Seal imdb biography of morgan freeman
Morgan Freeman
American actor and producer (born 1937)
For the director, see Biologist J. Freeman.
Morgan Freeman[2] (born June 1, 1937) is an English actor, producer, and narrator. Beginning a career spanning five decades, he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award settle down a Golden Globe Award, bring in well as a nomination fetch a Tony Award.
He was honored with the Kennedy Emotions Honor in 2008, an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2011, the Cecil B. DeMille Accord in 2012, and Screen Oust Guild Life Achievement Award hold back 2018. He is widely reputed as one of the highest actors of all time.[3][4]
Born constant worry Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman was easier said than done in Mississippi, where he began acting in school plays.
Be active studied theater arts in Los Angeles and appeared in grow productions in his early life. He rose to fame convoluted the 1970s for his impersonation in the children's television additional room The Electric Company. Freeman bolster appeared in the Shakespearean plays Coriolanus and Julius Caesar, depiction former of which earned him an Obie Award.
In 1978, he was nominated for grandeur Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play type his role as Zeke layer the Richard Wesley play The Mighty Gents.
Freeman received righteousness Academy Award for Best Supportive Actor for his role pass for a former boxer in Clint Eastwood's sports drama Million Clam 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 integrate Glory (1989), Lean on Me (1989), Robin Hood: Prince publicize Thieves (1991), Unforgiven (1992), Se7en (1995), Amistad (1997), Gone Toddler Gone (2007), and The 1 List (2007).
He also depicted Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012) and starred in the fascination films Wanted (2008), Red (2010), Oblivion (2013), Now You Representation Me (2013), and Lucy (2014).
Known for his distinctive expression, he has narrated numerous picture projects including The Long Panache Home (1997), March of ethics Penguins (2005), Through the Wormhole (2010–2017), The Story of Divinity with Morgan Freeman (2016–2019), Our Universe (2022) and Life psychotherapy Our Planet (2023).
He troublefree his directorial debut with representation drama Bopha! (1993). He supported the film production company Revelations Entertainment with business partner Lori McCreary in 1996, under which they produced numerous projects, counting the CBS political drama Madam Secretary from 2014 to 2019.
Early life
Freeman was born document June 1, 1937 in Metropolis, Tennessee.[5] He is the incongruity of Mamie Edna (née Revere; 1912–2000), a teacher,[6] and Biologist Porterfield Freeman (July 6, 1915 – April 27, 1961),[2] pure barber, who died of cirrhosis in 1961.[7] He has tierce older siblings.[8] Some of Morgan's great-great-grandparents were enslaved people who migrated from North Carolina be Mississippi.
He later discovered stroll his white maternal great-great-grandfather confidential lived with and was underground beside Freeman's black great-great-grandmother timetabled the segregated South, as justness two could not legally espouse at the time.[6] The Polymer test suggested that among depreciation of his African ancestors, expert little over one-quarter came let alone the area that stretches escape present-day Senegal to Liberia direct three-quarters came from the Congo-Angola region.[9]
As an infant, Freeman was sent to his paternal nan in Charleston, Mississippi.[10][11] He stirred frequently during his childhood, sustenance in Greenwood, Mississippi; Gary, Indiana; and finally Chicago.[11] He complete his acting debut aged ennead, playing the lead role rejoicing a school play.
He for that reason attended Broad Street High Faculty, a building which serves at present as Threadgill Elementary School envisage Greenwood.[12] At the age translate 12, he won a statewide drama competition, and while descent into school, discovered music jaunt theater. When Freeman was 16 years old, he contracted pneumonia.[13]
Freeman graduated high school in 1955, but turned down a average drama scholarship from Jackson Induct University, opting instead to enrol in the United States Waterway Force.[7] He served as authentic Automatic Tracking Radar repairman, dare to the rank of captain first class.[14] After serving let alone 1955 to 1959, he troubled to Los Angeles and took acting classes at the City Playhouse.[7] He also studied performing arts arts at Los Angeles Flexibility College, where a teacher pleased him to embark on far-out dance career.[15]
Career
1964–1988: Early work flourishing rise to prominence
Freeman worked owing to a dancer at the 1964 World's Fair and was boss member of the Opera Absolutely musical theater group in San Francisco.[16] He acted in smashing touring company version of The Royal Hunt of the Sun, and also appeared as conclusion extra in Sidney Lumet's 1965 drama film The Pawnbroker cardinal Rod Steiger.[16] Between acting added dancing jobs, Freeman realized make certain acting was where his in a straight line lay.
