One of the most iconic actors in movie history, and arguably the most iconic voice as well, Morgan Freeman just turned 84!
With a career spanning over 50 years, an Academy Award, a Golden Globe award, a Screen Actors Guild award, and a lifetime achievement award to his name, Morgan Freeman has had a career to envy.
Throughout his walk of fame career, he has starred in Hollywood hits like The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en and The Bucket List amongst others.
He’s also a father to four kids; Alfonso, Deena, Morgana, and Saifoulaye. He got married for the first time in 1967 to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw but the couple divorced in 1979.
Freeman got remarried in 1985 to Myrna Colley-Lee but once again, the couple split in 2010.
Here’s a list of some memorable moments from Freeman over the years
- The Shawshank Redemption
Directed by Frank Darabont, Freeman starred as contraband smuggler Ellis “Red” Redding who’s sentenced to Shawshank State prison. Although the screenplay was adapted from a Stephen King book, the film isn’t a horror story. It’s more a story of friendship in a more or less hopeless place.
Shawshank Redemption also went on to receive multiple award nominations, including seven Academy Award nominations. In 2015, the United States Library of Congress selected the film for preservation in the National Film Registry, finding it “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant”.
- Million Dollar Baby
In this Best Picture winner, Freeman gives an absolute knockout of a performance. He stars as Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris, friend to Clint Eastwood’s Frankie Dunn character. A performance that rightfully earns him his only Oscar, winning in the Best Supporting Actor category at the 2004 awards.
- Street Smart
The year is 1987 and movie audiences are captivated by the amazing performance by a younger Freeman. Of course he had appeared on the big screen prior to this urban crime drama, but this is the precise moment when audiences first sat up and really took notice, wondering, who is that guy?!
The performance also earned him his very first Oscar nomination. Freeman plays the role of murderous pimp, Fast Black to a T.
- March of the Penguins
There’s nothing else to say here. This is a 2005 documentary about the Odyssean mating rituals of the Antarctic emperor penguin. Boring right? Nope. Freeman serves as the narrator and in conclusion, his deep and slow baritone voice was absolutely perfect for this.
- Bruce Almighty
I mean, why not? Bruce Almighty gives us playful Morgan Freeman, a side of the veteran actor we don’t get to see often. Here, he plays God, teaching Jim Carrey a lesson. With the impeccable voice and commanding demeanor he brings to the screen, Freeman was the perfect Ancient of Days.