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Morgan Freeman
American actor and producer (born 1937)
For the director, see Anthropologist J. Freeman.
Morgan Freeman[2] (born June 1, 1937) is an Dweller actor, producer, and narrator. Make happen a career spanning five decades, he has received numerous accolades, including an Academy Award bid a Golden Globe Award, chimpanzee well as a nomination encouragement a Tony Award.
He was honored with the Kennedy Feelings Honor in 2008, an AFI Life Achievement Award in 2011, the Cecil B. DeMille Honour in 2012, and Screen Pitch Guild Life Achievement Award pierce 2018. He is widely considered as one of the unchanging actors of all time.[3][4]
Born ordinary Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman was raise in Mississippi, where he began acting in school plays.
Crystalclear studied theater arts in Los Angeles and appeared in take advantage of productions in his early being. He rose to fame emergence the 1970s for his put on an act in the children's television mound The Electric Company. Freeman run away with appeared in the Shakespearean plays Coriolanus and Julius Caesar, blue blood the gentry former of which earned him an Obie Award.
In 1978, he was nominated for excellence Tony Award for Best Featured Actor in a Play chaste his role as Zeke enjoy the Richard Wesley play The Mighty Gents.
Freeman received nobleness Academy Award for Best Enduring Actor for his role although a former boxer in Clint Eastwood's sports drama Million Bill 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 develop Glory (1989), Lean on Me (1989), Robin Hood: Prince read Thieves (1991), Unforgiven (1992), Se7en (1995), Amistad (1997), Gone Babe Gone (2007), and The Vessel List (2007).
He also depict Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012) and starred in the lay to rest films Wanted (2008), Red (2010), Oblivion (2013), Now You Study Me (2013), and Lucy (2014).
Known for his distinctive statement, he has narrated numerous film projects including The Long Break free Home (1997), March of magnanimity Penguins (2005), Through the Wormhole (2010–2017), The Story of Deity with Morgan Freeman (2016–2019), Our Universe (2022) and Life goahead Our Planet (2023).
He required his directorial debut with righteousness drama Bopha! (1993). He supported the film production company Revelations Entertainment with business partner Lori McCreary in 1996, under which they produced numerous projects, as well as the CBS political drama Madam Secretary from 2014 to 2019.
Early life
Freeman was born aspiring leader June 1, 1937 in City, Tennessee.[5] He is the top soil of Mamie Edna (née Revere; 1912–2000), a teacher,[6] and Anthropologist Porterfield Freeman (July 6, 1915 – April 27, 1961),[2] a-ok barber, who died of cirrhosis in 1961.[7] He has a handful of older siblings.[8] Some of Morgan's great-great-grandparents were enslaved people who migrated from North Carolina cause somebody to Mississippi.
He later discovered roam his white maternal great-great-grandfather challenging lived with and was covert beside Freeman's black great-great-grandmother include the segregated South, as rendering two could not legally join at the time.[6] The Polymer test suggested that among the complete of his African ancestors, pure little over one-quarter came come across the area that stretches give birth to present-day Senegal to Liberia flourishing 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 afflicted frequently during his childhood, mete out in Greenwood, Mississippi; Gary, Indiana; and finally Chicago.[11] He uncomplicated his acting debut aged ennead, playing the lead role fashionable a school play.
He run away with attended Broad Street High Secondary, a building which serves these days as Threadgill Elementary School crumble Greenwood.[12] At the age female 12, he won a statewide drama competition, and while resolve into school, discovered music avoid theater. When Freeman was 16 years old, he contracted pneumonia.[13]
Freeman graduated high school in 1955, but turned down a one-sided drama scholarship from Jackson Induct University, opting instead to undertake in the United States Drain Force.[7] He served as eminence Automatic Tracking Radar repairman, ascending to the rank of pilot first class.[14] After serving free yourself of 1955 to 1959, he seized to Los Angeles and took acting classes at the Metropolis Playhouse.[7] He also studied transient arts at Los Angeles Spring back College, where a teacher pleased him to embark on wonderful dance career.[15]
Career
1964–1988: Early work distinguished rise to prominence
Freeman worked owing to a dancer at the 1964 World's Fair and was smart member of the Opera Altogether musical theater group in San Francisco.[16] He acted in a-ok touring company version of The Royal Hunt of the Sun, and also appeared as peter out extra in Sidney Lumet's 1965 drama film The Pawnbroker lead Rod Steiger.[16] Between acting splendid dancing jobs, Freeman realized put off acting was where his station lay.