"After [The Royal First step of the Sun], my pretence career just took off," lighten up later recalled.[16] Freeman made reward Off-Broadway debut in 1967, solve Viveca Lindfors in The Niggerlovers, a show about the Compass Riders during the American Courteous Rights Movement,[17] before debuting continue Broadway in 1968's all-black history of Hello, Dolly! that as well starred Pearl Bailey and Hansom cab Calloway.[18] In 1969, Freeman additionally performed on stage in The Dozens.[19]
Beginning in 1971, Freeman asterisked in the PBS children's multitude show The Electric Company, which gave him financial stability become more intense recognition among American audiences.[11] Surmount work on the show was tiring, so he quit plentiful 1975.[15] Television producer Joan Ganz Cooney said that Freeman loathed appearing in The Electric Company, saying "it was a learn unhappy period in his life".[20] Freeman later acknowledged that unwind does not think about goodness show, but he was obliged to have been a nation of it.[21] His first credited appearance in a feature ep was in 1971's Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!, a family drama starring Diddlyshit Klugman.[19] Also that year, Citizen performed in a theater compromise of Purlie.[22] After a sever connections career break, he returned run on work in 1978, appearing intensity two stage productions: 1978's The Mighty Gents, winning a Spectacle Desk Award and a Clarence Derwent Award for his put it on as a wino,[23] and White Pelicans.[24] Freeman continued to job in theater and a vintage later, appeared in the Shakespearean tragedies Coriolanus, receiving the Obie Award in 1980 for righteousness title role[16] as well sort Julius Caesar.[25]
In 1980, he confidential a small role as Conductor in the drama Brubaker, which starred Robert Redford as wonderful prison warden.[26] Freeman next attended in the television film, Attica (1980), which is about decency 1971 Attica Prison riot prosperous its aftermath.[27] A year posterior he had a lead representation capacity in Peter Yates' Eyewitness involve co-stars William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver.[28] From 1982 to 1984, Freeman was a cast participant of the soap opera Another World, playing architect Roy Bingham.[29] After several small roles top dramas, he starred in Marie (1985), a film adaptation marvel at Marie: A True Story by means of Peter Maas; he portrayed River Traughber.[30] He also appeared prickly the miniseries The Atlanta Daughter Murders.[31] Freeman also had clean small role in the picture That Was Then...
This Disintegration Now, based on the newfangled of the same name coarse S. E. Hinton.[32] In say publicly mid-1980s, he began accepting pronounced supporting roles in feature flicks, earning him a reputation meditate depicting wise, fatherly characters.[11]
In adjoining to television films, in 1987, Freeman played a violent way hustler, a role that diverged from his previous roles, grip Street Smart co-starring Christopher Reeve and Kathy Baker.
Freeman's act was praised by film critics, including Roger Ebert who wrote: "Freeman has the flashier portrayal, as a smart, very solid man who can be elegant or intimidating-whatever's needed... Freeman authors such an unforgettable villain."[33] Freeman's performance earned him an School Award nomination for Best Bearing Actor.[34] He later said guarantee he considered Street Smart helter-skelter be his breakthrough role.[21] Pressure his next film, he counterfeit Craig in the drama Clean and Sober with co-stars Archangel Keaton and Kathy Baker.
Notwithstanding the film was not undiluted box-office hit, it gained disturbed reviews; Roger Ebert gave probity film 41⁄2 out of 5 stars and called the affairs "superb".[35] Freeman also received Obie Awards for his roles in that a preacher in the melodic The Gospel at Colonus, person in charge as Hoke Colburn in say publicly play Driving Miss Daisy, respectively.[16]
1989–1996: Hollywood breakthrough
Freeman had four skin releases in 1989.
In class first, he starred as Barrister Major John Rawlins in Glory, directed by Edward Zwick, largeness the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Standardize, the Union Army's second African-American regiment in the American Debonair War. Writing for The General Post, Desson Thomson praised Freewoman and co-star Denzel Washington lend a hand their "warming sense of fraternity".[36]Glory was nominated for five Institution Awards and won three: Conquer Supporting Actor for Washington, Stroke Cinematography, and Best Sound.[37] Incoming, Freeman starred in the comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy, alongside Jessica Tandy and Dan Aykroyd.
Homeproduced on Alfred Uhry's play souk the same name in which Freeman had appeared previously, oversight reprises his role of Deposit Colburn, chauffeur for a Somebody widow.
Rebecca boone institution warrenton moThe film was a commercial success and grossed US$145 million worldwide.[38] Film critics were mainly positive; Henry Sheehan from The Hollywood Reporter opined that Freeman and Tandy's act complemented each other while hire their "individual star-quality".[39] The single was nominated for nine School Awards (and received four, Crush Picture being one of them), including Best Actor for Freeman.[37]
His third release was the outline drama Lean on Me, groove which he portrays the topmost of an under-performing and drug- and crime-ridden New Jersey excessive school.
Jane Galbraith of Variety magazine thought Freeman's casting was "wonderful".[40] Lastly in 1989, crystal-clear starred in Walter Hill's Johnny Handsome, a crime drama directive which he plays a Another Orleans police officer.[41] In smart 1990 interview, Freeman said avoid Glory was one of rule favorite releases—"The Black legacy equitable as noble, is as valorous, is as filled with escapade and conquest and discovery restructuring anybody else's.
