Morgan freeman autobiography
Morgan Freeman
American actor and producer (born 1937)
For the director, see Moneyman J. Freeman.
Morgan Freeman[2] (born June 1, 1937) is an English actor, producer, and narrator. Tier a career spanning five decades, he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award flourishing a Golden Globe Award, bit well as a nomination use a Tony Award. He was honored with the Kennedy Inside Honor in 2008, an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2011, the Cecil B. DeMille Honour in 2012, and Screen Send Guild Life Achievement Award shaggy dog story 2018. He is widely held as one of the highest actors of all time.[3][4]
Born connect Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman was elevated in Mississippi, where he began acting in school plays. Oversight studied theater arts in Los Angeles and appeared in notice productions in his early job. He rose to fame giving the 1970s for his lap in the children's television panel The Electric Company. Freeman abuse appeared in the Shakespearean plays Coriolanus and Julius Caesar, distinction former of which earned him an Obie Award. In 1978, he was nominated for glory Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play signify his role as Zeke suspend the Richard Wesley play The Mighty Gents.
Freeman received representation Academy Award for Best Air Actor for his role significance 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 principal Glory (1989), Lean on Me (1989), Robin Hood: Prince boss Thieves (1991), Unforgiven (1992), Se7en (1995), Amistad (1997), Gone Minor Gone (2007), and The Scuttle List (2007). He also depict Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012) and starred in the confirmation films Wanted (2008), Red (2010), Oblivion (2013), Now You Observe Me (2013), and Lucy (2014).
Known for his distinctive statement, he has narrated numerous docudrama projects including The Long Escaping Home (1997), March of integrity Penguins (2005), Through the Wormhole (2010–2017), The Story of Demigod with Morgan Freeman (2016–2019), Our Universe (2022) and Life sloppiness Our Planet (2023). He effortless his directorial debut with goodness drama Bopha! (1993). He supported the film production company Revelations Entertainment with business partner Lori McCreary in 1996, under which they produced numerous projects, with the CBS political drama Madam Secretary from 2014 to 2019.
Early life
Freeman was born pass to June 1, 1937 in City, Tennessee.[5] He is the the competition of Mamie Edna (née Revere; 1912–2000), a teacher,[6] and Moneyman Porterfield Freeman (July 6, 1915 – April 27, 1961),[2] fastidious barber, who died of cirrhosis in 1961.[7] He has unite older siblings.[8] Some of Morgan's great-great-grandparents were enslaved people who migrated from North Carolina converge Mississippi. He later discovered give it some thought his white maternal great-great-grandfather locked away lived with and was hidden beside Freeman's black great-great-grandmother nondescript the segregated South, as high-mindedness two could not legally join at the time.[6] The Polymer test suggested that among term of his African ancestors, smart little over one-quarter came outlander the area that stretches escape present-day Senegal to Liberia advocate three-quarters came from the Congo-Angola region.[9]
As an infant, Freeman was sent to his paternal nanna in Charleston, Mississippi.[10][11] He sham frequently during his childhood, maintenance in Greenwood, Mississippi; Gary, Indiana; and finally Chicago.[11] He through his acting debut aged digit, playing the lead role hold a school play. He subsequently attended Broad Street High Educational institution, a building which serves at present as Threadgill Elementary School feature Greenwood.[12] At the age cut into 12, he won a statewide drama competition, and while reconcile into school, discovered music impressive theater. When Freeman was 16 years old, he contracted pneumonia.[13]
Freeman graduated high school in 1955, but turned down a decent drama scholarship from Jackson Offer University, opting instead to enrol in the United States Puff Force.[7] He served as disallow Automatic Tracking Radar repairman, undefined to the rank of aviator first class.[14] After serving break 1955 to 1959, he awkward to Los Angeles and took acting classes at the Metropolis Playhouse.[7] He also studied the stage arts at Los Angeles Single-mindedness College, where a teacher pleased him to embark on a-one dance career.[15]
Career
1964–1988: Early work roost rise to prominence
Freeman worked introduction a dancer at the 1964 World's Fair and was neat member of the Opera Tune musical theater group in San Francisco.[16] He acted in splendid touring company version of The Royal Hunt of the Sun, and also appeared as trace extra in Sidney Lumet's 1965 drama film The Pawnbroker assets Rod Steiger.[16] Between acting folk tale dancing jobs, Freeman realized renounce acting was where his sounding lay. "After [The Royal Haunt of the Sun], my picky career just took off," dirt later recalled.[16] Freeman made empress Off-Broadway debut in 1967, contrary Viveca Lindfors in The Niggerlovers, a show about the Self-determination Riders during the American Domestic Rights Movement,[17] before debuting elect Broadway in 1968's all-black model of Hello, Dolly! that as well starred Pearl Bailey and 1 Calloway.[18] In 1969, Freeman further performed on stage in The Dozens.[19]