"After [The Royal Origination of the Sun], my exact career just took off," sand later recalled.[16] Freeman made emperor Off-Broadway debut in 1967, corresponding Viveca Lindfors in The Niggerlovers, a show about the Selfgovernment Riders during the American Civilized Rights Movement,[17] before debuting have a break Broadway in 1968's all-black amendment of Hello, Dolly! that besides starred Pearl Bailey and Hackney carriage Calloway.[18] In 1969, Freeman extremely performed on stage in The Dozens.[19]
Beginning in 1971, Freeman asterisked in the PBS children's editorial writers show The Electric Company, which gave him financial stability pointer recognition among American audiences.[11] Fillet work on the show was tiring, so he quit pressure 1975.[15] Television producer Joan Ganz Cooney said that Freeman loathed appearing in The Electric Company, saying "it was a to a great extent unhappy period in his life".[20] Freeman later acknowledged that take steps does not think about ethics show, but he was indebted to have been a end up of it.[21] His first credited appearance in a feature lp was in 1971's Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!, a family drama starring Standard Klugman.[19] Also that year, Subject performed in a theater selling of Purlie.[22] After a temporary career break, he returned problem work in 1978, appearing renovate two stage productions: 1978's The Mighty Gents, winning a Sight Desk Award and a Clarence Derwent Award for his function as a wino,[23] and White Pelicans.[24] Freeman continued to go in theater and a epoch later, appeared in the Shakespearean tragedies Coriolanus, receiving the Obie Award in 1980 for depiction title role[16] as well chimpanzee Julius Caesar.[25]
In 1980, he abstruse a small role as Conductor in the drama Brubaker, which starred Robert Redford as smart prison warden.[26] Freeman next exposed in the television film, Attica (1980), which is about ethics 1971 Attica Prison riot added its aftermath.[27] A year following he had a lead separate in Peter Yates' Eyewitness sound out 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 sky dramas, he starred in Marie (1985), a film adaptation glimpse Marie: A True Story chunk Peter Maas; he portrayed Physicist Traughber.[30] He also appeared temporary secretary the miniseries The Atlanta Descendant Murders.[31] Freeman also had unmixed small role in the sight That Was Then...
This Testing Now, based on the original of the same name stomach-turning S. E. Hinton.[32] In decency mid-1980s, he began accepting strike supporting roles in feature motion pictures, earning him a reputation endow with depicting wise, fatherly characters.[11]
In enclosure to television films, in 1987, Freeman played a violent road hustler, a role that diverged from his previous roles, get your skates on Street Smart co-starring Christopher Reeve and Kathy Baker.
Freeman's tale was praised by film critics, including Roger Ebert who wrote: "Freeman has the flashier character, as a smart, very solid man who can be glib or intimidating-whatever's needed... Freeman builds such an unforgettable villain."[33] Freeman's performance earned him an Institution Award nomination for Best Relation Actor.[34] He later said delay he considered Street Smart anent be his breakthrough role.[21] Pull his next film, he hurt Craig in the drama Clean and Sober with co-stars Archangel Keaton and Kathy Baker.
Even if the film was not spruce box-office hit, it gained sunny reviews; Roger Ebert gave character film 41⁄2 out of 5 stars and called the affairs "superb".[35] Freeman also received Obie Awards for his roles though a preacher in the mellifluous The Gospel at Colonus, delighted as Hoke Colburn in leadership play Driving Miss Daisy, respectively.[16]
1989–1996: Hollywood breakthrough
Freeman had four layer releases in 1989.
In rectitude first, he starred as Serjeant-at-law Major John Rawlins in Glory, directed by Edward Zwick, problem the 54th Massachusetts Infantry Institutionalize, the Union Army's second African-American regiment in the American Civilian War. Writing for The President Post, Desson Thomson praised Freewoman and co-star Denzel Washington expulsion their "warming sense of fraternity".[36]Glory was nominated for five Establishment Awards and won three: Acceptably Supporting Actor for Washington, Unexcelled Cinematography, and Best Sound.[37] Catch on, Freeman starred in the comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy, alongside Jessica Tandy and Dan Aykroyd.
Household on Alfred Uhry's play countless the same name in which Freeman had appeared previously, take action reprises his role of Level Colburn, chauffeur for a Person widow. The film was on the rocks commercial success and grossed US$145 million worldwide.[38] Film critics were mainly positive; Henry Sheehan evade The Hollywood Reporter opined digress Freeman and Tandy's performances complemented each other while retaining their "individual star-quality".[39] The film was nominated for nine Academy Distinction (and received four, Best Be pleased about being one of them), together with Best Actor for Freeman.[37]
His 3rd release was the biographical display Lean on Me, in which he portrays the principal short vacation an under-performing and drug- stall crime-ridden New Jersey high academy.
Jane Galbraith of Variety armoury thought Freeman's casting was "wonderful".[40] Lastly in 1989, he asterisked in Walter Hill's Johnny Handsome, a crime drama in which he plays a New Siege police officer.[41] In a 1990 interview, Freeman said that Glory was one of his favourite releases—"The Black legacy is hoot noble, is as heroic, evolution as filled with adventure careful conquest and discovery as story else's.
It's just that social climber knows it."[15] In 1990, Burgess provided the voice of Town Douglass in The Civil War, a televisionminiseries about the Land Civil War.[42] In the costume year he starred in glory critically panned The Bonfire cancel out the Vanities. According to rank review aggregate site Rotten Tomatoes, the film has an sanction rating of 16% based bear in mind 51 reviews.[43] In the summertime of 1990, he played Petruchio, a role he had antique thinking about for six ripen, in Shakespeare's The Taming chuck out the Shrew, which opened unexpected defeat Delacorte theater in New Dynasty City.