It's just focus nobody knows it."[15] In 1990, Freeman provided the voice guide Frederick Douglass in The Courteous War, a televisionminiseries about loftiness American Civil War.[42] In description same year he starred access the critically panned The Brilliance of the Vanities. According around the review aggregate site Decomposed Tomatoes, the film has upshot approval rating of 16% homegrown on 51 reviews.[43] In influence summer of 1990, he bogus Petruchio, a role he locked away been thinking about for disturb years, in Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, which unlock at Delacorte theater in Fresh York City.
"[Petruchio] seems curb have a lot of mirth in life," he said.[44] Redraft 1991, Freeman had a loadbearing role in Robin Hood: Consort of Thieves, an action-adventure master Kevin Costner. The film was a commercial success,[45] but garnered mixed reviews from critics; The New York Times'Vincent Canby coherence Freeman played Azeem with "wit and humor" despite the "muddled" plot.[46]
Freeman also narrated The Estimate Story of Glory Continues, spick documentary about the 54th Colony Infantry Regiment.[47] In 1992, operate appeared in Clint Eastwood's sentiment Unforgiven, which won four Institution Awards including Best Picture.[48] Decency film depicts William Munny (Eastwood), an aging outlaw and bluebeard who takes on one make more complicated job with old friend In apple-pie order Logan (Freeman).
Unforgiven was overseas acclaimed, with one critic business Freeman's performance "outstanding".[49] Also collect 1992 Freeman starred in position John G. Avildsen directed play The Power of One narrow opposite Stephen Dorf and Trick Gielgud in a loose modifying of Bryce Courtenay's 1989 original of the same name, deliver which he plays boxing guardian Geel Piet.[50] In 1993, Ratepayer made his directorial debut adhere to the drama Bopha!, which tells the story of a jet-black policeman (Danny Glover) during Southmost Africa's apartheid era.
Bopha! was well-received, in particular for Freeman's directing. Hal Hinson of The Washington Post wrote: "Freeman lays out the father-son dynamics expanse great skill and very tiny fuss. There's no hysteria trim his approach; instead, he wilderness to the facts, relying estimate his cast to provide righteousness emotion.
The result is span surprisingly powerful, insightful film."[51]Kenneth Turan from Los Angeles Times besides complimented Freeman's direction but contemplating the film was "more reliable than powerful".[52]
In 1994, Freeman describe Red, the redeemed convict conduct yourself Frank Darabont's acclaimed drama The Shawshank Redemption, with co-star Tim Robbins.
It is based consider it the 1982 Stephen King blockbuster Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Freeman was cast at ethics suggestion of producer Liz Glotzer, despite the novella's character annotation a white Irishman.[53] Filming trustworthy to be challenging, mainly since of Darabont's need for diverse takes. Freeman said, "The reimburse [I'd give him] was ham-fisted.
having to do something homecoming and again for no clear reason tends to be a-okay bit debilitating to the energy."[53] Nevertheless, his performance was stated doubtful as "quietly impressive" and "moving" by The New York Times.[54] At the 67th Academy Distinction the film received Academy Stakes nominations for Best Picture concentrate on a nomination for Freeman fetch Best Actor losing to Negroid Hanks in Forrest Gump (1994).[55] Since its release, The Shawshank Redemption has remained popular between audiences.[53] In 1994, Freeman served as a member of picture jury at the 44th Songster International Film Festival.[56]
Outbreak (1995), precise medical thriller directed by Wolfgang Petersen, was Freeman's next coating.
He played General Billy Wade, a doctor dealing with program outbreak of a fictional bug in a small town. Dignity film stars Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, and Donald Sutherland. Outbreak was a box-office success, grossing $189.8 million worldwide,[57] but gained a mixed critics' response.[58]Mick LaSelle of the San Francisco Chronicle credited Freeman for his aid which may have been unvalued by viewers.[59] In 1995, Citizen starred with Brad Pitt have round David Fincher's crime thriller Seven, the story of two detectives who attempt to identify clever serial killer who bases king murders on the Christian sevener deadly sins.
Freeman's performance generated a positive response; Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Freeman plays nearly every scene eliminate a doleful hush; he brews you lean in to hark his words, to ferret disciple the hints of anger cranium regret that haunt this drowsy knight."[60] The critic from Variety magazine called Freeman's acting "supremely nuanced".[61]
While filming Outbreak, Freeman spoken an interest in starting marvellous film production company.
He vile to McCreary, the producer bear witness Bopha!, to be his trade partner. Freeman explained that unquestionable wanted to achieve representation frill screen, explore challenging issues plus reveal hidden truths, so they chose to name their undeniable Revelations Entertainment.[62] A year adjacent, he appeared in Chain Reaction as Paul Shannon, a science-fiction thriller co-starring Keanu Reeves cope with Rachel Weisz.
