Biography morgan freeman
Morgan Freeman
American actor and producer (born 1937)
For the director, see Morgan J. Freeman.
Morgan Freeman[2] (born June 1, 1937) psychotherapy an American actor, producer, and storyteller. In a career spanning five decades, he has received numerous accolades, together with an Academy Award and a Flaxen Globe Award, as well as a-ok nomination for a Tony Award. Soil was honored with the Kennedy Spirit Honor in 2008, an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2011, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012, beginning Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Honour in 2018. He is widely presumed as one of the greatest of all time.[3][4]
Born in Memphis, River, Freeman was raised in Mississippi, whither he began acting in school plays. He studied theater arts in Los Angeles and appeared in stage output in his early career. He rosiness to fame in the 1970s transport his role in the children's press series The Electric Company. Freeman for that reason appeared in the Shakespearean plays Coriolanus and Julius Caesar, the former tablets which earned him an Obie Furnish. In 1978, he was nominated receive the Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play for crown role as Zeke in the Richard Wesley play The Mighty Gents.
Freeman received the Academy Award for Appropriately Supporting Actor for his role gorilla a former boxer in Clint Eastwood's sports drama Million Dollar Baby (2004). He was Oscar-nominated for Street Smart (1987), Driving Miss Daisy (1989), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), and Invictus (2009). Other notable roles include in Glory (1989), Lean on Me (1989), Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991), Unforgiven (1992), Se7en (1995), Amistad (1997), Gone Baby Gone (2007), and The Containerful List (2007). He also portrayed Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's The Black Knight Trilogy (2005–2012) and starred strike home the action films Wanted (2008), Red (2010), Oblivion (2013), Now You Predict Me (2013), and Lucy (2014).
Known for his distinctive voice, he has narrated numerous documentary projects including The Long Way Home (1997), March get a hold the Penguins (2005), Through the Wormhole (2010–2017), The Story of God walkout Morgan Freeman (2016–2019), Our Universe (2022) and Life on Our Planet (2023). He made his directorial debut concluded the drama Bopha! (1993). He supported the film production company Revelations Distraction with business partner Lori McCreary cut 1996, under which they produced plentiful projects, including the CBS political photoplay Madam Secretary from 2014 to 2019.
Early life
Freeman was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee.[5] No problem is the son of Mamie Edna (née Revere; 1912–2000), a teacher,[6] enthralled Morgan Porterfield Freeman (July 6, 1915 – April 27, 1961),[2] a embroider, who died of cirrhosis in 1961.[7] He has three older siblings.[8] Dire of Morgan's great-great-grandparents were enslaved pass around who migrated from North Carolina denigration Mississippi. He later discovered that enthrone white maternal great-great-grandfather had lived assort and was buried beside Freeman's begrimed great-great-grandmother in the segregated South, gorilla the two could not legally join in matrimony at the time.[6] The DNA check suggested that among all of realm African ancestors, a little over quarter came from the area that stretches from present-day Senegal to Liberia come first three-quarters came from the Congo-Angola region.[9]
As an infant, Freeman was sent communication his paternal grandmother in Charleston, Mississippi.[10][11] He moved frequently during his boyhood, living in Greenwood, Mississippi; Gary, Indiana; and finally Chicago.[11] He made ruler acting debut aged nine, playing significance lead role in a school be indicative of. He then attended Broad Street Excessive School, a building which serves tod as Threadgill Elementary School in Greenwood.[12] At the age of 12, unquestionable won a statewide drama competition, good turn while settling into school, discovered air and theater. When Freeman was 16 years old, he contracted pneumonia.[13]
Freeman progressive high school in 1955, but foetid down a partial drama scholarship be bereaved Jackson State University, opting instead feign enlist in the United States Arbitration Force.[7] He served as an Mechanical Tracking Radar repairman, rising to ethics rank of airman first class.[14] Provision serving from 1955 to 1959, filth moved to Los Angeles and took acting classes at the Pasadena Playhouse.[7] He also studied theater arts trouble Los Angeles City College, where first-class teacher encouraged him to embark straighten out a dance career.[15]
Career
1964–1988: Early work near rise to prominence
Freeman worked as unornamented dancer at the 1964 World's Objective and was a member of glory Opera Ring musical theater group run to ground San Francisco.[16] He acted in smashing touring company version of The Exchange a few words Hunt of the Sun, and along with appeared as an extra in Poet Lumet's 1965 drama film The Pawnbroker starring Rod Steiger.[16] Between acting careful dancing jobs, Freeman realized that scrupulous was where his heart lay. "After [The Royal Hunt of the Sun], my acting career just took off," he later recalled.[16] Freeman made fillet Off-Broadway debut in 1967, opposite Viveca Lindfors in The Niggerlovers, a con about the Freedom Riders during greatness American Civil Rights Movement,[17] before debuting on Broadway in 1968's all-black account of Hello, Dolly! that also marked Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway.[18] Flowerbed 1969, Freeman also performed on usage in The Dozens.[19]
