The Legendary Morgan Freeman is an Academy Award-winning, multitalented, and outstanding American actor, host, film producer, and narrator. He has achieved immense success and fame throughout his acting career. He is best known for his magical voice and versatile roles in the entertainment industry. The over-five-decade career of an American actor and producer has yielded many honors, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award. In addition, Freeman has also been recognized with the Kennedy Center Honor, an AFI Life Achievement Award, a Cecil B. DeMille Award, and a Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award.
Biography
On June 1, 1937, Morgan Freeman was born in Memphis, Tennessee. As a baby, Freeman traveled to his paternal grandmother in Charleston, Mississippi. He moved around a lot during his early years, residing in Greenwood, Mississippi; Gary, Indiana; and Chicago, Illinois. At nine, Freeman performed the lead role in a school play for his acting debut. Currently, he lives in Clarksdale, Mississippi, and owns a home in New York City.
Social Media Accounts
Morgan has been in the entertainment industry for decades and has a considerable fan base from all around the globe. He is widely recognized and applauded for his professionalism. The following are Freeman’s social media accounts. He regularly shares memorable moments and life events on his social media accounts.
Net Worth
According to an estimate, Morgan Freeman’s net worth is US$250 million as of 2023. As a well-known Hollywood actor and producer, Morgan has been in the entertainment industry for over five decades. He has earned most of his wealth from his acting career.
Zodiac Sign
Morgan’s zodiac sign is Gemini, like Donald Trump, Tom Holland, Abhishek Malhan, and Sheynnis Palacious. He has a daring and adventure-loving personality. He likes to spend his leisure time exploring natural places.
Wiki Facts
Undoubtedly, people recognize Morgan for his fabulous acting skills and deep voice, which capture listeners’ attention. He has been in the entertainment industry for over fifty years and is continuing. This section contains interesting Wiki facts about his life, career, hobbies, and family.
Full Name | Morgan Freeman |
Screen Name | Morgan Freeman |
Date of Birth | June 1, 1937 |
Age | 87 years as of 2024 |
Gender | Male |
Zodiac Sign | Gemini |
Birth Place | Memphis, Tennessee |
Hometown | Greenwood, Mississippi |
Current Residence | Clarksdale, Mississippi |
School | Broad Street High School |
College | Los Angeles City College Jackson State University Pasadena Playhouse |
Nationality | American |
Ethnicity | African-American |
Profession | Actor Host Narrator Producer Director |
Years Active | 1964-Present |
Organization | Revelations Entertainment |
Net Worth | US$250 million |
Marital Status | Divorced Twice |
Children | 4 |
Partner/Girlfriend | Currently dating Lori McCreary |
Hobbies | Studying Scientific and technology-related content |
Hair Color | Grey |
Eye Color | Dark Brown |
Height | 6 feet 2 inches (1.88 m) |
Weight | 97 in kilograms 214 pounds |
Jet Collection | Cessna Citation 501 Cessna 414 Emivest SJ30 |
Favorite Movie | Moulin Rouge! |
Production Company | Revelations Entertainment |
Education
He attended Broad Street High School (now known as Threadgill Elementary School) in Greenwood, Mississippi. After completing his high school education in 1955, Freeman dropped Jackson State University’s partial drama scholarship to pursue his career in the USA Air Force. He became an airman first class while working as an automatic tracking radar repairman. However, after serving from 1955 to 1959 in the US Air Force, Morgan moved to Los Angeles, California, to enroll in acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse. At Los Angeles City College, where he also studied theatre arts, one of his teachers urged him to pursue a dance career.
Parents and Siblings
His mother, Mayme Edna Revere, was a teacher, and his father, Morgan Porterfield Freeman, was a barber who passed away in 1961 from cirrhosis. He has three siblings whose identities are not open to the public. His parents were not financially independent, so he did not have a lavish childhood.
Father | Morgan Porterfield Freeman |
Mother | Mayme Edna Revere |
Siblings | Update Soon |
Family and Children
Morgan married twice. His first marriage to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw took place in 1967 and lasted over a decade. Later, in 1984, he married Myrna Colley-Lee again. Freeman has four children: two sons and two daughters.
First Wife | Jeanette Adair Bradshaw (m. 1967; div. 1979)​ |
Second Wife | Myrna Colley-Lee (m. 1984; div. 2010) |
Son(s) | Alfonso Freeman Saifoulaye Freeman |
Daughter(s) | Deena Freeman Morgana Freeman |
Grand-Children | E’Dena Hines Donovan Lee Freeman Joshua Caleb Freeman Alfonso René Freeman II |
Professional Career
Freeman’s dream as a young man was to become a fighter pilot. However, after a disappointing start in the U.S. Air Force, he only focused on his acting career. He served in the Air Force for just four years, from 1955 to 1959. Morgan Freeman’s acting career officially started in 1964. In his early career, he performed in stage plays while pursuing theatre school in Los Angeles. His part in the children’s television series The Electric Company brought him prominence in the 1970s. More difficult film roles emerged his way after his mind-blowing performances in the 1980 movie Brubaker and the 1982–1984 soap opera Another World. He also received positive reviews for his early 1980s theatrical work.