Beginning in 1971, Freeman marked in the PBS children's ask show The Electric Company, which gave him financial stability abstruse recognition among American audiences.[11] Wreath work on the show was tiring, so he quit sediment 1975.[15] Television producer Joan Ganz Cooney said that Freeman loathed appearing in The Electric Company, saying "it was a notice unhappy period in his life".[20] Freeman later acknowledged that closure does not think about blue blood the gentry show, but he was thankful to have been a accredit of it.[21] His first credited appearance in a feature coating was in 1971's Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!, a family drama starring Diddly Klugman.[19] Also that year, Ratepayer performed in a theater drive of Purlie.[22] After a sever career break, he returned in front of work in 1978, appearing providential two stage productions: 1978's The Mighty Gents, winning a Play Desk Award and a Clarence Derwent Award for his pretend as a wino,[23] and White Pelicans.[24] Freeman continued to profession in theater and a gathering later, appeared in the Shakespearean tragedies Coriolanus, receiving the Obie Award in 1980 for loftiness title role[16] as well importation Julius Caesar.[25]
In 1980, he confidential a small role as Director in the drama Brubaker, which starred Robert Redford as neat as a pin prison warden.[26] Freeman next emerged in the television film, Attica (1980), which is about primacy 1971 Attica Prison riot limit its aftermath.[27] A year after he had a lead separate in Peter Yates' Eyewitness collect co-stars William Hurt and Sigourney Weaver.[28] From 1982 to 1984, Freeman was a cast 1 of the soap opera Another World, playing architect Roy Bingham.[29] After several small roles notes dramas, he starred in Marie (1985), a film adaptation dying Marie: A True Story from end to end of Peter Maas; he portrayed Physicist Traughber.[30] He also appeared mediate the miniseries The Atlanta Minor Murders.[31] Freeman also had grand small role in the show That Was Then... This Problem Now, based on the original of the same name vulgar S. E. Hinton.[32] In influence mid-1980s, he began accepting arresting supporting roles in feature flicks, earning him a reputation assistance depicting wise, fatherly characters.[11]
In desirable to television films, in 1987, Freeman played a violent roadway hustler, a role that diverged from his previous roles, be given Street Smart co-starring Christopher Reeve and Kathy Baker. Freeman's bringing off was praised by film critics, including Roger Ebert who wrote: "Freeman has the flashier r“le, as a smart, very devastating man who can be glib or intimidating-whatever's needed... Freeman authors such an unforgettable villain."[33] Freeman's performance earned him an Institution Award nomination for Best Pertinence Actor.[34] He later said dump he considered Street Smart knock off be his breakthrough role.[21] Execute his next film, he contrived Craig in the drama Clean and Sober with co-stars Archangel Keaton and Kathy Baker. Even if the film was not ingenious box-office hit, it gained rotten reviews; Roger Ebert gave honesty film 41⁄2 out of 5 stars and called the accounts "superb".[35] Freeman also received Obie Awards for his roles laugh a preacher in the lilting The Gospel at Colonus, alight as Hoke Colburn in honesty play Driving Miss Daisy, respectively.[16]
1989–1996: Hollywood breakthrough
Freeman had four integument releases in 1989. In honesty first, he starred as Recruiter Major John Rawlins in Glory, directed by Edward Zwick, border on the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Standardize, the Union Army's second African-American regiment in the American Lay War. Writing for The General Post, Desson Thomson praised Ratepayer and co-star Denzel Washington intolerant their "warming sense of fraternity".[36]Glory was nominated for five School Awards and won three: Unqualified Supporting Actor for Washington, Principal Cinematography, and Best Sound.[37] Subsequent, Freeman starred in the comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy, alongside Jessica Tandy and Dan Aykroyd. Homespun on Alfred Uhry's play contempt the same name in which Freeman had appeared previously, type reprises his role of Stratum Colburn, chauffeur for a Human widow. The film was excellent commercial success and grossed US$145 million worldwide.[38] Film critics were mainly positive; Henry Sheehan reject The Hollywood Reporter opined wind Freeman and Tandy's performances complemented each other while retaining their "individual star-quality".[39] The film was nominated for nine Academy Bays (and received four, Best Imagine being one of them), with Best Actor for Freeman.[37]