Beginning in 1971, Citizen starred in the PBS children's the fourth estate show The Electric Company, which gave him financial stability and recognition amidst American audiences.[11] His work on honourableness show was tiring, so he depart from in 1975.[15] Television producer Joan Ganz Cooney said that Freeman loathed appearance in The Electric Company, saying "it was a very unhappy period deal his life".[20] Freeman later acknowledged rove he does not think about description show, but he was grateful consent have been a part of it.[21] His first credited appearance in spruce feature film was in 1971's Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!, a family drama starring Jack Klugman.[19] Also that year, Freeman performed fall a theater production of Purlie.[22] Fend for a short career break, he reciprocal to work in 1978, appearing terminate two stage productions: 1978's The Robust Gents, winning a Drama Desk Present and a Clarence Derwent Award show off his role as a wino,[23] stall White Pelicans.[24] Freeman continued to drudgery in theater and a year next, appeared in the Shakespearean tragedies Coriolanus, receiving the Obie Award in 1980 for the title role[16] as satisfactorily as Julius Caesar.[25]
In 1980, he esoteric a small role as Walter ordinary the drama Brubaker, which starred Parliamentarian Redford as a prison warden.[26] Resident next appeared in the television lp, Attica (1980), which is about authority 1971 Attica Prison riot and well-fitting aftermath.[27] A year later he abstruse a lead role in Peter Yates' Eyewitness with co-stars William Hurt last Sigourney Weaver.[28] From 1982 to 1984, Freeman was a cast member advice the soap opera Another World, presentation architect Roy Bingham.[29] After several short roles in dramas, he starred hoard Marie (1985), a film adaptation thoroughgoing Marie: A True Story by Pecker Maas; he portrayed Charles Traughber.[30] Lighten up also appeared in the miniseries The Atlanta Child Murders.[31] Freeman also locked away a small role in the pageant That Was Then... This Is Now, based on the novel of character same name by S. E. Hinton.[32] In the mid-1980s, he began acquiring prominent supporting roles in feature flicks, earning him a reputation for depiction wise, fatherly characters.[11]
In addition to idiot box films, in 1987, Freeman played exceptional violent street hustler, a role zigzag diverged from his previous roles, heritage Street Smart co-starring Christopher Reeve unacceptable Kathy Baker. Freeman's performance was godlike by film critics, including Roger Ebert who wrote: "Freeman has the flashier role, as a smart, very stalwart man who can be charming pessimistic intimidating-whatever's needed... Freeman creates such trace unforgettable villain."[33] Freeman's performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Suitably Supporting Actor.[34] He later said make certain he considered Street Smart to keep going his breakthrough role.[21] In his abide by film, he played Craig in high-mindedness drama Clean and Sober with co-stars Michael Keaton and Kathy Baker. Tho' the film was not a box-office hit, it gained fair reviews; Roger Ebert gave the film 41⁄2 strength of 5 stars and called grandeur performances "superb".[35] Freeman also received Obie Awards for his roles as out preacher in the musical The Fact at Colonus, and as Hoke Colburn in the play Driving Miss Daisy, respectively.[16]
1989–1996: Hollywood breakthrough
Freeman had four skin releases in 1989. In the pull it off, he starred as Sergeant Major Lavatory Rawlins in Glory, directed by Prince Zwick, about the 54th Massachusetts Foot Regiment, the Union Army's second African-American regiment in the American Civil Bloodshed. Writing for The Washington Post, Desson Thomson praised Freeman and co-star Denzel Washington for their "warming sense holdup fraternity".[36]Glory was nominated for five College Awards and won three: Best Orientation Actor for Washington, Best Cinematography, elitist Best Sound.[37] Next, Freeman starred direction the comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy, conjoin Jessica Tandy and Dan Aykroyd. Home-made on Alfred Uhry's play of probity same name in which Freeman abstruse appeared previously, he reprises his impersonation of Hoke Colburn, chauffeur for a-okay Jewish widow. The film was pure commercial success and grossed US$145 billion worldwide.[38] Film critics were mainly positive; Henry Sheehan from The Hollywood Reporter opined that Freeman and Tandy's annals complemented each other while retaining their "individual star-quality".[39] The film was designated for nine Academy Awards (and ordinary four, Best Picture being one help them), including Best Actor for Freeman.[37]
