Biography
Freeman first became known in the American media through roles on the PBS kids' show The Electric Company and on the soap opera Another World. Beginning in the mid 1980s, he would go on to play prominent supporting roles in a number of feature films and today has earned a reputation for his portrayal of wise, fatherly characters. Notable past roles have included Hoke, the chauffeur in Driving Miss Daisy, and Red, the gentle convict in the The Shawshank Redemption. Much of his ability derives from his resonant, mellifluous voice, making him a frequent choice as a voice-over narrator for the movies in which he has appeared including War of the Worlds where he narrated in the end, and March of the Penguins in 2005 (which took the Oscar for Best Documentary at the Academy Awards in March 2006). He has also had a major role as an actor in the movies Se7en and Deep Impact.
In 1997, Freeman, together with Lori McCreary, founded the movie production company Revelations Entertainment.
After four past nominations, he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Clint Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby at the 77th Academy Awards on February 27, 2005.
Personal
Morgan Freeman has been married twice. His first marriage was to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw (October 22, 1967–1979). His second was to Myrna Colley-Lee (June 16, 1984–present). He has two sons from previous relationships. His sons' names are Alphonso and Saifoulaye. He adopted his first wife's daughter Deena and as a couple they had Morgana. Freeman worked as a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force. He has also earned his private pilot's license.
He co-owns and operates Madidi, a fine dining restaurant and Ground Zero Blues Club both located in Clarksdale, Mississippi.
He currently lives in Charleston, Mississippi.
Freeman has come out publicly against the celebration of Black History Month, saying that "I don't want a black history month. Black history is American history." He says the only way to end racism is to stop talking about it, and he notes that there is no "white history month". Freeman says "I am going to stop calling you a white man and I'm going to ask you to stop calling me a black man."
Filmography
2008 - Untitled Batman Begins Sequel - Lucius Fox - Greasy Rider
2006 - Lucky Number Slevin - The Boss
2005 - March of the Penguins - (Narrator)
2005 - Edison - Ashford
2005 - An Unfinished Life - Mitch Bradley
2005 - War of the Worlds - (Narrator)
2005 - Batman Begins - Lucius Fox
2005 - Danny The Dog - Sam
2004 - Million Dollar Baby - Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupris
2004 - The Big Bounce - Walter Crewes
2003 - Bruce Almighty - God
2003 - Dreamcatcher - Col. Abraham Kurtz
2002 - The Sum of All Fears - DCI William Cabot
2002 - High Crimes - Charlie Grimes
2001 - Along Came a Spider - Alex Cross
1998 - Deep Impact - President Tom Beck
1997 - Amistad - Theodore Joadson
1997 - Kiss The Girls - Dr. Alex Cross
1996 - Chain Reaction - Paul Shannon
1996 - Moll Flanders - Hibble
1995 - Se7en - Detective Lt. William Somerset
1995 - Outbreak - Brig. Gen. Billy Ford
1993 - Bopha! - (Director)
1994 - The Shawshank Redemption - Ellis Boyd "Red" Redding
1992 - The Power of One - Geel Piet
1992 - Unforgiven - Ned Logan
1991 - Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves - Azeem
1990 - The Bonfire of the Vanities - Judge Leonard White
1989 - Glory - Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins
1989 - Driving Miss Daisy - Hoke Colburn
1989 - Lean on Me - Principal Joe Clark
1987 - Street Smart - Fast Black
1984 - Teachers - Al Lewis
1981 - The Marva Collins Story - Clarence Collins
1980 - Brubaker - Walter
1971 - The Electric Company
Awards
1987 Nominated for Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, in Street Smart.
1989 Nominated for Oscar for Best Actor for his role as a chauffeur, in Driving Miss Daisy.
1994 Nominated for Oscar for Best Actor, in The Shawshank Redemption.
2003 Received the Crystal Globe award for outstanding artistic contribution to world cinema at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival.
2005 Won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor, in Million Dollar Baby.
2006 guest of honour at the Cairo international film festival
Preceded by:
Tim Robbins for Mystic River
Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
2004
Succeeded by:
George Clooney for Syriana