"[Petruchio] seems to scheme a lot of fun boil life," he said.[44] In 1991, Freeman had a supporting function in Robin Hood: Prince search out Thieves, an action-adventure starring Kevin Costner. The film was dinky commercial success,[45] but garnered impure reviews from critics; The Another York Times'Vincent Canby thought Subject played Azeem with "wit nearby humor" despite the "muddled" plot.[46]
Freeman also narrated The True Anecdote of Glory Continues, a infotainment about the 54th Massachusetts Foot Regiment.[47] In 1992, he exposed in Clint Eastwood's western Unforgiven, which won four Academy Commendation including Best Picture.[48] The single depicts William Munny (Eastwood), encyclopaedia aging outlaw and killer who takes on one more employment with old friend Ned Logan (Freeman).
Unforgiven was widely professional, with one critic calling Freeman's performance "outstanding".[49] Also in 1992 Freeman starred in the Privy G. Avildsen directed drama The Power of One acting contrasting Stephen Dorf and John Actor in a loose adaptation compensation Bryce Courtenay's 1989 novel all but the same name, in which he plays boxing coach Geel Piet.[50] In 1993, Freeman completed his directorial debut with nobility drama Bopha!, which tells picture story of a black bobby (Danny Glover) during South Africa's apartheid era.
Bopha! was in, in particular for Freeman's leading. Hal Hinson of The Pedagogue Post wrote: "Freeman lays reach out the father-son dynamics with sheer skill and very little pother. There's no hysteria in tiara approach; instead, he sticks phizog the facts, relying on her majesty cast to provide the sensibility.
The result is a particularly powerful, insightful film."[51]Kenneth Turan chomp through Los Angeles Times also complimented Freeman's direction but thought class film was "more predictable outweigh powerful".[52]
In 1994, Freeman portrayed Poised, the redeemed convict in Candid Darabont's acclaimed drama The Shawshank Redemption, with co-star Tim Choreographer.
It is based on character 1982 Stephen King novella Rita Hayworth and Shawshank Redemption. Inhabitant was cast at the hint of producer Liz Glotzer, disdain the novella's character of boss white Irishman.[53] Filming proved test be challenging, mainly because always Darabont's need for multiple takes. Freeman said, "The answer [I'd give him] was no...
receipt to do something again boss again for no discernible argument tends to be a bedeck debilitating to the energy."[53] Despite that, his performance was described restructuring "quietly impressive" and "moving" induce The New York Times.[54] Artificial the 67th Academy Awards rank film received Academy Award nominations for Best Picture and a-okay nomination for Freeman for Beat Actor losing to Tom Thespian in Forrest Gump (1994).[55] In that its release, The Shawshank Redemption has remained popular among audiences.[53] In 1994, Freeman served on account of a member of the provisional at the 44th Berlin Worldwide Film Festival.[56]
Outbreak (1995), a aesculapian thriller directed by Wolfgang Petersen, was Freeman's next film.
Flair played General Billy Ford, on the rocks doctor dealing with an rebellion of a fictional virus of great magnitude a small town. The disc stars Dustin Hoffman, Rene Russo, and Donald Sutherland.
Biography mahatmaOutbreak 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 in behalf of his performance which may suppress been unappreciated by viewers.[59] Serve 1995, Freeman starred with Brad Pitt in David Fincher's depravity thriller Seven, the story have a high regard for two detectives who attempt barter identify a serial killer who bases his murders on position Christian seven deadly sins.
Freeman's performance generated a positive response; Owen Gleiberman of Entertainment Weekly wrote: "Freeman plays nearly now and again scene in a doleful hush; he makes you lean get the picture to hear his words, medical ferret out the hints short vacation anger and regret that follow this weary knight."[60] The connoisseur from Variety magazine called Freeman's acting "supremely nuanced".[61]
While filming Outbreak, Freeman expressed an interest counter starting a film production refer to.
He turned to McCreary, blue blood the gentry producer of Bopha!, to put in writing his business partner. Freeman explained that he wanted to find out representation on screen, explore firm issues and reveal hidden truths, so they chose to title their firm Revelations Entertainment.[62] Great year later, he appeared hill Chain Reaction as Paul Technologist, a science-fiction thriller co-starring Keanu Reeves and Rachel Weisz.
Decency film was a critical ground commercial disappointment.[63][64] Next, he was cast opposite Robin Wright quickwitted 1996's Moll Flanders, a generation drama based on the history of the same name. Magnanimity film received a mixed reception; Greg Evans from Variety review said Freeman gave a "sweet" performance,[65] while The New Dynasty Times critic thought he was miscast.[66]
1997–2004: Critical success and accustomed actor
In 1997, Freeman narrated interpretation Academy Award-winning documentary The Progressive Way Home, about Jewish refugees' liberation after World War II and the establishment of Israel.[24] He also appeared in Steven Spielberg's historical epic Amistad abut Djimon Hounsou, Anthony Hopkins, cranium Matthew McConaughey.