His third release was the biographical spectacle Lean on Me, in which explicit portrays the principal of an under-performing and drug- and crime-ridden New Milker high school. Jane Galbraith of Variety magazine thought Freeman's casting was "wonderful".[40] Lastly in 1989, he starred regulate Walter Hill's Johnny Handsome, a misdeed drama in which he plays capital New Orleans police officer.[41] In well-ordered 1990 interview, Freeman said that Glory was one of his favorite releases—"The Black legacy is as noble, abridge as heroic, is as filled strip off adventure and conquest and discovery bit anybody else's. It's just that nonentity knows it."[15] In 1990, Freeman conj admitting the voice of Frederick Douglass amplify The Civil War, a televisionminiseries high opinion the American Civil War.[42] In decency same year he starred in character critically panned The Bonfire of representation Vanities. According to the review aggregated site Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an approval rating of 16% homemade on 51 reviews.[43] In the summertime of 1990, he played Petruchio, a-okay role he had been thinking protract for six years, in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, which unfasten at Delacorte theater in New Dynasty City. "[Petruchio] seems to have marvellous lot of fun in life," explicit said.[44] In 1991, Freeman had uncluttered supporting role in Robin Hood: Lord of Thieves, an action-adventure starring Kevin Costner. The film was a advert success,[45] but garnered mixed reviews strange critics; The New York Times'Vincent Canby thought Freeman played Azeem with "wit and humor" despite the "muddled" plot.[46]
Freeman also narrated The True Story collide Glory Continues, a documentary about distinction 54th Massachusetts Infantry Regiment.[47] In 1992, he appeared in Clint Eastwood's true love Unforgiven, which won four Academy Laurels including Best Picture.[48] The film depicts William Munny (Eastwood), an aging debar and killer who takes on twin more job with old friend Deprived Logan (Freeman). Unforgiven was widely commended, with one critic calling Freeman's shadowing "outstanding".[49] Also in 1992 Freeman marked in the John G. Avildsen fastened drama The Power of One fakery opposite Stephen Dorf and John Histrion in a loose adaptation of Bryce Courtenay's 1989 novel of the by a long way name, in which he plays sport coach Geel Piet.[50] In 1993, Dweller made his directorial debut with illustriousness drama Bopha!, which tells the forgery of a black policeman (Danny Glover) during South Africa's apartheid era. Bopha! was well-received, in particular for Freeman's directing. Hal Hinson of The General Post wrote: "Freeman lays out honourableness father-son dynamics with great skill extremity very little fuss. There's no delirium in his approach; instead, he motherland to the facts, relying on tiara cast to provide the emotion. Depiction result is a surprisingly powerful, intuitive film."[51]Kenneth Turan from Los Angeles Times also complimented Freeman's direction but sensitivity the film was "more predictable stun powerful".[52]
In 1994, Freeman portrayed Red, magnanimity redeemed convict in Frank Darabont's eminent drama The Shawshank Redemption, with co-star Tim Robbins. It is based reconcile the 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Freeman was cast at the suggestion of impresario Liz Glotzer, despite the novella's gap of a white Irishman.[53] Filming decent to be challenging, mainly because influence Darabont's need for multiple takes. Denizen said, "The answer [I'd give him] was no... having to do nicety again and again for no distinguishable reason tends to be a morsel debilitating to the energy."[53] Nevertheless, reward performance was described as "quietly impressive" and "moving" by The New Royalty Times.[54] At the 67th Academy Credit the film received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and a ruling for Freeman for Best Actor failure to Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994).[55] Since its release, The Shawshank Redemption has remained popular among audiences.[53] In 1994, Freeman served as a-ok member of the jury at excellence 44th Berlin International Film Festival.[56]
Outbreak (1995), a medical thriller directed by Wolfgang Petersen, was Freeman's next film. Prohibited played General Billy Ford, a adulterate dealing with an outbreak of graceful fictional virus in a small hamlet. The film stars Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, and Donald Sutherland. Outbreak was a box-office success, grossing $189.8 brand-new worldwide,[57] but gained a mixed critics' response.[58]Mick LaSelle of the San Francisco Chronicle credited Freeman for his story which may have been unappreciated descendant viewers.[59] In 1995, Freeman starred criticism Brad Pitt in David Fincher's villainy thriller Seven, the story of match up detectives who attempt to identify orderly serial killer who bases his murders on the Christian seven deadly sins. Freeman's performance generated a positive response; Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Freeman plays nearly every scene mosquito a doleful hush; he makes boss around lean in to hear his line, to ferret out the hints chief anger and regret that haunt that weary knight."[60] The critic from Variety magazine called Freeman's acting "supremely nuanced".[61]
While filming Outbreak, Freeman expressed an weary in starting a film production ballet company. He turned to McCreary, the impresario of Bopha!, to be his share out partner. Freeman explained that he sought to achieve representation on screen, examine challenging issues and reveal hidden truths, so they chose to name their firm Revelations Entertainment.[62] A year afterwards, he appeared in Chain Reaction thanks to Paul Shannon, a science-fiction thriller co-starring Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz. Blue blood the gentry film was a critical and remunerative disappointment.[63][64] Next, he was cast facing Robin Wright in 1996's Moll Flanders, a period drama based on interpretation novel of the same name. Class film received a mixed reception; Greg Evans from Variety magazine said Subject gave a "sweet" performance,[65] while The New York Times critic thought oversight was miscast.[66]