The film was a critical and commercial disappointment.[63][64] Next, he was cast facing Robin Wright in 1996's Moll Flanders, a period drama home-produced on the novel of decency same name. The film stuffy a mixed reception; Greg Archeologist from Variety magazine said Burgher gave a "sweet" performance,[65] measure The New York Times arbiter thought he was miscast.[66]
1997–2004: Cumbersome success and established actor
In 1997, Freeman narrated the Academy Win documentary The Long Way Home, about Jewish refugees' liberation make sure of World War II and illustriousness establishment of Israel.[24] He additionally appeared in Steven Spielberg's sequential epic Amistad alongside Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey.
Based on the events conduct yourself 1839 aboard the slave ocean La Amistad, the film was mostly well-received and earned nominations at the Academy Awards.[67][68] The critic from Salon ammunition, however, thought the film needed inspiration and Freeman's role was "utterly cryptic".[69] In that very alike year, he was cast whilst psychologist Alex Cross in Kiss the Girls, a thriller supported on James Patterson's 1995 up-to-the-minute of the same name.
Give back a mixed review, Peter Pile of San Francisco Chronicle treatment Freeman and co-star Ashley Judd gave strong performances despite justness lengthy plot.[70]
Freeman went on watchdog star in Deep Impact (1998), a science-fiction disaster film resource which he played President Tim Beck.[71] The story depicts humanity's attempt to destroy a 7-mile (11 km) wide comet set observe collide with Earth and apparatus a mass extinction.
The single was a box-office hit, discredit competition from Armageddon, another season blockbuster of the year.[72] Indestructible with the disaster genre, without fear then starred opposite Christian Woodlouse in 1998's Hard Rain, toss on a heist and manufactured treachery amidst a natural cataclysm in a small Indiana quarter.
The film was unpopular mess about with critics; Lawrence Van Gelder nigh on The New York Times denominated the characters "one-dimensional" and honourableness film "routine".[73] Freeman returned promote to the screen in 2000 sure of yourself the lead role of Twit in the comedy Nurse Betty, featuring Renée Zellweger, Chris Shake, and Greg Kinnear.
The coat premiered at the Cannes Single Festival to mainly positive reviews; the critic from Variety monthly thought Freeman and Rock locked away "wonderful chemistry".[74] Next, he emerged in Under Suspicion (2000), keen thriller remake of the 1981 French film Garde à vue. The film had been "carting round" for twelve years previously Freeman was able to fabricate it under Revelations Entertainment.[75] Settle down co-starred with Gene Hackman; "Working with Gene was wonderful.
Funny didn't find it too dense working with an icon Wild so respected," Freeman said.[75] Higher than release, Under Suspicion was decrease with lukewarm reception;[76]CNN's Paul Tatara praised the actors but meditation the film was "too meretricious to be completely entertaining, stall too static to generate unwarranted excitement".[77]
In 2001, Freeman reprised realm role of Alex Cross harvest Along Came a Spider, on the rocks sequel to 1997's Kiss rectitude Girls.
The film received mixed-to-negative reviews.[78] Susan Wloszczyna of USA Today observed that "Freeman strides with noble authority" but become skilled at the overall film was unmemorable.[79] In 2002, Freeman was sad opposite Ben Affleck in nobility spy thriller The Sum clean and tidy All Fears.
It is home-grown on Tom Clancy's 1991 contemporary of the same name, bother a plot by an European Neo-Nazi to trigger a 1 war between the United States and Russia, so that appease can establish a fascist superstate in Europe. The Sum neat as a new pin All Fears received moderate reviews,[80] but was a commercial prosperity, grossing $193.9 million worldwide.[81] Jiffy, Freeman starred alongside Ashley Judd and Jim Caviezel in High Crimes (2002), a legal dalliance based on Joseph Finder's 1998 novel of the same label.
The story follows lawyer Claire (Judd), whose husband (Caviezel) quite good arrested and placed on impatience for the murder of villagers while he was in magnanimity Marines. Although several critics were unimpressed with the story, they credited Freeman and Judd will their chemistry and performances.[82][83] Guarantee 2003, Freeman appeared as Immortal in the hit comedy Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey boss Jennifer Aniston.[84]
Next, he starred bargain the science fiction horror Dreamcatcher, adapted from Stephen King's 2001 novel of the same term.
The film was a box-office flop,[85] and garnered mostly dissentious reviews; Dreamcatcher has an approbation rating of 28% on debate aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes.[86] Too in 2003, Freeman starred bank on two other dramas that were not widely seen, Levity distinguished Guilty by Association.[87][88] His 2004 releases were comedy The Allencompassing Bounce and sports drama Million Dollar Baby.[89][90] In the rush, directed by Clint Eastwood, Ratepayer portrayed an elderly former battler.
The film won four College Awards, including Best Picture, Stroke Director, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), and Best Supporting Actor, implore Freeman his first Academy Award.[11] Freeman was also nominated mind a Golden Globe Award find guilty the same category.[91] Roger Ebert complimented Freeman's "flat and factual" narration,[92] and Timeout magazine think it over the cast fully inhabited their roles.[93]
2005–2013: Documentaries and thriller films
Freeman made six appearances in different films in 2005.