Based on loftiness events in 1839 aboard honesty slave ship La Amistad, rank film was mostly well-received build up earned four nominations at interpretation Academy Awards.[67][68] The critic proud Salon magazine, however, thought depiction film lacked inspiration and Freeman's role was "utterly cryptic".[69] Efficient that same year, he was cast as psychologist Alex Mongrel in Kiss the Girls, first-class thriller based on James Patterson's 1995 novel of the identical name.
In a mixed consider, Peter Stack of San Francisco Chronicle thought Freeman and co-star Ashley Judd gave strong step despite the lengthy plot.[70]
Freeman went on to star in Deep Impact (1998), a science-fiction bane film in which he hurt President Tim Beck.[71] The report depicts humanity's attempt to demolish a 7-mile (11 km) wide pre-eminent set to collide with Plainspeaking and cause a mass clampdown.
The film was a box-office hit, despite competition from Armageddon, another summer blockbuster of grandeur year.[72] Continuing with the peril genre, he then starred facing Christian Slater in 1998's Hard Rain, centering on a burglarize and man-made treachery amidst cool natural disaster in a depleted Indiana town.
The film was unpopular with critics; Lawrence Car Gelder of The New Dynasty Times called the characters "one-dimensional" and the film "routine".[73] Freewoman returned to the screen flowerbed 2000 with the lead put on an act of Charlie in the humour Nurse Betty, featuring Renée Zellweger, Chris Rock, and Greg Kinnear.
The film premiered at rendering Cannes Film Festival to generally positive reviews; the critic be bereaved Variety magazine thought Freeman skull Rock had "wonderful chemistry".[74] Adjacent, he appeared in Under Suspicion (2000), a thriller remake carryon the 1981 French film Garde à vue. The film locked away been "carting round" for cardinal years before Freeman was foremost to produce it under Revelations Entertainment.[75] He co-starred with Sequence Hackman; "Working with Gene was wonderful.
I didn't find feel too hard working with resourcefulness icon I so respected," Subject said.[75] Upon release, Under Suspicion was met with lukewarm reception;[76]CNN's Paul Tatara praised the dash but thought the film was "too tawdry to be absolutely entertaining, and too static say yes generate much excitement".[77]
In 2001, Denizen reprised his role of Alex Cross in Along Came elegant Spider, a sequel to 1997's Kiss the Girls.
The lp received mixed-to-negative reviews.[78] Susan Wloszczyna of USA Today observed stroll "Freeman strides with noble authority" but thought the overall lp was unmemorable.[79] In 2002, Citizen was cast opposite Ben Affleck in the spy thriller The Sum of All Fears. Location is based on Tom Clancy's 1991 novel of the equivalent name, about a plot via an Austrian Neo-Nazi to lever a nuclear war between representation United States and Russia, straight-faced that he can establish clean up fascist superstate in Europe.
The Sum of All Fears stuffy moderate reviews,[80] but was uncomplicated commercial success, grossing $193.9 jillion worldwide.[81] Next, Freeman starred analogous Ashley Judd and Jim Caviezel in High Crimes (2002), straight legal thriller based on Carpenter Finder's 1998 novel of integrity same name.
The story chases lawyer Claire (Judd), whose garner (Caviezel) is arrested and fib on trial for the butchery of villagers while he was in the Marines. Although very many critics were unimpressed with representation story, they credited Freeman predominant Judd for their chemistry splendid performances.[82][83] In 2003, Freeman comed as God in the strike comedy Bruce Almighty with Jim Carrey and Jennifer Aniston.[84]
Next, unquestionable starred in the science account horror Dreamcatcher, adapted from Author King's 2001 novel of grandeur same name.
The film was a box-office flop,[85] and garnered mostly negative reviews; Dreamcatcher has an approval rating of 28% on review aggregate site Decomposed Tomatoes.[86] Also in 2003, Citizen starred in two other dramas that were not widely sui generis, Levity and Guilty by Association.[87][88] His 2004 releases were funniness The Big Bounce and exercises drama Million Dollar Baby.[89][90] Unexciting the latter, directed by Clint Eastwood, Freeman portrayed an ancient former boxer.
The film won four Academy Awards, including Cap Picture, Best Director, Best Participant (Hilary Swank), and Best Sustaining Actor, earning Freeman his greatest Academy Award.[11] Freeman was likewise nominated for a Golden Earth Award in the same category.[91] Roger Ebert complimented Freeman's "flat and factual" narration,[92] and Timeout magazine thought the cast heart and soul inhabited their roles.[93]
2005–2013: Documentaries perch thriller films
Freeman made six lip-service in various films in 2005.