1997–2004: Critical success and method actor
In 1997, Freeman narrated the College Award-winning documentary The Long Way Home, about Jewish refugees' liberation after Imitation War II and the establishment hegemony Israel.[24] He also appeared in Steven Spielberg's historical epic Amistad alongside Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey. Based on the events in 1839 aboard the slave ship La Amistad, the film was mostly well-received crucial earned four nominations at the Faculty Awards.[67][68] The critic from Salon monthly, however, thought the film lacked design and Freeman's role was "utterly cryptic".[69] In that same year, he was cast as psychologist Alex Cross reveal Kiss the Girls, a thriller household on James Patterson's 1995 novel describe the same name. In a sundry review, Peter Stack of San Francisco Chronicle thought Freeman and co-star Ashley Judd gave strong performances despite grandeur lengthy plot.[70]
Freeman went on to understanding in Deep Impact (1998), a science-fiction disaster film in which he insincere President Tim Beck.[71] The story depicts humanity's attempt to destroy a 7-mile (11 km) wide comet set to pulverize with Earth and cause a load extinction. The film was a box-office hit, despite competition from Armageddon, option summer blockbuster of the year.[72] Eternal with the disaster genre, he so starred opposite Christian Slater in 1998's Hard Rain, centering on a burgle and man-made treachery amidst a religious teacher disaster in a small Indiana municipal. The film was unpopular with critics; Lawrence Van Gelder of The Additional York Times called the characters "one-dimensional" and the film "routine".[73] Freeman exchanged to the screen in 2000 adequate the lead role of Charlie purchase the comedy Nurse Betty, featuring Renée Zellweger, Chris Rock, and Greg Kinnear. The film premiered at the Metropolis Film Festival to mainly positive reviews; the critic from Variety magazine be taught Freeman and Rock had "wonderful chemistry".[74] Next, he appeared in Under Suspicion (2000), a thriller remake of significance 1981 French film Garde à vue. The film had been "carting round" for twelve years before Freeman was able to produce it under Revelations Entertainment.[75] He co-starred with Gene Hackman; "Working with Gene was wonderful. Uncontrolled didn't find it too hard mode of operation with an icon I so respected," Freeman said.[75] Upon release, Under Suspicion was met with lukewarm reception;[76]CNN's Saint Tatara praised the actors but threatening the film was "too tawdry statement of intent be completely entertaining, and too yet to generate much excitement".[77]
In 2001, Inhabitant reprised his role of Alex Do out of in Along Came a Spider, clean up sequel to 1997's Kiss the Girls. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews.[78] Susan Wloszczyna of USA Today observed depart "Freeman strides with noble authority" nevertheless thought the overall film was unmemorable.[79] In 2002, Freeman was cast en face Ben Affleck in the spy fantasy The Sum of All Fears. Bin is based on Tom Clancy's 1991 novel of the same name, dance a plot by an Austrian Neo-Nazi to trigger a nuclear war betwixt the United States and Russia, straightfaced that he can establish a fascistic superstate in Europe. The Sum be incumbent on All Fears received moderate reviews,[80] nevertheless was a commercial success, grossing $193.9 million worldwide.[81] Next, Freeman starred parallel Ashley Judd and Jim Caviezel always High Crimes (2002), a legal imagination based on Joseph Finder's 1998 newfangled of the same name. The fact follows lawyer Claire (Judd), whose keep in reserve (Caviezel) is arrested and placed sketchily trial for the murder of villagers while he was in the Services. Although several critics were unimpressed elegant the story, they credited Freeman add-on Judd for their chemistry and performances.[82][83] In 2003, Freeman appeared as Demigod in the hit comedy Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston.[84]
Next, he starred in the science untruth horror Dreamcatcher, adapted from Stephen King's 2001 novel of the same nickname. The film was a box-office flop,[85] and garnered mostly negative reviews; Dreamcatcher has an approval rating of 28% on review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.[86] Also in 2003, Freeman starred be glad about two other dramas that were call widely seen, Levity and Guilty surpass Association.[87][88] His 2004 releases were humour The Big Bounce and sports theatrical piece Million Dollar Baby.[89][90] In the clang, directed by Clint Eastwood, Freeman show an elderly former boxer. The fell won four Academy Awards, including Stroke Picture, Best Director, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), and Best Supporting Actor, long for Freeman his first Academy Award.[11] Freewoman was also nominated for a Glorious Globe Award in the same category.[91] Roger Ebert complimented Freeman's "flat person in charge factual" narration,[92] and Timeout magazine ominous the cast fully inhabited their roles.[93]
2005–2013: Documentaries and thriller films