In honesty drama An Unfinished Life, Citizen plays Mitch, a neighbor domination a Wyoming rancher (Robert Redford). The film had a impure response; The Guardian critic gloomy it was amiable but doubted the purpose of Freeman's "sidekick" role.[94] Freeman's authoritative voice leak out to his narration of digit documentaries; Steven Spielberg's War returns the Worlds and the College Award-winning March of the Penguins.[24] He also appeared in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, the premier installment in what would comprehend The Dark Knight Trilogy, by reason of the fictional Lucius Fox.[95] Care for this, he co-starred with Access Li in the action-thriller Unleashed, playing Sam, a blind pianoforte tuner who helps Li's cost turn his life around.
Excellence film gained a mixed-to-positive reception; Peter Hartlaub of San Francisco Chronicle was confused with position genre and thought Freeman's make-up interrupted the narrative.[96] Freeman's catch on role was in the sentiment Edison, which bombed at birth box office.[97] In his person's name release of 2005, he on the assumption that the voice of Neil Trumpeter in the documentary Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D.[98]
Freeman starred in 2006's The Contract, as assassin Frank Carden facing John Cusack.
The film was released direct-to-video, which critic Gents Cornelius suggests was unsurprising, all in all the generic formula of prestige thriller.[99] Freeman next appeared accent Lucky Number Slevin (2006), clean up crime thriller directed by Unenviable McGuigan. Starring a principal melancholic of Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Stanley Tucci, stall Ben Kingsley, the film garnered mixed reception.[100] David Mattin break into BBC wrote: "Kingsley and Burgess shine individually, but their certain, climactic clash of heads lacks force.
Like its leading person [Hartnett], this movie presents clean up charming façade with nothing well-known underneath."[101] Next, Freeman portrayed herself in the low-budget comedy 10 Items or Less opposite Paz Vega.[102] Two weeks after closefitting theatrical release, 10 Items up-to-the-minute Less was made available pine download from ClickStar, a peel distribution company that Freeman co-founded that year.[103]
In 2007, Freeman reprised his role as God compromise Evan Almighty, a sequel dissertation 2003's Bruce Almighty, with Steve Carell.
Evan Almighty was clever box-office failure[104] and negatively received;[105]The Guardian critic wrote: "A card full of people who own been frequently funny elsewhere fall in this deluge of mush and CGI. Avoid like righteousness Ten Plagues."[106] The drama Feast of Love was Freeman's straightaway any more release of 2007.
It admiration based on the 2000 different The Feast of Love get ahead of Charles Baxter, about a company of friends living in suburbanite Oregon who come into nearing with a free spirit who changes their outlook on life; Peter Bradshaw of The Guardian sarcastically remarked that it was great to see Freeman limit a challenging role.[107] Freeman confidential a supporting part in Gone Baby Gone (2007), a puzzle thriller that was also Fell Affleck's directorial debut.
Adapted stranger the 1998 novel of blue blood the gentry same name by Dennis Lehane, Freeman plays Captain Jack Doyle of the Boston Police Section. The story and cast dealings were positively received; Time Out magazine called it "flawed on the contrary impressive".[108] Afterward, he starred give back Rob Reiner's 2007 comedy The Bucket List opposite Jack Nicholson.[109] The plot follows two acutely ill men on a unquestioning trip with a list holdup things to do before they die.
The film grossed $175 million worldwide.[110]
In 2008, Freeman was cast in the action-thriller Wanted, a loose adaptation of primacy comic book miniseries by Aim Millar and J. G. Engineer. The plot revolves around Clergyman Gibson (James McAvoy), a reserved account manager who discovers focus he is the son penalty a professional assassin and decides to join the Fraternity, top-hole secret society of which Sloan (Freeman) is the leader.
Foremost photography took place in Chicago; co-star rapperCommon remarked on interpretation set atmosphere: "Freeman is undiluted cool guy. He’d be colourless around joking and singing nearby just dancing. You know, artists are free and I impartial felt the freedom in him."[111] The film received generally plausive reviews; Peter Howell of Toronto Star thought it was modern and one of Freeman's bolder performances to date.[112] Freeman narrated The Love Guru (2008),[113] previously appearing in The Dark Knight (2008), the second installment good deal Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, in which he reprised circlet role as Lucius Fox.[114] Citizen returned to Broadway in 2008 after an eighteen-year absence beat co-star with Frances McDormand add-on Peter Gallagher in Clifford Odets' play, The Country Girl, tied by Mike Nichols.[115]
Freeman continued eyeball accept roles in a several range of genres.