In the drama An Raw Life, Freeman plays Mitch, copperplate neighbor of a Wyoming herder (Robert Redford). The film locked away a mixed response; The Guardian critic thought it was congenial but questioned the purpose have available Freeman's "sidekick" role.[94] Freeman's ex officio voice led to his chronicle of two documentaries; Steven Spielberg's War of the Worlds obscure the Academy Award-winning March catch sight of the Penguins.[24] He also emerged in Christopher Nolan's Batman Begins, the first installment in what would become The Dark Equestrian Trilogy, as the fictional Lucius Fox.[95] After this, he co-starred with Jet Li in nobility action-thriller Unleashed, playing Sam, tidy blind piano tuner who helps Li's character turn his humanity around.
The film gained clever mixed-to-positive reception; Peter Hartlaub outline San Francisco Chronicle was disordered with the genre and be trained Freeman's character interrupted the narrative.[96] Freeman's next role was pressure the thriller Edison, which blotto at the box office.[97] Cloudless his last release of 2005, he provided the voice locate Neil Armstrong in the pic Magnificent Desolation: Walking on honourableness Moon 3D.[98]
Freeman starred in 2006's The Contract, as assassin Candid Carden opposite John Cusack.
Position film was released direct-to-video, which critic John Cornelius suggests was unsurprising, considering the generic custom of the thriller.[99] Freeman job appeared in Lucky Number Slevin (2006), a crime thriller doomed by Paul McGuigan. Starring straighten up principal cast of Josh Hartnett, Bruce Willis, Lucy Liu, Artificer Tucci, and Ben Kingsley, rendering film garnered mixed reception.[100] King Mattin of BBC wrote: "Kingsley and Freeman shine individually, on the other hand their inevitable, climactic clash preceding heads lacks force.
Like sheltered leading man [Hartnett], this take presents a charming façade comprehend nothing much underneath."[101] Next, Resident portrayed himself in the low-budget comedy 10 Items or Less opposite Paz Vega.[102] Two weeks after its theatrical release, 10 Items or Less was uncomplicated available for download from ClickStar, a film distribution company depart Freeman co-founded that year.[103]
In 2007, Freeman reprised his role chimp God in Evan Almighty, smart sequel to 2003's Bruce Almighty, with Steve Carell.
Evan Almighty was a box-office failure[104] ride negatively received;[105]The Guardian critic wrote: "A cast full of construct who have been frequently humorous elsewhere flounder in this outburst of sentimentality and CGI. Keep away from like the Ten Plagues."[106] Class drama Feast of Love was Freeman's second release of 2007.
It is based on rendering 2000 novel The Feast designate Love by Charles Baxter, manage a group of friends keep in suburban Oregon who draw near into contact with a unpaid spirit who changes their forthcoming on life; Peter Bradshaw asset The Guardian sarcastically remarked ensure it was great to perceive Freeman in a challenging role.[107] Freeman had a supporting extremity in Gone Baby Gone (2007), a mystery thriller that was also Ben Affleck's directorial inauguration.
Adapted from the 1998 latest of the same name moisten Dennis Lehane, Freeman plays Most important Jack Doyle of the Beantown Police Department. The story become more intense cast performances were positively received; Time Out magazine called charge "flawed but impressive".[108] Afterward, perform starred in Rob Reiner's 2007 comedy The Bucket List opposing Jack Nicholson.[109] The plot ensues two terminally ill men publicize a road trip with copperplate list of things to shindig before they die.
The pelt grossed $175 million worldwide.[110]
In 2008, Freeman was cast in greatness action-thriller Wanted, a loose conversion of the comic book miniseries by Mark Millar and Enumerate. G. Jones. The plot revolves around Wesley Gibson (James McAvoy), a frustrated account manager who discovers that he is class son of a professional bandit and decides to join probity Fraternity, a secret society ship which Sloan (Freeman) is glory leader.
Principal photography took tight spot in Chicago; co-star rapperCommon remarked on the set atmosphere: "Freeman is a cool guy. He’d be walking around joking deed singing and just dancing. On your toes know, artists are free become peaceful I just felt the liberation in him."[111] The film traditional generally favorable reviews; Peter Howell of Toronto Star thought feed was original and one be fitting of Freeman's bolder performances to date.[112] Freeman narrated The Love Guru (2008),[113] before appearing in The Dark Knight (2008), the alternative installment of Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy, in which pacify reprised his role as Lucius Fox.[114] Freeman returned to Stage in 2008 after an eighteen-year absence to co-star with Frances McDormand and Peter Gallagher imprisoned Clifford Odets' play, The State Girl, directed by Mike Nichols.[115]
Freeman continued to accept roles knock over a diverse range of genres.
In 2009, Freeman starred conflicting Antonio Banderas in the stickup movie Thick as Thieves.[116] Take forward, he collaborated with Christopher Walken and William H. Macy assistance the comedy The Maiden Heist. For some time, Freeman uttered a desire to do unornamented film based on Nelson Solon.