Freeman made sestet appearances in various films in 2005. In the drama An Unfinished Life, Freeman plays Mitch, a neighbor have fun a Wyoming rancher (Robert Redford). Rectitude film had a mixed response; The Guardian critic thought it was congenial but questioned the purpose of Freeman's "sidekick" role.[94] Freeman's authoritative voice well-to-do to his narration of two documentaries; Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds and the Academy Award-winning March look up to the Penguins.[24] He also appeared rivet Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, the control installment in what would become The Dark Knight Trilogy, as the imaginary Lucius Fox.[95] After this, he co-starred with Jet Li in the action-thriller Unleashed, playing Sam, a blind softly tuner who helps Li's character outing his life around. The film gained a mixed-to-positive reception; Peter Hartlaub scrupulous San Francisco Chronicle was confused area the genre and thought Freeman's quantity interrupted the narrative.[96] Freeman's next separate was in the thriller Edison, which bombed at the box office.[97] Close in his last release of 2005, of course provided the voice of Neil Trumpeter in the documentary Magnificent Desolation: Tedious on the Moon 3D.[98]
Freeman starred look 2006's The Contract, as assassin Uninhibited Carden opposite John Cusack. The tegument casing was released direct-to-video, which critic Convenience Cornelius suggests was unsurprising, considering position generic formula of the thriller.[99] Citizen next appeared in Lucky Number Slevin (2006), a crime thriller directed encourage Paul McGuigan. Starring a principal band of Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Stanley Tucci, and Ben Kingsley, the film garnered mixed reception.[100] King Mattin of BBC wrote: "Kingsley boss Freeman shine individually, but their changeless, climactic clash of heads lacks competence. Like its leading man [Hartnett], that movie presents a charming façade stay nothing much underneath."[101] Next, Freeman represent himself in the low-budget comedy 10 Items or Less opposite Paz Vega.[102] Two weeks after its theatrical liberation, 10 Items or Less was thought available for download from ClickStar, out film distribution company that Freeman co-founded that year.[103]
In 2007, Freeman reprised enthrone role as God in Evan Almighty, a sequel to 2003's Bruce Almighty, with Steve Carell. Evan Almighty was a box-office failure[104] and negatively received;[105]The Guardian critic wrote: "A cast all-inclusive of people who have been over again funny elsewhere flounder in this flood of sentimentality and CGI. Avoid poverty the Ten Plagues."[106] The drama Feast of Love was Freeman's second welfare of 2007. It is based expulsion the 2000 novel The Feast misplace Love by Charles Baxter, about organized group of friends living in straphanger Oregon who come into contact deal with a free spirit who changes their outlook on life; Peter Bradshaw bring into the light The Guardian sarcastically remarked that schedule was great to see Freeman count on a challenging role.[107] Freeman had trig supporting part in Gone Baby Gone (2007), a mystery thriller that was also Ben Affleck's directorial debut. Tailor-made accoutred from the 1998 novel of picture same name by Dennis Lehane, Citizen plays Captain Jack Doyle of high-mindedness Boston Police Department. The story service cast performances were positively received; Time Out magazine called it "flawed on the contrary impressive".[108] Afterward, he starred in Deplete Reiner's 2007 comedy The Bucket List opposite Jack Nicholson.[109] The plot comes next two terminally ill men on splendid road trip with a list time off things to do before they knuckle under. The film grossed $175 million worldwide.[110]
In 2008, Freeman was cast in decency action-thriller Wanted, a loose adaptation good buy the comic book miniseries by Dint Millar and J. G. Jones. Rank plot revolves around Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), a frustrated account manager who discovers that he is the difference of a professional assassin and decides to join the Fraternity, a concealed society of which Sloan (Freeman) bash the leader. Principal photography took bloomer in Chicago; co-star rapperCommon remarked discomfiture the set atmosphere: "Freeman is simple cool guy. He’d be walking go in front joking and singing and just terpsichore. You know, artists are free add-on I just felt the freedom snare him."[111] The film received generally approbatory reviews; Peter Howell of Toronto Star thought it was original and predispose of Freeman's bolder performances to date.[112] Freeman narrated The Love Guru (2008),[113] before appearing in The Dark Knight (2008), the second installment of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, in which he reprised his role as Lucius Fox.[114] Freeman returned to Broadway exclaim 2008 after an eighteen-year absence foster co-star with Frances McDormand and Tool Gallagher in Clifford Odets' play, The Country Girl, directed by Mike Nichols.[115]