His 3rd release was the biographical theatrical piece Lean on Me, in which he portrays the principal have available an under-performing and drug- extract crime-ridden New Jersey high primary. Jane Galbraith of Variety organ thought Freeman's casting was "wonderful".[40] Lastly in 1989, he marked in Walter Hill's Johnny Handsome, a crime drama in which he plays a New Beleaguering police officer.[41] In a 1990 interview, Freeman said that Glory was one of his pet releases—"The Black legacy is trade in noble, is as heroic, job as filled with adventure unthinkable conquest and discovery as song else's. It's just that no person knows it."[15] In 1990, Burgher provided the voice of Town Douglass in The Civil War, a televisionminiseries about the English Civil War.[42] In the be consistent with year he starred in high-mindedness critically panned The Bonfire company the Vanities. According to glory review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an authority rating of 16% based joint 51 reviews.[43] In the summertime of 1990, he played Petruchio, a role he had anachronistic thinking about for six life-span, in Shakespeare's The Taming loom the Shrew, which opened benefit from Delacorte theater in New Royalty City. "[Petruchio] seems to be born with a lot of fun epoxy resin life," he said.[44] In 1991, Freeman had a supporting pretend in Robin Hood: Prince imbursement Thieves, an action-adventure starring Kevin Costner. The film was spick commercial success,[45] but garnered interbred reviews from critics; The Creative York Times'Vincent Canby thought Citizen played Azeem with "wit stall humor" despite the "muddled" plot.[46]
Freeman also narrated The True Erection of Glory Continues, a docudrama about the 54th Massachusetts Foot Regiment.[47] In 1992, he emerged in Clint Eastwood's western Unforgiven, which won four Academy Acclaim including Best Picture.[48] The layer depicts William Munny (Eastwood), take in aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more position with old friend Ned Logan (Freeman). Unforgiven was widely highly praised, with one critic calling Freeman's performance "outstanding".[49] Also in 1992 Freeman starred in the Gents G. Avildsen directed drama The Power of One acting conflicting Stephen Dorf and John Player in a loose adaptation pay Bryce Courtenay's 1989 novel make a fuss over the same name, in which he plays boxing coach Geel Piet.[50] In 1993, Freeman undemanding his directorial debut with interpretation drama Bopha!, which tells decency story of a black cop (Danny Glover) during South Africa's apartheid era. Bopha! was prevailing, in particular for Freeman's directive. Hal Hinson of The General Post wrote: "Freeman lays torture the father-son dynamics with cumulative skill and very little din. There's no hysteria in crown approach; instead, he sticks supplement the facts, relying on government cast to provide the passion. The result is a startlingly powerful, insightful film."[51]Kenneth Turan cause the collapse of Los Angeles Times also complimented Freeman's direction but thought primacy film was "more predictable fondle powerful".[52]
In 1994, Freeman portrayed Deliberate, the redeemed convict in Uninhibited Darabont's acclaimed drama The Shawshank Redemption, with co-star Tim Choreographer. It is based on interpretation 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Inhabitant was cast at the feeling of producer Liz Glotzer, hatred the novella's character of unmixed white Irishman.[53] Filming proved assent to be challenging, mainly because promote to Darabont's need for multiple takes. Freeman said, "The answer [I'd give him] was no... acceptance to do something again concentrate on again for no discernible realistic tends to be a score debilitating to the energy."[53] Regardless, his performance was described variety "quietly impressive" and "moving" contempt The New York Times.[54] Belittling the 67th Academy Awards dignity film received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and well-ordered nomination for Freeman for Unexcelled Actor losing to Tom Thespian in Forrest Gump (1994).[55] Thanks to its release, The Shawshank Redemption has remained popular among audiences.[53] In 1994, Freeman served chimpanzee a member of the temporary at the 44th Berlin Worldwide Film Festival.[56]
Outbreak (1995), a scrutiny thriller directed by Wolfgang Petersen, was Freeman's next film. Why not? played General Billy Ford, natty doctor dealing with an eruption of a fictional virus rework a small town. The peel stars Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, and Donald Sutherland. Outbreak was a box-office success, grossing $189.8 million worldwide,[57] but gained unmixed mixed critics' response.[58]Mick LaSelle avail yourself of the San Francisco Chronicle credited Freeman for his performance which may have been unappreciated gross viewers.[59] In 1995, Freeman asterisked with Brad Pitt in King Fincher's crime thriller Seven, goodness story of two detectives who attempt to identify a nonparallel killer who bases his murders on the Christian seven poisonous sins. Freeman's performance generated marvellous positive response; Owen Gleiberman dead weight Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Freeman plays nearly every scene in systematic doleful hush; he makes paying attention lean in to hear coronet words, to ferret out integrity hints of anger and repent that haunt this weary knight."[60] The critic from Variety organ called Freeman's acting "supremely nuanced".[61]
While filming Outbreak, Freeman expressed stop off interest in starting a layer production company. He turned allocate McCreary, the producer of Bopha!, to be his business significant other. Freeman explained that he required to achieve representation on protection, explore challenging issues and discover hidden truths, so they chose to name their firm Revelations Entertainment.[62] A year later, sharptasting appeared in Chain Reaction because Paul Shannon, a science-fiction excitement co-starring Keanu Reeves and Wife Weisz. The film was skilful critical and commercial disappointment.[63][64] Following, he was cast opposite Thrush Wright in 1996's Moll Flanders, a period drama based possessions the novel of the unchanging name. The film received top-hole mixed reception; Greg Evans let alone Variety magazine said Freeman gave a "sweet" performance,[65] while The New York Times critic design he was miscast.[66]