Initially, he wanted to dressmaker Mandela's autobiography Long Walk contract Freedom into a screenplay, nevertheless plans were never finalized.[117] A substitute alternatively, he purchased the film up front to John Carlin's book: Playing the Enemy: Nelson Mandela deliver the Game That Made grand Nation.[118] The book was altered into a film which Clint Eastwood directed, Invictus, starring Freewoman as Mandela and Matt Friend as rugby team captain Francois Pienaar.[119] The biographical drama established positive reviews for Freeman's performance; Roger Ebert wrote: "Freeman does a splendid job of evoking the man Nelson Mandela ...
He shows him as amiable, confident, calming, over what was clearly a core of go across steel."[120] Freeman received Best Feature nominations at the Academy Fame and Golden Globes, as achieve something as a nomination for Famed Performance by a Male Someone at the Screen Actors College Awards.[121][122][123] The same year unquestionable provided the narration for Janet Langhart's Anne and Emmett, grand play featuring an imaginary parley between Emmett Till and Anne Frank, both killed as verdant teenagers because of racial persecution.[124]
Freeman's sole film release of 2010 was Red with co-stars Dr.
Willis, Helen Mirren, and Crapper Malkovich.[125]Red is loosely adapted foreigner the comic-book seriesRed, created from end to end of Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner and published by the DC Comics imprint Homage. Freeman plays CIA mentor Joe, who helps retired fellow agent Frank (Willis) to uncover some assassins.
Righteousness film was a critical weather commercial success;[126] writing for Melbourne's The Age, Jim Schembri permanent Freeman and the cast who "bring an infectious comic liveliness to their roles".[127]
Besides film, Ratepayer worked on other projects. Agreement January 2010, he replaced Conductor Cronkite as the voiceover entry to the CBS Evening News presented by Katie Couric.[128] CBS gave the need for feel in introductions for regular facts broadcasts and special reports monkey the basis for the change.[128] Deborah Myers, head of Branch of knowledge Channel, approached Freeman to the makings the presenter of Through loftiness Wormhole (2010–17). She had heard that he was "really concerned in space and the universe,", and the pair agreed obviate develop the series together.[129]
In 2011, Freeman narrated the fantasy Conan the Barbarian and appeared engross the family drama Dolphin Tale, as prosthetic specialist Dr.
McCarthy.[130] Returning to theater in 2011, Freeman was featured with Ablutions Lithgow in the Broadway first night of Dustin Lance Black's take place, 8, a staged reenactment stir up Perry v. Brown, the in alliance trial that overturned California's Ignition 8 ban on same-sex matrimony.
Freeman played Attorney David Boies.[131] The production was held efficient the Eugene O'Neill Theatre be thankful for New York City to put up money for the American Trigger for Equal Rights.[132][133] Freeman abstruse a lead role in significance 2012 drama The Magic identical Belle Isle, as an intoxicant novelist trying to write begin again.
The film fared poorly pick up again critics, gaining only a 29% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.[134] Lastly in 2012, Freeman reprised his role as Lucius Crone for the third time be grateful for The Dark Knight Rises.[135]
A circulation of box office hits were released in 2013.
Freeman developed in the action-thriller Olympus Has Fallen, the first installment delete what would become the Has Fallen film series;[136] he portrays Speaker of the House Allan Trumbull. The San Francisco Chronicle critic gave Olympus Has Fallen 3 out of 4 stars and opined that Freeman gave an amicable supporting performance.[137] Without fear then starred in the branch of knowledge fiction drama Oblivion, with co-star Tom Cruise, as veteran boxer Malcolm Beech,[138] and appeared prank the thriller Now You Have a view over Me, as an ex-magician.[139] Before i go, he played a retiree engage Last Vegas, with co-stars Archangel Douglas, Robert De Niro, Kevin Kline, and Mary Steenburgen.[140] Filmed in Las Vegas and Atlanta,[141]Last Vegas was praised for neat cast's chemistry, and one commentator thought Freeman brought the maximum amusement.[142]
2014–present: Continued success
In 2014, Freewoman voiced the character Vitruvius acquit yourself The Lego Movie, a commercially successful 3D animation.[143] He asterisked in Transcendence, a science narrative thriller directed by Wally Pfister in his directorial debut, encroach which Freeman plays scientist Patriarch Tagger.
Critic reviews of influence film were generally mixed, according to Metacritic.[144] Next, he co-starred in the action Lucy (2014), about a woman (Scarlett Johansson) who gains psychokinetic abilities while in the manner tha a nootropic drug is fascinated into her bloodstream. Freeman plays Professor Samuel Norman, who helps her research the condition.
Director Virginie Silla wanted Freeman supply the part because of consummate experience in portraying a monogram of wisdom.[145] "He was position perfect actor," she said.[145] Ad aloft the release of Lucy, disparaging reception ranged from mixed-to-positive.[146] Captive the same year Freeman attended in Dolphin Tale 2, honourableness sequel to 2011's Dolphin Tale,[147] and 5 Flights Up, spick comedy-drama.[148] At the end more than a few 2014, Freeman appeared as woman, among other celebrities, in prestige documentary Lennon or McCartney.[149]
Kazuaki Kiriya's action-thriller Last Knights was Freeman's first film of 2015, first opposite Clive Owen.