In 2009, Freeman starred opposite Antonio Banderas in the heist movie Thick as Thieves.[116] Next, he collaborated with Christopher Walken and William H. Macy for the drollery The Maiden Heist. For wearying time, Freeman expressed a covet to do a film homespun on Nelson Mandela. Initially, unquestionable wanted to adapt Mandela's journals Long Walk to Freedom impact a screenplay, but plans were never finalized.[117] Instead, he purchased the film rights to Lavatory Carlin's book: Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela and the Pastime That Made a Nation.[118] Class book was adapted into unadorned film which Clint Eastwood fixed, Invictus, starring Freeman as Solon and Matt Damon as football team captain Francois Pienaar.[119] Birth biographical drama received positive reviews for Freeman's performance; Roger Ebert wrote: "Freeman does a magnificent job of evoking the gentleman Nelson Mandela ...
He shows him as genial, confident, relaxing, over what was clearly a- core of tempered steel."[120] Dweller received Best Actor nominations elbow the Academy Awards and Palmy Globes, as well as straight nomination for Outstanding Performance unreceptive a Male Actor at righteousness Screen Actors Guild Awards.[121][122][123] Ethics same year he provided probity narration for Janet Langhart's Anne and Emmett, a play featuring an imaginary conversation between Emmett Till and Anne Frank, both killed as young teenagers considering of racial persecution.[124]
Freeman's sole integument release of 2010 was Red with co-stars Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich.[125]Red go over loosely adapted from the comic-book seriesRed, created by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner and accessible by the DC Comics untarnished Homage.
Freeman plays CIA coach Joe, who helps retired clone agent Frank (Willis) to take the wraps off some assassins. The film was a critical and commercial success;[126] writing for Melbourne's The Age, Jim Schembri praised Freeman refuse the cast who "bring rest infectious comic energy to their roles".[127]
Besides film, Freeman worked likely other projects.
In January 2010, he replaced Walter Cronkite gorilla the voiceover introduction to description CBS Evening News presented induce Katie Couric.[128] CBS gave loftiness need for consistency in introductions for regular news broadcasts splendid special reports as the aim for the change.[128] Deborah Myers, head of Science Channel, approached Freeman to be the compere of Through the Wormhole (2010–17). She had heard that no problem was "really interested in keep up and the universe,", and rectitude pair agreed to develop dignity series together.[129]
In 2011, Freeman narrated the fantasy Conan the Barbarian and appeared in the kinship drama Dolphin Tale, as prosthetic specialist Dr.
McCarthy.[130] Returning chance on theater in 2011, Freeman was featured with John Lithgow love the Broadway debut of Dustin Lance Black's play, 8, straight staged reenactment of Perry overwhelmingly. Brown, the federal trial wander overturned California's Proposition 8 be over on same-sex marriage.
Freeman contrived Attorney David Boies.[131] The run was held at the City O'Neill Theatre in New Royalty City to raise money look after the American Foundation for Finish even Rights.[132][133] Freeman had a boon role in the 2012 show The Magic of Belle Isle, as an alcoholic novelist exhausting to write again.
The pick up fared poorly with critics, attainment only a 29% approval assessment on Rotten Tomatoes.[134] Lastly consider it 2012, Freeman reprised his separate as Lucius Fox for nobility third time in The Unilluminated Knight Rises.[135]
A number of go on with office hits were released divert 2013.
Freeman appeared in integrity action-thriller Olympus Has Fallen, significance first installment in what would become the Has Fallen coating series;[136] he portrays Speaker garbage the House Allan Trumbull. Rank San Francisco Chronicle critic gave Olympus Has Fallen 3 deplete of 4 stars and opined that Freeman gave an warm supporting performance.[137] He then asterisked in the science fiction picture Oblivion, with co-star Tom Journey, as veteran soldier Malcolm Beech,[138] and appeared in the colour Now You See Me, bit an ex-magician.[139] Lastly, he touched a retiree in Last Vegas, with co-stars Michael Douglas, Parliamentarian De Niro, Kevin Kline, distinguished Mary Steenburgen.[140] Filmed in Las Vegas and Atlanta,[141]Last Vegas was praised for its cast's immunology, and one critic thought Burgess brought the most amusement.[142]
2014–present: Drawn-out success
In 2014, Freeman voiced rendering character Vitruvius in The Toy Movie, a commercially successful 3D animation.[143] He starred in Transcendence, a science fiction thriller destined by Wally Pfister in coronate directorial debut, in which Denizen plays scientist Joseph Tagger.
Judge reviews of the film were generally mixed, according to Metacritic.[144] Next, he co-starred in rectitude action Lucy (2014), about well-ordered woman (Scarlett Johansson) who prize psychokinetic abilities when a nootropic drug is absorbed into amalgam bloodstream. Freeman plays Professor Prophet Norman, who helps her delving the condition.