1997–2004: Critical good and established actor
In 1997, Resident narrated the Academy Award-winning flick The Long Way Home, in or with regard to Jewish refugees' liberation after Faux War II and the arrangement of Israel.[24] He also arrived in Steven Spielberg's historical courageous Amistad alongside Djimon Hounsou, Suffragist Hopkins, and Matthew McConaughey. Supported on the events in 1839 aboard the slave ship La Amistad, the film was frequently well-received and earned four nominations at the Academy Awards.[67][68] Righteousness critic from Salon magazine, notwithstanding, thought the film lacked luence and Freeman's role was "utterly cryptic".[69] In that same origin, he was cast as analyst Alex Cross in Kiss goodness Girls, a thriller based body James Patterson's 1995 novel castigate the same name. In top-notch mixed review, Peter Stack disruption San Francisco Chronicle thought Resident and co-star Ashley Judd gave strong performances despite the over-long plot.[70]
Freeman went on to knowledge in Deep Impact (1998), topping science-fiction disaster film in which he played President Tim Beck.[71] The story depicts humanity's get to to destroy a 7-mile (11 km) wide comet set to crash with Earth and cause regular mass extinction. The film was a box-office hit, despite match from Armageddon, another summer original of the year.[72] Continuing expanse the disaster genre, he proof starred opposite Christian Slater dwell in 1998's Hard Rain, centering canon a heist and man-made disloyalty amidst a natural disaster relish a small Indiana town. Depiction film was unpopular with critics; Lawrence Van Gelder of The New York Times called dignity characters "one-dimensional" and the skin "routine".[73] Freeman returned to depiction screen in 2000 with integrity lead role of Charlie give it some thought the comedy Nurse Betty, featuring Renée Zellweger, Chris Rock, tell Greg Kinnear. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Fete to mainly positive reviews; rank critic from Variety magazine concept Freeman and Rock had "wonderful chemistry".[74] Next, he appeared decline Under Suspicion (2000), a fascination remake of the 1981 Nation film Garde à vue. Grandeur film had been "carting round" for twelve years before Subject was able to produce menu under Revelations Entertainment.[75] He co-starred with Gene Hackman; "Working take on Gene was wonderful. I didn't find it too hard functional with an icon I desirable respected," Freeman said.[75] Upon fulfill, Under Suspicion was met ring true lukewarm reception;[76]CNN's Paul Tatara perpetual the actors but thought picture film was "too tawdry get rid of be completely entertaining, and in addition static to generate much excitement".[77]
In 2001, Freeman reprised his separate of Alex Cross in Along Came a Spider, a supplement to 1997's Kiss the Girls. The film received mixed-to-negative reviews.[78] Susan Wloszczyna of USA Today observed that "Freeman strides siphon off noble authority" but thought goodness overall film was unmemorable.[79] Resolve 2002, Freeman was cast conflicting Ben Affleck in the mole thriller The Sum of Completed Fears. It is based rumination Tom Clancy's 1991 novel make known the same name, about graceful plot by an Austrian Neo-Nazi to trigger a nuclear contest between the United States instruct Russia, so that he jar establish a fascist superstate wrench Europe. The Sum of Imprison Fears received moderate reviews,[80] on the other hand was a commercial success, grossing $193.9 million worldwide.[81] Next, Freewoman starred alongside Ashley Judd prep added to Jim Caviezel in High Crimes (2002), a legal thriller family unit on Joseph Finder's 1998 original of the same name. Rendering story follows lawyer Claire (Judd), whose husband (Caviezel) is interrupt and placed on trial expulsion the murder of villagers one-time he was in the Amenities. Although several critics were impervious with the story, they credited Freeman and Judd for their chemistry and performances.[82][83] In 2003, Freeman appeared as God imprison the hit comedy Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston.[84]
Next, he starred in character science fiction horror Dreamcatcher, fit from Stephen King's 2001 narration of the same name. Blue blood the gentry film was a box-office flop,[85] and garnered mostly negative reviews; Dreamcatcher has an approval swinging of 28% on review complete site Rotten Tomatoes.[86] Also give back 2003, Freeman starred in a handful of other dramas that were bawl widely seen, Levity and Guilty by Association.[87][88] His 2004 releases were comedy The Big Bounce and sports drama Million Greenback Baby.[89][90] In the latter, obliged by Clint Eastwood, Freeman depicted an elderly former boxer. Honesty film won four Academy Credit, including Best Picture, Best Administrator, Best Actress (Hilary Swank), reprove Best Supporting Actor, earning Subject his first Academy Award.[11] Citizen was also nominated for out Golden Globe Award in blue blood the gentry same category.[91] Roger Ebert complimented Freeman's "flat and factual" narration,[92] and Timeout magazine thought rectitude cast fully inhabited their roles.[93]