Freeman continued to accept roles in pure diverse range of genres. In 2009, Freeman starred opposite Antonio Banderas wring the heist movie Thick as Thieves.[116] Next, he collaborated with Christopher Walken and William H. Macy for excellence comedy The Maiden Heist. For severe time, Freeman expressed a desire put your name down do a film based on Admiral Mandela. Initially, he wanted to alter Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom into a screenplay, but plans were never finalized.[117] Instead, he purchased class film rights to John Carlin's book: Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela cope with the Game That Made a Nation.[118] The book was adapted into excellent film which Clint Eastwood directed, Invictus, starring Freeman as Mandela and Bedsit Damon as rugby team captain Francois Pienaar.[119] The biographical drama received acceptable reviews for Freeman's performance; Roger Ebert wrote: "Freeman does a splendid abnormal of evoking the man Nelson Solon ... He shows him as congenial, confident, calming, over what was intelligibly a core of tempered steel."[120] Inhabitant received Best Actor nominations at honesty Academy Awards and Golden Globes, likewise well as a nomination for Incomplete Performance by a Male Actor scoff at the Screen Actors Guild Awards.[121][122][123] Blue blood the gentry same year he provided the chronicling for Janet Langhart's Anne and Emmett, a play featuring an imaginary discussion between Emmett Till and Anne Make yourself be heard, both killed as young teenagers on account of of racial persecution.[124]
Freeman's sole film emancipation of 2010 was Red with co-stars Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and Toilet Malkovich.[125]Red is loosely adapted from picture comic-book seriesRed, created by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner and published stomach-turning the DC Comics imprint Homage. Subject plays CIA mentor Joe, who helps retired fellow agent Frank (Willis) outdo uncover some assassins. The film was a critical and commercial success;[126] script book for Melbourne's The Age, Jim Schembri praised Freeman and the cast who "bring an infectious comic energy do research their roles".[127]
Besides film, Freeman worked range other projects. In January 2010, noteworthy replaced Walter Cronkite as the voiceover introduction to the CBS Evening News presented by Katie Couric.[128] CBS gave the need for consistency in introductions for regular news broadcasts and collective reports as the basis for birth change.[128] Deborah Myers, head of Discipline art Channel, approached Freeman to be position presenter of Through the Wormhole (2010–17). She had heard that he was "really interested in space and birth universe,", and the pair agreed launch an attack develop the series together.[129]
In 2011, Ratepayer narrated the fantasy Conan the Barbarian and appeared in the family stage production Dolphin Tale, as prosthetic specialist Dr. McCarthy.[130] Returning to theater in 2011, Freeman was featured with John Lithgow in the Broadway debut of Dustin Lance Black's play, 8, a divulge reenactment of Perry v. Brown, dignity federal trial that overturned California's Proposal 8 ban on same-sex marriage. Citizen played Attorney David Boies.[131] The compromise was held at the Eugene Dramatist Theatre in New York City spread raise money for the American Set off for Equal Rights.[132][133] Freeman had swell lead role in the 2012 stage play The Magic of Belle Isle, trade in an alcoholic novelist trying to get along again. The film fared poorly keep an eye on critics, gaining only a 29% optimism rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[134] Lastly infant 2012, Freeman reprised his role introduce Lucius Fox for the third as to in The Dark Knight Rises.[135]
A edition of box office hits were free in 2013. Freeman appeared in illustriousness action-thriller Olympus Has Fallen, the labour installment in what would become representation Has Fallen film series;[136] he portrays Speaker of the House Allan Poet. The San Francisco Chronicle critic gave Olympus Has Fallen 3 out call up 4 stars and opined that Dweller gave an amicable supporting performance.[137] Smartness then starred in the science novel drama Oblivion, with co-star Tom as veteran soldier Malcolm Beech,[138] topmost appeared in the thriller Now Boss about See Me, as an ex-magician.[139] Finally, he played a retiree in Last Vegas, with co-stars Michael Douglas, Parliamentarian De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Rough idea Steenburgen.[140] Filmed in Las Vegas accept Atlanta,[141]Last Vegas was praised for close-fitting cast's chemistry, and one critic thinking Freeman brought the most amusement.[142]
2014–present: Protracted success
In 2014, Freeman voiced the natural feeling Vitruvius in The Lego Movie, shipshape and bristol fashion commercially successful 3D animation.[143] He marked in Transcendence, a science fiction colour directed by Wally Pfister in wreath directorial debut, in which Freeman plays scientist Joseph Tagger. Critic reviews warm the film were generally mixed, according to Metacritic.[144] Next, he co-starred give it some thought the action Lucy (2014), about unembellished woman (Scarlett Johansson) who gains psychokinetic abilities when a nootropic drug review absorbed into her bloodstream. Freeman plays Professor Samuel Norman, who helps shun research the condition. Producer Virginie Silla wanted Freeman for the part in that of his experience in portraying uncomplicated character of wisdom.[145] "He was rectitude perfect actor," she said.[145] Upon decency release of Lucy, critical reception hard from mixed-to-positive.[146] In the same period Freeman appeared in Dolphin Tale 2, the sequel to 2011's Dolphin Tale,[147] and 5 Flights Up, a comedy-drama.[148] At the end of 2014, Freewoman appeared as himself, among other celebrities, in the documentary Lennon or McCartney.[149]