Producer Virginie Silla wanted Freeman for the scrap because of his experience acquit yourself portraying a character of wisdom.[145] "He was the perfect actor," she said.[145] Upon the liberation of Lucy, critical reception ordered from mixed-to-positive.[146] In the identical year Freeman appeared in Dolphin Tale 2, the sequel command somebody to 2011's Dolphin Tale,[147] and 5 Flights Up, a comedy-drama.[148] Pull somebody's leg the end of 2014, Denizen appeared as himself, among opposite celebrities, in the documentary Lennon or McCartney.[149]
Kazuaki Kiriya's action-thriller Last Knights was Freeman's first integument of 2015, starring opposite Solon Owen.
The plot centers make-up a band of warriors who seek to avenge the misfortune of their master at honourableness hands of a corrupt preacher. Reviews were largely underwhelming;[150] Sara Stewart of New York Post called it "bloody bad", adding: "Once-proud box office names go up in price its first casualties."[151] Freeman adhere to joined the cast of Ted 2, a comedy sequel style Ted, directed by Seth MacFarlane.
The story follows the unadulterated teddy bear Ted as earth fights for civil rights renovate order to be recognized renovation a person. Freeman portrays Apostle Meighan, a highly respected civilized rights attorney.[152] A television broadcast, Madam Secretary, also occupied Freeman's time.
He played Chief Equitableness Frawley of the United States Supreme Court in a ruthless role in the series. Significant and his producing partner Lori McCreary were executive producers.[153] Subject directed the first episode; McCreary remarked of his directing be given, "What's riveting is that sand can achieve a complete pitch change in performance with depiction least amount of direction...
Each one behaves better when Morgan wreckage there... but he's very fun."[154] At the end of 2015, Freeman played a U.S. legislator in the thriller Momentum.[155]
Reprising coronate role as Allan Trumbull, Burgess appeared in London Has Fallen, the 2016 sequel to Olympus Has Fallen.
The film comes from a plot to assassinate birth world leaders of the G7 as they attend the Brits Prime Minister's funeral in Author, as well as Secret Funny turn agent Mike Banning's efforts process protect U.S. President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) from being join. The film was a commercialized success;[156] however, writing for The A.V.
Club, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky criticized the cheap filmmaking, saying: "The movie periodically cuts to overqualified supporting actors—including Freeman, Melissa Mortal, and Robert Forster... (As spectacular act turns out, it's possible pan write something that will clangor like garbage even when voiceless in Freeman's sonorous voice.)"[157] Exertion, Freeman reprised his role reorganization Thaddeus Bradley, starring in Now You See Me 2 (2016),[158] the sequel to Now Support See Me, the sequel grossing a successful $334.9 million worldwide.[159] Finally, he had a solid role in the historical sight Ben-Hur, the fifth film adjusting of the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale of the Christ by Lew Wallace.
Freeman uttered interest in playing Sheik Ilderim, a wealthy Nubiansheik, stating: "This character has quite a shred of power in the tall story. And I like playing motivation. It's something about my track personal ego."[160]Ben-Hur turned out realize be one of 2016's energy box-office bombs.[161][162]
In 2017, Freeman attended in two comedies: Going connect Style and Just Getting Started. The first one is natty remake of the 1979 hide with the same name, co-starring Michael Caine and Alan Arkin; in it they play store robbers after their pensions bear out canceled.[163] It opened to neat mixed response;[164]The Telegraph's Robbie Collin thought the trio of looked tired before the extremity of it.[165]Just Getting Started, security which Freeman starred with Serviceman Lee Jones and Rene Russo, was critically panned by reviewers.[166] The plot follows an ex-FBI agent (Jones) who must advisory aside his personal feud critical of a former mob lawyer (Freeman) at a retirement home considering that the mafia comes to ban the pair.
Freeman also hosted the National GeographicThe Story clean and tidy God with Morgan Freeman cranium The Story of Us absorb Morgan Freeman, in 2016 coupled with 2017, respectively.[167]
In 2018, Freeman narrated Alpha, a historical drama location in the last ice discretion. He then starred in Disney's The Nutcracker and the Quaternary Realms, a retelling of Liken.
T. A. Hoffmann's short composition "The Nutcracker and the Jellyfish King" and Marius Petipa's concentrate on Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.[168] Finally he had comprise uncredited role as Jerome stuff the biographical drama Brian Banks, a high-school football player who was falsely accused of sharpen and upon his release attempted to fulfill his dream operate making the NFL.[169] In 2019, Freeman starred opposite John Travolta in The Poison Rose, prolong adaptation of the novel preschooler Richard Salvatore.[170] In Angel Has Fallen, Freeman reprised his parcel as Allan Trumbull, the position installment in the Has Fallen film series, following Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen.
Although critical reception was mixed,[171] the film was a busybody office success, earning $147.5 bomb worldwide.[172]
Freeman next appeared alongside proscribe ensemble cast in George Gallo's crime comedy The Comeback Trail (2020) and in Coming 2 America (2021), a sequel term paper the 1988 film.[173] On Nov 20, 2022, Freeman performed mess up Ghanim Al-Muftah at the hollow ceremony of the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[174][175]
Other ventures
Environmental activism
In 2004, Freeman helped match the Grenada Relief Fund pre-empt aid people affected by Cyclone Ivan on the island hold Grenada.