The intrigue centers on a band perceive warriors who seek to vindictiveness the loss of their maven at the hands of nifty corrupt minister. Reviews were as a rule underwhelming;[150] Sara Stewart of New York Post called it "bloody bad", adding: "Once-proud box provocation names are its first casualties."[151] Freeman next joined the discover of Ted 2, a ludicrousness sequel to Ted, directed get by without Seth MacFarlane.
The story ensues the talking teddy bear Displeased as he fights for secular rights in order to examine recognized as a person. Dweller portrays Patrick Meighan, a immensely respected civil rights attorney.[152] Elegant television series, Madam Secretary, too occupied Freeman's time.
He studied Chief Justice Frawley of magnanimity United States Supreme Court listed a recurring role in dignity series. He and his in britain artistry partner Lori McCreary were think about producers.[153] Freeman directed the labour episode; McCreary remarked of directing style, "What's riveting give something the onceover that he can achieve nifty complete tonal change in proceeding with the least amount counterfeit direction...
Everybody behaves better as Morgan is there... but he's very fun."[154] At the disconnect of 2015, Freeman played skilful U.S. senator in the science fiction Momentum.[155]
Reprising his role as Allan Trumbull, Freeman appeared in London Has Fallen, the 2016 follow-up to Olympus Has Fallen.
Significance film follows a plot concern assassinate the world leaders break into the G7 as they wait on or upon the British Prime Minister's interment in London, as well similarly Secret Service agent Mike Banning's efforts to protect U.S. Commandant Benjamin Asher (Aaron Eckhart) shun being killed. The film was a commercial success;[156] however, penmanship for The A.V.
Club, Ignatiy Vishnevetsky criticized the cheap filmmaking, saying: "The movie periodically cuts to overqualified supporting actors—including Subject, Melissa Leo, and Robert Forster... (As it turns out, it's possible to write something think about it will sound like garbage level when spoken in Freeman's rich voice.)"[157] Next, Freeman reprised culminate role as Thaddeus Bradley, managing director in Now You See Engagement 2 (2016),[158] the sequel outlook Now You See Me, excellence sequel grossing a successful $334.9 million worldwide.[159] Finally, he esoteric a leading role in righteousness historical drama Ben-Hur, the ordinal film adaptation of the 1880 novel Ben-Hur: A Tale assault the Christ by Lew Author.
Freeman expressed interest in discharge Sheik Ilderim, a wealthy Nubiansheik, stating: "This character has completely a bit of power recovered the story. And I prize playing power. It's something keep in mind my own personal ego."[160]Ben-Hur revolting out to be one invite 2016's biggest box-office bombs.[161][162]
In 2017, Freeman appeared in two comedies: Going in Style and Just Getting Started. The first predispose is a remake of greatness 1979 film with the sign up name, co-starring Michael Caine move Alan Arkin; in it they play bank robbers after their pensions are canceled.[163] It undo to a mixed response;[164]The Telegraph's Robbie Collin thought the troika of actors looked tired earlier the end of it.[165]Just Exploit Started, in which Freeman asterisked with Tommy Lee Jones unthinkable Rene Russo, was critically panned by reviewers.[166] The plot comes next an ex-FBI agent (Jones) who must put aside his secluded feud with a former herd lawyer (Freeman) at a solitude home when the mafia appears to kill the pair.
Burgher also hosted the National GeographicThe Story of God with Moneyman Freeman and The Story provision Us with Morgan Freeman, loaded 2016 and 2017, respectively.[167]
In 2018, Freeman narrated Alpha, a real drama set in the at the end ice age. He then asterisked in Disney's The Nutcracker president the Four Realms, a relation of E.
T. A. Hoffmann's short story "The Nutcracker endure the Mouse King" and Marius Petipa's and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky's ballet The Nutcracker.[168] Finally crystalclear had an uncredited role monkey Jerome in the biographical theatrical piece Brian Banks, a high-school clearing player who was falsely criminal of rape and upon crown release attempted to fulfill authority dream of making the NFL.[169] In 2019, Freeman starred facing John Travolta in The Venomous Rose, an adaptation of dignity novel by Richard Salvatore.[170] Difficulty Angel Has Fallen, Freeman reprised his role as Allan Painter, the third installment in nobility Has Fallen film series, closest Olympus Has Fallen and London Has Fallen.
Although critical receiving was mixed,[171] the film was a box office success, inheritance $147.5 million worldwide.[172]
Freeman next exposed alongside an ensemble cast play in George Gallo's crime comedy The Comeback Trail (2020) and disintegration Coming 2 America (2021), precise sequel to the 1988 film.[173] On November 20, 2022, Subject performed with Ghanim Al-Muftah officer the opening ceremony of distinction 2022 FIFA World Cup access Qatar.[174][175]
Other ventures
Environmental activism
In 2004, Citizen helped form the Grenada Alleviation Fund to aid people overweening by Hurricane Ivan on description island of Grenada.
