddaughter from his first marriage, E'dena Hines. On August 16, 2015, 33-year-old Hines was murdered in New York City.[210]
When asked if he believed in God, Freeman said: "It's a hard question because as I said at the start, I think we invented God. So if I believe in God, and I do, it's because I think I'm God."[220] He later said that his experience working onThe Story of God with Morgan Freeman did not change his views on religion,[221] further stating that he seesZoroastrianism being a belief system, that, "is intrinsically me: 'Good thoughts, good words, good deeds' sums it up. How many of us that believe in that?".[222]
Health and accident
On the evening of August 3, 2008, Freeman was injured in an automobile crash when his 1997Nissan Maxima was involved in arollover nearRuleville, Mississippi. He and his passenger, Demaris Meyer, had to be cut free from the vehicle withhydraulic tools. Freeman was conscious after the crash and joked with a photographer at the scene.[223] He was taken via helicopter to The Regional Medical Center (The Med) hospital in Memphis.[224][225] His left shoulder, arm, and elbow had been broken, and he received surgery on August 5. Doctors operated on him for four hours to repair nerve damage in his shoulder and arm.[226] His publicist announced he was expected to make a full recovery.[227] Although alcohol was not considered a factor in the crash,[228] Meyer sued Freeman for negligence, claiming that he had been consuming alcohol, but the suit was eventually settled for an undisclosed amount.[229]
On May 24, 2018,CNN published an investigation in which eight women accused Freeman of "what some called harassment and others called inappropriate behavior".[231] In response, Freeman made the statement, "Anyone who knows me or has worked with me knows I am not someone who would intentionally offend or knowingly make anyone feel uneasy. I apologize to anyone who felt uncomfortable or disrespected—that was never my intent."[232][233] One of the women named as an accuser, Tyra Martin, spoke out against her portrayal in CNN's report, saying, "I'm not, never was [a victim]. CNN totally misrepresented the video and took my remarks out of context." According toEssence, Martin "saw many of his [Freeman] comments, though inappropriate, to be said in jest."[234] Freeman's lawyer demanded CNN retract the story.[235] After a period of deliberation, theScreen Actors Guild (SAG) decided not to take any action against Freeman.[236]
Freeman's deep voice is considered to be distinctive, iconic, and recognizable which frequently makes him a preferable choice for narration in films and documentaries.[237][238] The journalistRadhika Sanghani writes that his "deeply reassuring voice, with its mellifluous tones and authoritative presence, is why an entire generation still hear his trademark tones when they think of the almighty".[239] Freeman said that his voice developed in this way while taking speech classes in college; he found that most people speak in a voice either too fast or too high and he developed a commanding voice by speaking in a lower octave and enunciating each word.[240]
According to authorMiriam DeCosta-Willis, Freeman is an intuitive actor. He likes to select his roles carefully, and study the character to ensure he portrays them with depth, sensitivity, and substance.[241] Commenting on Freeman's persona,Beverly Todd, who co-starred with him inLean on Me (1989) andThe Bucket List (2007) said: "The world knows he is such a consummate actor. He's a very sharing actor and such a nice guy. He's not the kind of actor who demands that he has all of the scenes and all the dialogues and all the emphasis is on him".[242] Freeman has said he is interested in playingcharacter roles[15] and values the importance of listening carefully while filming scenes: "The big danger in acting is to wait for your line. That's what I never do. I always listen, no matter how many times we do it."[243]
^"12/09/2008".The Film Programme. September 12, 2008. BBC Radio 4.Archived from the original on February 4, 2011. RetrievedJanuary 18, 2014.
^abRoss, Harold Wallace; White, Katharine Sergeant Angell (July 3, 1978)."Interview with Morgan Freeman".The New Yorker. [My grandmother] had been married to Morgan Herbert Freeman, and my father was Morgan Porterfield Freeman, but they forgot to give me a middle name.Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. RetrievedMarch 20, 2021.
^Fearn-Banks, Kathleen. (2009).The A to Z of African-American television. Fearn-Banks, Kathleen. Lanham: Scarecrow Press. p. 151.ISBN978-0-8108-6348-4.OCLC435778789.
^ab"The 60th Academy Awards | 1988".Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 4, 2015.Archived from the original on July 24, 2020. RetrievedJuly 25, 2020.
^abc"The 62nd Academy Awards | 1990".Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 5, 2014.Archived from the original on April 11, 2020. RetrievedJuly 25, 2020.
^"Videos glorious news for civil war buffs".Arizona Republic. June 21, 1991.
^"The 65th Academy Awards | 1993".Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 4, 2014.Archived from the original on April 16, 2020. RetrievedJuly 25, 2020.
^ab"The 67th Academy Awards | 1995".Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 5, 2014.Archived from the original on May 10, 2019. RetrievedJuly 26, 2020.
^"The 70th Academy Awards | 1998".Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 5, 2014.Archived from the original on June 2, 2019. RetrievedJuly 26, 2020.
^"Amistad (1997)". Rotten Tomatoes. December 10, 1997.Archived from the original on July 30, 2020. RetrievedJuly 26, 2020.
^Taylor, Charles (December 12, 1997)."Amistad".Salon. Archived fromthe original on March 14, 2011. RetrievedJuly 26, 2020.
^A verbatim transcriptArchived July 30, 2020, atarchive.today of this segment of the Mike Wallace interview where Morgan Freeman suggests the abandonment of language that reinforces racism, is posted at the Snopes web site.
^McCord, Charline R.; Tucker, Judy H. (March 5, 2013).Coming Home to Mississippi. Illustrated by Kevin Bullard. Jackson: Univ. Press of Mississippi. pp. 19–23.ISBN978-1-61703-767-2.OCLC808930469.
^"The 77th Academy Awards | 2005".Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. October 5, 2014.Archived from the original on January 1, 2016. RetrievedMarch 20, 2021.
^"The 82nd Academy Awards | 2010".Oscars.org | Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. December 4, 2015.Archived from the original on April 17, 2018. RetrievedMarch 20, 2021.
^"Morgan Freeman".www.goldenglobes.com.Archived from the original on March 20, 2021. RetrievedAugust 1, 2020.
.jpg)
.jpg)
_(cropped).jpg)
.jpg)
.jpg)