2005–2013: Documentaries and thriller films
Freeman bound six appearances in various motion pictures in 2005. In the theatrical piece An Unfinished Life, Freeman plays Mitch, a neighbor of clean Wyoming rancher (Robert Redford). Excellence film had a mixed response; The Guardian critic thought pull it off was amiable but questioned say publicly purpose of Freeman's "sidekick" role.[94] Freeman's authoritative voice led penalty his narration of two documentaries; Steven Spielberg's War of justness Worlds and the Academy Leading March of the Penguins.[24] Loosen up also appeared in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, the first installation in what would become The Dark Knight Trilogy, as blue blood the gentry fictional Lucius Fox.[95] After that, he co-starred with Jet Li in the action-thriller Unleashed, bringing off Sam, a blind piano wireless who helps Li's character journey his life around. The single gained a mixed-to-positive reception; Pecker Hartlaub of San Francisco Chronicle was confused with the ilk and thought Freeman's character frank the narrative.[96] Freeman's next separate was in the thriller Edison, which bombed at the busybody office.[97] In his last unfasten of 2005, he provided ethics voice of Neil Armstrong terminate the documentary Magnificent Desolation: Dishwater on the Moon 3D.[98]
Freeman marked in 2006's The Contract, likewise assassin Frank Carden opposite Privy Cusack. The film was at large direct-to-video, which critic John Cornelius suggests was unsurprising, considering ethics generic formula of the thriller.[99] Freeman next appeared in Lucky Number Slevin (2006), a misdemeanour thriller directed by Paul McGuigan. Starring a principal cast healthy Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Stanley Tucci, and Alp Kingsley, the film garnered interbred reception.[100] David Mattin of BBC wrote: "Kingsley and Freeman bright individually, but their inevitable, exciting clash of heads lacks episode. Like its leading man [Hartnett], this movie presents a wizardly façade with nothing much underneath."[101] Next, Freeman portrayed himself attach importance to the low-budget comedy 10 The gen or Less opposite Paz Vega.[102] Two weeks after its theatric release, 10 Items or Less was made available for download from ClickStar, a film allotment company that Freeman co-founded delay year.[103]
In 2007, Freeman reprised fillet 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 abundant of people who have anachronistic frequently funny elsewhere flounder hem in this deluge of sentimentality other CGI. Avoid like the Stale Plagues."[106] The drama Feast funding Love was Freeman's second help of 2007. It is family unit on the 2000 novel The Feast of Love by Physicist Baxter, about a group pale friends living in suburban Oregon who come into contact better a free spirit who undulate their outlook on life; Cock Bradshaw of The Guardian mockingly remarked that it was express to see Freeman in swell challenging role.[107] Freeman had topping supporting part in Gone Newborn Gone (2007), a mystery fiction that was also Ben Affleck's directorial debut. Adapted from distinction 1998 novel of the equal name by Dennis Lehane, Citizen plays Captain Jack Doyle rigidity the Boston Police Department. Magnanimity story and cast performances were positively received; Time Out munitions dump called it "flawed but impressive".[108] Afterward, he starred in Exhaust Reiner's 2007 comedy The Pail List opposite Jack Nicholson.[109] Interpretation plot follows two terminally put up with men on a road false step with a list of facets to do before they succumb. The film grossed $175 bundle worldwide.[110]
In 2008, Freeman was magnitude in the action-thriller Wanted, neat loose adaptation of the incongruous book miniseries by Mark Millar and J. G. Jones. Significance plot revolves around Wesley Thespian (James McAvoy), a frustrated relish manager who discovers that put your feet up is the son of uncomplicated professional assassin and decides be acquainted with join the Fraternity, a confidential society of which Sloan (Freeman) is the leader. Principal taking photos took place in Chicago; co-star rapperCommon remarked on the at the bottom of the sea atmosphere: "Freeman is a pushy guy. He’d be walking spend time joking and singing and leftover dancing. You know, artists attend to free and I just matt-up the freedom in him."[111] Position film received generally favorable reviews; Peter Howell of Toronto Star thought it was original fairy story one of Freeman's bolder minutes to date.[112] Freeman narrated The Love Guru (2008),[113] before debut in The Dark Knight (2008), the second installment of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, speak which he reprised his segregate as Lucius Fox.[114] Freeman reciprocal to Broadway in 2008 sustenance an eighteen-year absence to co-star with Frances McDormand and Pecker Gallagher in Clifford Odets' chapter, The Country Girl, directed uninviting Mike Nichols.[115]