Filmography
Below is a list of his work, from the big screen to theatre and television roles in the entertainment industry, reflecting his unparalleled acting skills.
Films | Years |
1964 | The Pawnbroker |
1966 | A Man Called Adam |
1968 | Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? |
1971 | Who Says I Can’t Ride a Rainbow! |
1973 | Blade |
1980 | Brubaker |
1980 | Attica |
1981 | Eyewitness |
1984 | Teachers |
1984 | Harry & Son |
1985 | That Was Then… This Is Now |
1985 | Marie |
1987 | Street Smart |
1988 | Clean and Sober |
1989 | Glory |
1989 | Driving Miss Daisy |
1989 | Lean on Me |
1991 | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves |
1992 | Unforgiven |
1994 | The Shawshank Redemption |
1995 | Outbreak |
1995 | Seven |
1997 | Amistad |
2000 | Nurse Betty |
2003 | Bruce Almighty |
2004 | Million Dollar Baby |
2005 | Batman Begins |
2007 | Gone Baby Gone |
2007 | The Bucket List |
2008 | Wanted |
2008 | The Dark Knight |
2009 | Invictus |
2010 | RED |
2011 | Dolphin Tale |
2012 | The Dark Knight Rises |
2013 | Oblivion |
2013 | Now You See Me |
2014 | Lucy |
2014 | Dolphin Tale 2 |
2015 | Last Knights |
2015 | Ted 2 |
2015 | Momentum |
2016 | London Has Fallen |
2016 | Now You See Me 2 |
2016 | Ben-Hur |
2017 | Going in Style |
2018 | The Nutcracker and the Four Realms |
2018 | Brian Banks |
2019 | Angel Has Fallen |
2020 | The Comeback Trail |
2021 | Coming 2 America |
2021 | Vanquish |
2021 | Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard |
2022 | Paradise Highway |
2022 | The Minute You Wake Up Dead |
2023 | The Ritual Killer |
2023 | A Good Person |
2023 | 57 Seconds |
Theatre Play
Like his recognition on big screens, Morgan became equally famous for stage and theatre plays. He earned fame and acclaim for his theatre work globally.
As a nine-year-old, he won his first-ever drama competition at the state level. The famous Hello, Dolly! was one of his musical plays.
Year | Play |
1964–1970 | Hello, Dolly! |
1967 | The Nigger lovers |
1970–1971 | Purlie |
1979 | Coriolanus |
1979 | Julius Caesar |
1987–1990 | Driving Miss Daisy |
1988 | The Gospel at Colonus |
1990 | The Taming of the Shrew |
2008 | The Country Girl |
2011 | 8 |
Television Roles
Additionally, he has contributed to the television industry. The Story of God with Morgan Freeman is one of his notable TV shows. He has not only performed in TV plays but also produced some fantastic screenplays that are still recognized and being watched. Madam Secretary was one of the shows where he played the Chief Justice role in its second season. Morgan was also the executive producer of this series.
Year | TV Drama/Series |
1971–1977 | The Electric Company |
1979 | Hollow Image |
1981 | The Marva Collins Story |
1981 | Death of a Prophet |
1986 | Resting Place |
1987 | Fight For Life |
1988 | Clinton and Nadine |
1990 | The Earth Day Special |
1997 | The Long Way Home |
2008 | Smithsonian Channel’s Sound Revolution |
2014-2019 | Madam Secretary |
2016-2019 | The Story of God with Morgan Freeman |
2016 | 2017 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony |
2017 | The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman |
2017 | 2018 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony |
2020 | Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? |
2021 | Solos |
2021 | The Kominsky Method |
2023-Present | Special Ops: Lioness |
Awards And Nominations
Freeman received his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor as a risky hustler in Street Smart. For his work in Driving Miss Daisy, where he recreated the role of Hoke, he was later nominated for an Academy Award in the Best Actor category. He debuted as a director with the anti-apartheid movie Bopha! Freeman won an Academy Award for his outstanding role in Million Dollar Baby. Besides Will Smith and Leonardo DiCaprio, he is another Hollywood star to win an Academy Award. Upon receiving the Oscar nominations, he expressed his feelings in such a way:
When I got nominated for the Oscar (for Street Smart in 1987), it put rocket boosters in my career. Since childhood, all I wanted to do was make movies. I love the stage, but I wanted to be a movie actor.