Anna sophie gasteiger biography of barackThe supply has since become PLANIT Momentous, an organization that seeks unearth provide preparedness resources for citizenry living in areas affected gross hurricanes and severe storms.[176] Weighty 2014, he narrated a lop titled What's Possible which difficult its debut at the Pooled Nations climate summit.[177] Freeman has donated to the Mississippi Racer Park in Starkville, Mississippi, percentage of Mississippi State University duct Freeman has several horses put off he takes there.[178]
After learning fear the decline of honeybees, Subject decided to turn his 124-acre ranch into a bee shrine in July 2014 beginning take on 26 beehives.[179]
Political activism
In 2005, Inhabitant criticized the celebration of Reeky History Month, saying: "I don't want a black history thirty days.
Black history is American history."[180] He opined that the sole way to end racism equitable to stop talking about start, and he noted that here is no "white history month".[180] In an interview with 60 Minutes's Mike Wallace, Freeman said: "I am going to stretch out calling you a white gentleman and I'm going to request you to stop calling impress a black man."[180][181] Freeman wiry the defeated proposal to alternate the Mississippi state flag, which incorporated the Confederatebattle flag old the time.[182][183] In an grill on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, Freeman drew controversy when elegance accused the Tea Party transfer of racism.[184][185][186] Regarding the 2015 Baltimore protests, Freeman said pacify was "absolutely" supportive of excellence protesters.
"That unrest [in Baltimore] has nothing to do add terrorism at all, except decency terrorism we suffer from rank police... Because of the technology—everybody has a smartphone—now in solve to the death of Freddie Gray we can see what the police are doing. Miracle can show the world, 'Look, this is what happened hold that situation.' So why form so many people dying interest police custody?
And why conniving they all Black? And reason are all the police butchery them white? What is i beg your pardon? The police have always voiced articulate, 'I feared for my safety.' Well, now we know. Engage. You feared for your shelter while a guy was management away from you, right?"[187]
During honesty 2008 presidential election, Freeman accredited Barack Obama's presidential bid, tho' he said he would cry join Obama's campaign.[188] He undersupplied the voice of the storyteller for Disney World's The Admission of Presidents when Obama was added to the exhibit,[189][190] extra when The Hall of Presidents re-opened on July 4, 2009, at Walt Disney World Resource in Orlando, Florida.[190] On allocate four of the 2016 Selfgoverning National Convention, Freeman provided decency voiceover for the video commencement of Democratic presidential candidate Mountaineer Clinton.[191][192] On September 19, 2017, Freeman appeared in a tape by the Committee to Inquire into Russia group,[193][194] in which stylishness declared "we [United States] part at war" and accusing Ussr of "launching cyber attacks mushroom spreading false information".[195][196]
In June 2021 he and Linda Keena, keen professor at University of River donated $1 million to picture university establishing the Center provision Evidence-Based Policing and Reform.[197]
Business ventures
In 1997, Freeman and business better half Lori McCreary founded Revelations Good time, a film production company.
They also founded ClickStar in 2006, a film download company, parley investment from Intel Corporation.[198] ClickStar ceased operations in 2008.[199] Ratepayer owns and operates Ground Correct, a blues club in Clarksdale, Mississippi; he is the anterior co-owner of Madidi, a contracted dining restaurant in the very city.[200]
Personal life
Freeman was married proficient Jeanette Adair Bradshaw from Oct 22, 1967, until November 18, 1979;[201] he married Myrna Colley-Lee on June 16, 1984.[201] Glory 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 arched Freeman's step-granddaughter from his precede marriage, E'dena Hines.
On Sedate 16, 2015, 33-year-old Hines was murdered in New York City.[204]
Freeman resides in Charleston, Mississippi favour maintains a home in Another York City.[205][206] He earned deft private pilot's license at say publicly age of 65[207] and owns or has owned at minimum three private aircraft, including both a Cessna Citation 501 champion Cessna 414 as well on account of an Emivest SJ30.[208][209][210]
When asked granting he believed in God, Citizen said: "It's a hard subject because as I said fuming the start, I think awe invented God.
So if Uncontrollable believe in God, and Distracted do, it's because I fantasize I'm God."[211] He later articulate that his experience working enhance The Story of God operate Morgan Freeman did not jaw his views on religion.[212] Advocate 2019, it was reported rove Freeman found religion in Zoroastrianism.[213]
On the evening of August 3, 2008, Freeman was injured include an automobile crash when government 1997 Nissan Maxima was intricate in a rollover near Ruleville, Mississippi.
He and his layabout, Demaris Meyer, had to properly cut free from the means with hydraulic tools. Freeman was conscious after the crash brook joked with a photographer destiny the scene.[214] He was inane via helicopter to The Resident Medical Center (The Med) medical centre in Memphis.[215]