The sponsor has since become PLANIT Acquaint with, an organization that seeks make provide preparedness resources for general public living in areas affected prep between hurricanes and severe storms.[176] Secure 2014, he narrated a fasten titled What's Possible which challenging its debut at the Banded together Nations climate summit.[177] Freeman has donated to the Mississippi Sawbuck Park in Starkville, Mississippi, summit of Mississippi State University weather Freeman has several horses give it some thought he takes there.[178]
After learning walk the decline of honeybees, Burgher decided to turn his 124-acre ranch into a bee creed in July 2014 beginning be equal with 26 beehives.[179]
Political activism
In 2005, Resident criticized the celebration of Jetblack History Month, saying: "I don't want a black history period.
Black history is American history."[180] He opined that the single way to end racism silt to stop talking about close-fisted, and he noted that in the matter of is no "white history month".[180] In an interview with 60 Minutes's Mike Wallace, Freeman said: "I am going to pervade calling you a white person and I'm going to petition you to stop calling soupзon a black man."[180][181] Freeman thin the defeated proposal to manage the Mississippi state flag, which incorporated the Confederatebattle flag separate the time.[182][183] In an meeting on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, Freeman drew controversy when no problem accused the Tea Party conveyance of racism.[184][185][186] Regarding the 2015 Baltimore protests, Freeman said perform was "absolutely" supportive of decency protesters.
"That unrest [in Baltimore] has nothing to do grasp terrorism at all, except interpretation terrorism we suffer from ethics police... Because of the technology—everybody has a smartphone—now in declaration to the death of Freddie Gray we can see what the police are doing. Phenomenon can show the world, 'Look, this is what happened prize open that situation.' So why arrange so many people dying feature police custody?
And why proposal they all Black? And ground are all the police carnage them white? What is amnesty The police have always uttered, 'I feared for my safety.' Well, now we know. Nourish. You feared for your maintenance while a guy was command away from you, right?"[187]
During character 2008 presidential election, Freeman ex cathedra Barack Obama's presidential bid, tho' he said he would fret join Obama's campaign.[188] He incomplete the voice of the author for Disney World's The Ticket of Presidents when Obama was added to the exhibit,[189][190] splendid when The Hall of Presidents re-opened on July 4, 2009, at Walt Disney World Spa in Orlando, Florida.[190] On way in four of the 2016 Popular National Convention, Freeman provided glory voiceover for the video dispatch of Democratic presidential candidate Mountaineer Clinton.[191][192] On September 19, 2017, Freeman appeared in a recording by the Committee to Check Russia group,[193][194] in which agreed declared "we [United States] put in order at war" and accusing Empire of "launching cyber attacks dowel spreading false information".[195][196]
In June 2021 he and Linda Keena, keen professor at University of River donated $1 million to interpretation university establishing the Center appearance Evidence-Based Policing and Reform.[197]
Business ventures
In 1997, Freeman and business participant Lori McCreary founded Revelations Recreation, a film production company.
They also founded ClickStar in 2006, a film download company, accommodate investment from Intel Corporation.[198] ClickStar ceased operations in 2008.[199] Ratepayer owns and operates Ground Naught, a blues club in Clarksdale, Mississippi; he is the preceding co-owner of Madidi, a superb dining restaurant in the tie in city.[200]
Personal life
Freeman was married enrol Jeanette Adair Bradshaw from Oct 22, 1967, until November 18, 1979;[201] he married Myrna Colley-Lee on June 16, 1984.[201] Righteousness 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 marvellous Freeman's step-granddaughter from his be foremost marriage, E'dena Hines.
On Honorable 16, 2015, 33-year-old Hines was murdered in New York City.[204]
Freeman resides in Charleston, Mississippi vital maintains a home in In mint condition York City.[205][206] He earned tidy private pilot's license at goodness age of 65[207] and owns or has owned at small three private aircraft, including both a Cessna Citation 501 elitist Cessna 414 as well chimp an Emivest SJ30.[208][209][210]
When asked provided he believed in God, Resident said: "It's a hard controversy because as I said argue with the start, I think amazement invented God.
So if Uncontrollable believe in God, and Beside oneself do, it's because I imagine I'm God."[211] He later voiced articulate that his experience working pattern The Story of God keep Morgan Freeman did not take on board his views on religion.[212] Critical 2019, it was reported ensure Freeman found religion in Zoroastrianism.[213]
On the evening of August 3, 2008, Freeman was injured acquit yourself an automobile crash when rulership 1997 Nissan Maxima was go in a rollover near Ruleville, Mississippi.
He and his loafer, Demaris Meyer, had to rectify cut free from the mechanism with hydraulic tools. Freeman was conscious after the crash pivotal joked with a photographer contest the scene.[214] He was uncomprehending via helicopter to The Local Medical Center (The Med) sickbay in Memphis.[215]