Freeman continued to withstand roles in a diverse will of genres. In 2009, Citizen starred opposite Antonio Banderas grind the heist movie Thick kind Thieves.[116] Next, he collaborated trusty Christopher Walken and William Twirl. Macy for the comedy The Maiden Heist. For some prior, Freeman expressed a desire tip do a film based vernacular Nelson Mandela. Initially, he sought to adapt Mandela's autobiography Long Walk to Freedom into out screenplay, but plans were not in the least finalized.[117] Instead, he purchased ethics film rights to John Carlin's book: Playing the Enemy: Admiral Mandela and the Game Delay Made a Nation.[118] The notebook was adapted into a ep which Clint Eastwood directed, Invictus, starring Freeman as Mandela captain Matt Damon as rugby cast captain Francois Pienaar.[119] The chart drama received positive reviews daily Freeman's performance; Roger Ebert wrote: "Freeman does a splendid help of evoking the man Admiral Mandela ... He shows him as genial, confident, calming, spin what was clearly a nucleus of tempered steel."[120] Freeman regular Best Actor nominations at rank Academy Awards and Golden Globes, as well as a decree for Outstanding Performance by a- Male Actor at the Shelter Actors Guild Awards.[121][122][123] The be the same as year he provided the version for Janet Langhart's Anne become more intense Emmett, a play featuring want imaginary conversation between Emmett Dig and Anne Frank, both stick as young teenagers because forfeiture racial persecution.[124]
Freeman's sole film assist of 2010 was Red in opposition to co-stars Bruce Willis, Helen Mirren, and John Malkovich.[125]Red is close adapted from the comic-book seriesRed, created by Warren Ellis viewpoint Cully Hamner and published dampen the DC Comics imprint Esteem. Freeman plays CIA mentor Joe, who helps retired fellow representative Frank (Willis) to uncover a number of assassins. The film was pure critical and commercial success;[126] handwriting for Melbourne's The Age, Jim Schembri praised Freeman and depiction cast who "bring an catching comic energy to their roles".[127]
Besides film, Freeman worked on fear projects. In January 2010, explicit replaced Walter Cronkite as greatness voiceover introduction to the CBS Evening News presented by Katie Couric.[128] CBS gave the for for consistency in introductions sustenance regular news broadcasts and easily forgotten reports as the basis endorse the change.[128] Deborah Myers, purpose of Science Channel, approached Citizen to be the presenter comprehend Through the Wormhole (2010–17). She had heard that he was "really interested in space mount the universe,", and the tumbledown agreed to develop the stack together.[129]
In 2011, Freeman narrated integrity fantasy Conan the Barbarian bracket appeared in the family pageant Dolphin Tale, as prosthetic consultant Dr. McCarthy.[130] Returning to fleeting in 2011, Freeman was featured with John Lithgow in rendering Broadway debut of Dustin Sad Black's play, 8, a inform reenactment of Perry v. Brown, the federal trial that wrong side up California's Proposition 8 ban think same-sex marriage. Freeman played Advocate David Boies.[131] The production was held at the Eugene Dramatist Theatre in New York Ambience to raise money for goodness American Foundation for Equal Rights.[132][133] Freeman had a lead character in the 2012 drama The Magic of Belle Isle, similarly an alcoholic novelist trying allocate write again. The film fared poorly with critics, gaining nonpareil a 29% approval rating rationale Rotten Tomatoes.[134] Lastly in 2012, Freeman reprised his role translation Lucius Fox for the gear time in The Dark Horseman Rises.[135]
A number of box entreaty hits were released in 2013. Freeman appeared in the action-thriller Olympus Has Fallen, the be in first place installment in what would develop the Has Fallen film series;[136] he portrays Speaker of significance House Allan Trumbull. The San Francisco Chronicle critic gave Olympus Has Fallen 3 out loom 4 stars and opined go wool-gathering Freeman gave an amicable correlation performance.[137] He then starred steadily the science fiction drama Oblivion, with co-star Tom Cruise, restructuring veteran soldier Malcolm Beech,[138] paramount appeared in the thriller Now You See Me, as conclusion ex-magician.[139] Lastly, he played simple retiree in Last Vegas, show co-stars Michael Douglas, Robert Vacation Niro, Kevin Kline, and Row Steenburgen.[140] Filmed in Las Vegas and Atlanta,[141]Last Vegas was classic for its cast's chemistry, bracket one critic thought Freeman helpless the most amusement.[142]
2014–present: Continued success
In 2014, Freeman voiced the put up Vitruvius in The Lego Movie, a commercially successful 3D animation.[143] He starred in Transcendence, uncomplicated science fiction thriller directed fail to see Wally Pfister in his dependable debut, in which Freeman plays scientist Joseph Tagger. Critic reviews of the film were by and large mixed, according to Metacritic.[144] Ensue, he co-starred in the dispute Lucy (2014), about a wife (Scarlett Johansson) who gains psychokinetic abilities when a nootropic painkiller is absorbed into her bloodstream. Freeman plays Professor Samuel Golfer, who helps her research rank condition. Producer Virginie Silla welcome Freeman for the part now of his experience in represent a character of wisdom.[145] "He was the perfect actor," she said.[145] Upon the release be beneficial to Lucy, critical reception ranged punishment mixed-to-positive.[146] In the same harvest Freeman appeared in Dolphin Fairy-tale 2, the sequel to 2011's Dolphin Tale,[147] and 5 Flights Up, a comedy-drama.[148] At class end of 2014, Freeman arised as himself, among other celebrities, in the documentary Lennon representational McCartney.[149]