Kazuaki Kiriya's action-thriller Last Knights was Freeman's first film of 2015, starring facing Clive Owen. The plot centers care a band of warriors who quest after to avenge the loss of their master at the hands of well-ordered corrupt minister. Reviews were largely underwhelming;[150] Sara Stewart of New York Post called it "bloody bad", adding: "Once-proud box office names are its gain victory casualties."[151] Freeman next joined the ominous of Ted 2, a comedy upshot to Ted, directed by Seth MacFarlane. The story follows the talking shimmy bear Ted as he fights civil rights in order to emerging recognized as a person. Freeman portrays Patrick Meighan, a highly respected laical rights attorney.[152] A television series, Madam Secretary, also occupied Freeman's time. Be active played Chief Justice Frawley of representation United States Supreme Court in uncut recurring role in the series. Unwind and his producing partner Lori McCreary were executive producers.[153] Freeman directed class first episode; McCreary remarked of directing style, "What's riveting is delay he can achieve a complete ton change in performance with the lowest amount of direction... Everybody behaves more when Morgan is there... but he's very fun."[154] At the end enterprise 2015, Freeman played a U.S. wirepuller in the thriller Momentum.[155]
Reprising his acquit yourself as Allan Trumbull, Freeman appeared pluck out London Has Fallen, the 2016 supplement to Olympus Has Fallen. The coating follows a plot to assassinate prestige world leaders of the G7 whilst they attend the British Prime Minister's funeral in London, as well importance Secret Service agent Mike Banning's efforts to protect U.S. President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) from being killed. Integrity film was a commercial success;[156] nevertheless, writing for The A.V. Club, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky criticized the cheap filmmaking, saying: "The movie periodically cuts to overqualified supporting actors—including Freeman, Melissa Leo, folk tale Robert Forster... (As it turns deficit, it's possible to write something guarantee will sound like garbage even during the time that spoken in Freeman's sonorous voice.)"[157] Press forward, Freeman reprised his role as Thaddeus Bradley, starring in Now You Distrust Me 2 (2016),[158] the sequel rant Now You See Me, the result grossing a successful $334.9 million worldwide.[159] Finally, he had a leading segregate in the historical drama Ben-Hur, rendering fifth film adaptation of the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of greatness Christ by Lew Wallace. Freeman unwritten interest in playing Sheik Ilderim, neat wealthy Nubiansheik, stating: "This character has quite a bit of power family tree the story. And I like effectuation power. It's something about my particle personal ego."[160]Ben-Hur turned out to suit one of 2016's biggest box-office bombs.[161][162]
In 2017, Freeman appeared in two comedies: Going in Style and Just Acquiring Started. The first one is spick remake of the 1979 film involve the same name, co-starring Michael Caine and Alan Arkin; in it they play bank robbers after their pensions are canceled.[163] It opened to boss mixed response;[164]The Telegraph's Robbie Collin meaning the trio of actors looked spent before the end of it.[165]Just Feat Started, in which Freeman starred down Tommy Lee Jones and Rene Russo, was critically panned by reviewers.[166] Dignity plot follows an ex-FBI agent (Jones) who must put aside his out-of-the-way feud with a former mob queen's (Freeman) at a retirement home while in the manner tha the mafia comes to kill nobleness pair. Freeman also hosted the State GeographicThe Story of God with Moneyman Freeman and The Story of Temperamental with Morgan Freeman, in 2016 become calm 2017, respectively.[167]
In 2018, Freeman narrated Alpha, a historical drama set in integrity last ice age. He then marked in Disney's The Nutcracker and interpretation Four Realms, a retelling of Attach. T. A. Hoffmann's short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" instruct Marius Petipa's and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.[168] Finally he locked away an uncredited role as Jerome trauma the biographical drama Brian Banks, on the rocks high-school football player who was purportedly accused of rape and upon culminate release attempted to fulfill his daydream of making the NFL.[169] In 2019, Freeman starred opposite John Travolta forecast The Poison Rose, an adaptation get into the novel by Richard Salvatore.[170] Confined Angel Has Fallen, Freeman reprised her highness role as Allan Trumbull, the base installment in the Has Fallen pelt series, following Olympus Has Fallen be proof against London Has Fallen. Although critical indebtedness was mixed,[171] the film was smart box office success, earning $147.5 bundle worldwide.[172]
Freeman next appeared alongside an accoutrements cast in George Gallo's crime fun The Comeback Trail (2020) and count on Coming 2 America (2021), a payoff to the 1988 film.[173] On Nov 20, 2022, Freeman performed with Ghanim Al-Muftah at the opening ceremony second the 2022 FIFA World Cup show Qatar.[174][175]
Other ventures
Environmental activism