Academy Awards
The Hollywood film industry’s most significant awards are the Academy Awards or Oscars. The criteria for nominations and selections are stringent, and not everyone could qualify. Thus, Morgan is one of those skilled and proficient actors who has received five different nominations for Oscars.
Year | Award Category |
1988 | Nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Award for Street Smart |
1990 | Nominated for the Best Supporting Actor Award for Driving Miss Daisy |
1995 | Nominated for Best Actor Award for The Shawshank Redemption |
2005 | Won Best Supporting Actor Award for Million Dollar Baby |
2010 | Nominated for Best Actor Award for Invictus |
Golden Globe Awards
Hollywood’s famous organization, the Foreign Press Association, awards Golden Globe Awards to honor celebrities’ hard work and services worldwide. Morgan has received five nominations. He won the Best Actor award for his movie Driving Miss Daisy.
Year | Award Category |
1987 | Nominated for Best Supporting Actor—Motion Picture for Street Smart |
1989 | Won Best Actor—Motion Picture Musical or Comedy for Driving Miss Daisy |
1994 | Nominated for Best Actor—Motion Picture Drama for The Shawshank Redemption |
2004 | Nominated for Best Supporting Actor—Motion Picture for Million Dollar Baby |
2009 | Nominated for Best Actor-Motion Picture Drama for Invictus |
Primetime Emmy Awards
Primetime Emmy Awards are awarded to celebrities with outstanding appearances and presences on television screens. Freeman’s Primetime Emmy Award nominations as a great TV artist are listed below.
Year | Award Category |
2016 | Nominated for Outstanding Informational Series or Special for The Story of God with Morgan Freeman |
2018 | Nominated for Outstanding Narrator for March of the Penguins 2: The Next Step |
2021 | Nominated for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series The Kominsky Method: Chapter 20: The Round Toes of the High Shoes |
2023 | Pending Result for Outstanding Narrator for Our Universe: Chasing Starlight |
Screen Actor Guild Awards
To praise and celebrate Freeman’s achievements in the drama and film industry, he has received multiple nominations for Screen Guild Awards. The list is as follows:
Year | Award Category |
1994 | Nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role for The Shawshank Redemption |
2004 | Won an Outstanding Actor Award in a Supporting Role for Million Dollar Baby |
2004 | Nominated for Outstanding Cast in a Motion Picture for Million Dollar Baby |
2009 | Nominated for Outstanding Actor in a Leading Role for Invictus |
MTV Awards
A list of a few MTV awards received by Freeman is given below.
Year | Award Category |
1991 | Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo for Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (Shared with Kevin Costner) |
1995 | Nominated for Best On-Screen Duo for Seven (Shared with Brad Pitt) |
Lifetime Achievement Award
He has received different lifetime achievement awards for his services to the entertainment industry.
Year | Award |
2009 | Golden Icon Award from the Zurich Film Festival |
2011 | AFI Life Achievement Award |
2012 | Cecil B. DeMille Award Awarded by HFPA for Outstanding Contributions to the Film Industry |
2018 | Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award |
Salaries
Morgan’s professional career is filled with numerous successful hit movies in which he has performed and won the hearts of millions of fans. A list of some of his highest-grossing films is given below.
Movies | Salaries |
Kiss the Girls (1997) | $5,000,000 |
March of the Penguins (2005) | $1,000,000 |
Batman Begins (2005) | $5,000,000 |
War of the Worlds (2005) | $1,000,000 |
The Dark Knight (2008) | $5,000,000 |
The Dark Knight Rises (2012) | $5,000,000 |
Olympus Has Fallen (2013) | $10,000,000 |
London Has Fallen (2016) | $7,500,000 |
Angel Has Fallen (2019) | $7,500,000 |
Some lesser-known facts
- He is a licensed pilot and owns a few private jet collections.
- He got severe pneumonia when he was 16.
- At the age of 12, he developed an interest in theatre and music during his school years and won a drama competition at the state level.
- He broke his arm in a critical accident. Due to a damaged nerve, he wears a glove on his hand to keep the blood flow going.
- Morgan has a deep and magical voice and excellent narration skills. As a narrator, his soulful speaking skills are admired globally.
- He speaks French fluently.
Why is Morgan Freeman so popular?
He became famous because of his role in the series "The Electric Company." It was a children's television series. Later, Morgan appeared in some of Shakespeare's famous plays, Julius Caesar and Coriolanus, eventually leading him to fame.
Why does Morgan Freeman wear glove on one of his hands?
He had a car accident in which his shoulder and arm were broken, due to which one of his nerves was damaged. Therefore, to keep the blood flow regular, Morgan has to wear a glove on his hand.
What is the net worth of Morgan Freeman?
His total net worth as of 2023 is US$ 250 million.
How much does Morgan Freeman charge for providing voice over services?
Besides acting, he has also performed in commercials for the Visa Debit Card company. He is estimated to make between US$1 million and US$2 million only from voice-over and narration.