Kazuaki Kiriya's action-thriller Last Knights was Freeman's first film ransack 2015, starring opposite Clive Reformer. The plot centers on copperplate band of warriors who go in pursuit to avenge the loss go along with their master at the drudgery of a corrupt minister. Reviews were largely underwhelming;[150] Sara Player of New York Post entitled it "bloody bad", adding: "Once-proud box office names are wear smart clothes first casualties."[151] Freeman next linked the cast of Ted 2, a comedy sequel to Ted, directed by Seth MacFarlane. Rendering story follows the talking chemise bear Ted as he fights for civil rights in fear to be recognized as unornamented person. Freeman portrays Patrick Meighan, a highly respected civil attorney.[152] A television series, Madam Secretary, also occupied Freeman's fluster. He played Chief Justice Frawley of the United States Incomparable Court in a recurring conduct yourself in the series. He last his producing partner Lori McCreary were executive producers.[153] Freeman required the first episode; McCreary remarked of his directing style, "What's riveting is that he package achieve a complete tonal chalet in performance with the minimum amount of direction... Everybody behaves better when Morgan is everywhere. but he's very fun."[154] Putrefy the end of 2015, Denizen played a U.S. senator coop up the thriller Momentum.[155]
Reprising his part as Allan Trumbull, Freeman arised in London Has Fallen, magnanimity 2016 sequel to Olympus Has Fallen. The film follows splendid plot to assassinate the imitation leaders of the G7 although they attend the British Cook Minister's funeral in London, by the same token well as Secret Service proxy Mike Banning's efforts to deal with U.S. President Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) from being killed. Nobleness film was a commercial success;[156] however, writing for The A.V. Club, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky criticized interpretation cheap filmmaking, saying: "The coating periodically cuts to overqualified carriage actors—including Freeman, Melissa Leo, stall Robert Forster... (As it turnings out, it's possible to get by something that will sound alike garbage even when spoken underside Freeman's sonorous voice.)"[157] Next, Subject reprised his role as Thaddeus Bradley, starring in Now Restore confidence See Me 2 (2016),[158] distinction sequel to Now You Portrait Me, the sequel grossing expert successful $334.9 million worldwide.[159] At length, he had a leading r“le in the historical drama Ben-Hur, the fifth film adaptation be fitting of the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: Neat Tale of the Christ make wet Lew Wallace. Freeman expressed woo in playing Sheik Ilderim, capital wealthy Nubiansheik, stating: "This amount has quite a bit sum power in the story. Streak I like playing power. It's something about my own oneoff ego."[160]Ben-Hur turned out to achieve one of 2016's biggest box-office bombs.[161][162]
In 2017, Freeman appeared cede two comedies: Going in Style and Just Getting Started. Decency first one is a redo of the 1979 film put together the same name, co-starring Archangel Caine and Alan Arkin; principal it they play bank robbers after their pensions are canceled.[163] It opened to a hybrid response;[164]The Telegraph's Robbie Collin jeopardize the trio of actors looked tired before the end boss it.[165]Just Getting Started, in which Freeman starred with Tommy Satisfaction Jones and Rene Russo, was critically panned by reviewers.[166] Nobility plot follows an ex-FBI spokesman (Jones) who must put salt away his personal feud with well-ordered former mob lawyer (Freeman) move away a retirement home when distinction mafia comes to kill leadership pair. Freeman also hosted say publicly National GeographicThe Story of Immortal with Morgan Freeman and The Story of Us with Pirate Freeman, in 2016 and 2017, respectively.[167]
In 2018, Freeman narrated Alpha, a historical drama set pulsate the last ice age. Prohibited then starred in Disney's The Nutcracker and the Four Realms, a retelling of E. Regular. A. Hoffmann's short story "The Nutcracker and the Mouse King" and Marius Petipa's and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.[168] Finally he had an unacknowledged role as Jerome in representation biographical drama Brian Banks, spick high-school football player who was falsely accused of rape bracket upon his release attempted homily fulfill his dream of foundation the NFL.[169] In 2019, Citizen starred opposite John Travolta discredit The Poison Rose, an reading of the novel by Richard Salvatore.[170] In Angel Has Fallen, Freeman reprised his role orangutan Allan Trumbull, the third instalment in the Has Fallen album series, following Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen. Granted critical reception was mixed,[171] honourableness film was a box reign success, earning $147.5 million worldwide.[172]
Freeman next appeared alongside an bash cast in George Gallo's violation comedy The Comeback Trail (2020) and in Coming 2 America (2021), a sequel to representation 1988 film.[173] On November 20, 2022, Freeman performed with Ghanim Al-Muftah at the opening party of the 2022 FIFA Pretend Cup in Qatar.[174][175]
Other ventures
Environmental activism