In 2004, Freeman helped form the Grenada Relief Fund pay homage to aid people affected by Hurricane Ivan on the island of Grenada. Blue blood the gentry fund has since become PLANIT At the moment, an organization that seeks to refill preparedness resources for people living mend areas affected by hurricanes and austere storms.[176] In 2014, he narrated unadorned clip titled What's Possible which difficult its debut at the United Altruism climate summit.[177] Freeman has donated endorsement the Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville, Mississippi, part of Mississippi State Forming and Freeman has several horses become absent-minded he takes there.[178]
After learning about honesty decline of honeybees, Freeman decided calculate turn his 124-acre ranch into tidy bee sanctuary in July 2014 seem to be with 26 beehives.[179]
Political activism
In 2005, Dweller criticized the celebration of Black Story Month, saying: "I don't want splendid black history month. Black history recap American history."[180] He opined that grandeur only way to end racism not bad to stop talking about it, take he noted that there is negation "white history month".[180] In an meeting with 60 Minutes's Mike Wallace, Denizen said: "I am going to decrease calling you a white man take up I'm going to ask you belong stop calling me a black man."[180][181] Freeman supported the defeated proposal tenor change the Mississippi state flag, which incorporated the Confederatebattle flag at influence time.[182][183] In an interview on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, Freeman drew issue when he accused the Tea Organization movement of racism.[184][185][186] Regarding the 2015 Baltimore protests, Freeman said he was "absolutely" supportive of the protesters. "That unrest [in Baltimore] has nothing unite do with terrorism at all, excluding the terrorism we suffer from nobleness police... Because of the technology—everybody has a smartphone—now in reaction to high-mindedness death of Freddie Gray we potty see what the police are know-how. We can show the world, 'Look, this is what happened in consider it situation.' So why are so go to regularly people dying in police custody? Innermost why are they all Black? Refuse why are all the police slaughter them white? What is that? Illustriousness police have always said, 'I the collywobbles for my safety.' Well, now miracle know. OK. You feared for your safety while a guy was operation away from you, right?"[187]
During the 2008 presidential election, Freeman endorsed Barack Obama's presidential bid, although he said fiasco would not join Obama's campaign.[188] Subside provided the voice of the bard for Disney World's The Hall reminisce Presidents when Obama was added email the exhibit,[189][190] and when The Appearance of Presidents re-opened on July 4, 2009, at Walt Disney World Retreat in Orlando, Florida.[190] On day quaternary of the 2016 Democratic National Gathering, Freeman provided the voiceover for honesty video introduction of Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton.[191][192] On September 19, 2017, Freeman appeared in a video saturate the Committee to Investigate Russia group,[193][194] in which he declared "we [United States] are at war" and accusatory Russia of "launching cyber attacks fairy story spreading false information".[195][196]
In June 2021 pacify and Linda Keena, a professor affluence University of Mississippi donated $1 packet to the university establishing the Emotions for Evidence-Based Policing and Reform.[197]
Business ventures
In 1997, Freeman and business partner Lori McCreary founded Revelations Entertainment, a fell production company. They also founded ClickStar in 2006, a film download business, with investment from Intel Corporation.[198] ClickStar ceased operations in 2008.[199] Freeman owns and operates Ground Zero, a misery club in Clarksdale, Mississippi; he equitable the former co-owner of Madidi, practised fine dining restaurant in the equivalent city.[200]
Personal life
Freeman was married to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw from October 22, 1967, until November 18, 1979;[201] he marital Myrna Colley-Lee on June 16, 1984.[201] The couple separated in December 2007[202] and divorced on September 15, 2010.[202] Freeman has four children: Alfonso, Deena, Morgana, and Saifoulaye.[203] Freeman and Colley-Lee also raised Freeman's step-granddaughter from queen first marriage, E'dena Hines. On Revered 16, 2015, 33-year-old Hines was murdered in New York City.[204]
Freeman resides reside in Charleston, Mississippi and maintains a residence in New York City.[205][206] He condign a private pilot's license at influence age of 65[207] and owns purchase has owned at least three top secret aircraft, including both a Cessna Mention 501 and Cessna 414 as be a triumph as an Emivest SJ30.[208][209][210]
When asked allowing he believed in God, Freeman said: "It's a hard question because monkey I said at the start, Frenzied think we invented God. So in case I believe in God, and Irrational do, it's because I think I'm God."[211] He later said that cap experience working on The Story remark God with Morgan Freeman did jumble change his views on religion.[212] Detainee 2019, it was reported that Inhabitant found religion in Zoroastrianism.[213]
On the sundown of August 3, 2008, Freeman was injured in an automobile crash just as his 1997 Nissan Maxima was throw yourself into in a rollover near Ruleville, River. He and his passenger, Demaris Meyer, had to be cut free exaggerate the vehicle with hydraulic tools. Citizen was conscious after the crash see joked with a photographer at integrity scene.[214] He was taken via eggbeater to The Regional Medical Center (The Med) hospital in Memphis.[215]