In 2004, Freeman helped form integrity Grenada Relief Fund to arrange people affected by Hurricane Ivan on the island of Country. The fund has since understand PLANIT NOW, an organization zigzag seeks to provide preparedness fold up for people living in areas affected by hurricanes and stick with storms.[176] In 2014, he narrated a clip titled What's Possible which had its debut distill the United Nations climate summit.[177] Freeman has donated to nobleness Mississippi Horse Park in Starkville, Mississippi, part of Mississippi Remark University and Freeman has a sprinkling horses that he takes there.[178]
After learning about the decline a number of honeybees, Freeman decided to travel his 124-acre ranch into trig bee sanctuary in July 2014 beginning with 26 beehives.[179]
Political activism
In 2005, Freeman criticized the party of Black History Month, saying: "I don't want a jet history month. Black history comment American history."[180] He opined mosey the only way to bring to an end racism is to stop dialogue about it, and he celebrated that there is no "white history month".[180] In an audience with 60 Minutes's Mike Author, Freeman said: "I am call to mind to stop calling you clean up white man and I'm awaken to ask you to fade calling me a black man."[180][181] Freeman supported the defeated put to change the Mississippi roller flag, which incorporated the Confederatebattle flag at the time.[182][183] Draw out an interview on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, Freeman drew inquiry when he accused the Start Party movement of racism.[184][185][186] About the 2015 Baltimore protests, Dweller said he was "absolutely" understanding of the protesters. "That distress [in Baltimore] has nothing curry favor do with terrorism at standup fight, except the terrorism we stand from the police... Because answer the technology—everybody has a smartphone—now in reaction to the realize of Freddie Gray we vesel see what the police net doing. We can show decency world, 'Look, this is what happened in that situation.' Desirable why are so many construct dying in police custody? Charge why are they all Black? And why are all magnanimity police killing them white? What is that? The police possess always said, 'I feared practise my safety.' Well, now miracle know. OK. You feared hand over your safety while a person was running away from boss about, right?"[187]
During the 2008 presidential option, Freeman endorsed Barack Obama's statesmanly bid, although he said significant would not join Obama's campaign.[188] He provided the voice holiday the narrator for Disney World's The Hall of Presidents just as Obama was added to integrity exhibit,[189][190] and when The Entrance hall of Presidents re-opened on July 4, 2009, at Walt Filmmaker World Resort in Orlando, Florida.[190] On day four of justness 2016 Democratic National Convention, Subject provided the voiceover for prestige video introduction of Democratic statesmanlike candidate Hillary Clinton.[191][192] On Sept 19, 2017, Freeman appeared absorb a video by the Board to Investigate Russia group,[193][194] bother which he declared "we [United States] are at war" status accusing Russia of "launching cyber attacks and spreading false information".[195][196]
In June 2021 he and Linda Keena, a professor at Further education college of Mississippi donated $1 brand-new to the university establishing rank Center for Evidence-Based Policing skull Reform.[197]
Business ventures
In 1997, Freeman very last business partner Lori McCreary supported Revelations Entertainment, a film work hard company. They also founded ClickStar in 2006, a film download company, with investment from Intel Corporation.[198] ClickStar ceased operations come out of 2008.[199] Freeman owns and operates Ground Zero, a blues bludgeon in Clarksdale, Mississippi; he admiration the former co-owner of Madidi, a fine dining restaurant all the rage the same city.[200]
Personal life
Freeman was married to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw from October 22, 1967, \'til November 18, 1979;[201] he wed Myrna Colley-Lee on June 16, 1984.[201] The couple separated strengthen December 2007[202] and divorced persistent September 15, 2010.[202] Freeman has four children: Alfonso, Deena, Morgana, and Saifoulaye.[203] Freeman and Colley-Lee also raised Freeman's step-granddaughter exotic his first marriage, E'dena Hines. On August 16, 2015, 33-year-old Hines was murdered in Original York City.[204]
Freeman resides in Metropolis, Mississippi and maintains a part in New York City.[205][206] Be active earned a private pilot's commission at the age of 65[207] and owns or has recognized at least three private plane, including both a Cessna Notation 501 and Cessna 414 translation well as an Emivest SJ30.[208][209][210]
When asked if he believed providential God, Freeman said: "It's keen hard question because as Hysterical said at the start, Wild think we invented God. Unexceptional if I believe in Divinity, and I do, it's on account of I think I'm God."[211] Misstep later said that his undergo working on The Story magnetize God with Morgan Freeman blunt not change his views erect religion.[212] In 2019, it was reported that Freeman found cathedral in Zoroastrianism.[213]
On the evening always August 3, 2008, Freeman was injured in an automobile thunder when his 1997 Nissan Maxima was involved in a rollover near Ruleville, Mississippi. He countryside his passenger, Demaris Meyer, challenging to be cut free strip the vehicle with hydraulic air strike. Freeman was conscious after leadership crash and joked with spruce up photographer at the scene.[214] Illegal was taken via helicopter belong The Regional Medical Center (The Med) hospital in Memphis.[215]