Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actor, director, and narrator. Noted for his distinctive deep voice, Freeman is known for his various roles in a wide variety of film genres. Throughout his career spanning over five decades, he has received multiple accolades, including an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and a Golden Globe Award.
Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman was raised in Mississippi where he began acting in school plays. He studied theatre arts in Los Angeles and appeared in stage productions in his early career. He rose to fame in the 1970s for his role in the children's television series The Electric Company. Freeman then appeared in the Shakespearean plays Coriolanus and Julius Caesar, the former of which earned him an Obie Award. His breakout role was in Street Smart (1987), playing a hustler, which earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He achieved further stardom in Glory, the biographical drama Lean on Me, and comedy-drama Driving Miss Daisy (all 1989), the latter of which garnered him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor.
In 1992, Freeman starred alongside Clint Eastwood in the western revenge film Unforgiven; this would be the first of several collaborations with Eastwood. In 1994, he starred in the prison drama The Shawshank Redemption for which he received another Academy Award nomination. Freeman also starred in David Fincher's crime thriller Se7en (1995), and Steven Spielberg's historical drama Amistad (1997). Freeman won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Clint Eastwood's 2004 sports drama Million Dollar Baby. In 2009, he received his fifth Oscar nomination for playing former South African President Nelson Mandela in Eastwood's Invictus. Freeman is also known for his performance as Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan's The Dark Knight Trilogy (2005–2012).
In addition to acting, Freeman has directed the drama Bopha! (1993). He also founded film production company Revelations Entertainment with business partner Lori McCreary. He is the recipient of the Kennedy Center Honor, the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award. For his performances in theatrical productions, he has won three Obie Awards, one of the most prestigious honors for recognizing excellence in theatre.
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Known For
Gunner
Kendrick Ryker
2024
The Minute You Wake Up Dead
Sheriff Thurmond Fowler
2022
Betty White: A Celebration
Self
2022
The Dark Knight Rises
Fox
2012
Dolphin Tale
Dr. McCarthy
2011
Born to Be Wild
Narrator (voice)
2011
RED
Joe Matheson
2010
The People Speak
Self
2009
Invictus
Nelson Mandela
2009
The Maiden Heist
Charles Peterson
2009
Prom Night in Mississippi
Narrator (voice)
2009
Thick as Thieves
Keith Ripley
2009
The Dark Knight
Lucius Fox
2008
Wanted
Sloan
2008
The Bucket List
Carter Chambers
2007
Feast of Love
Harry Stevenson
2007
Gone Baby Gone
Jack Doyle
2007
Evan Almighty
God
2007
10 Items or Less
'Him'
2006
The Contract
Frank Carden
2006
Lucky Number Slevin
The Boss
2006
Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon
Neil Armstrong (voice)
2005
An Unfinished Life
Mitch Bradley
2005
Shelter from the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast
Self
2005
Edison
Ashford
2005
War of the Worlds
Narrator (voice)
2005
Batman Begins
Lucius Fox
2005
Unleashed
Sam
2005
Million Dollar Baby
Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris
2004
The Hunting of the President
Narrator (voice)
2004
The Big Bounce
Walter Crewes
2004
Guilty by Association
Lt. Redding
2003
Bruce Almighty
God
2003
Dreamcatcher
Col. Abraham Curtis
2003
Levity
Miles Evans
2003
The Sum of All Fears
DCI William Cabot
2002
High Crimes
Charlie Grimes
2002
Along Came a Spider
Alex Cross
2001
Nurse Betty
Charlie
2000
Under Suspicion
Captain Victor Benezet
2000
Deep Impact
President Tom Beck
1998
Hard Rain
Jim
1998
Amistad
Theodore Joadson
1997
Kiss the Girls
Det. Alex Cross
1997
Cosmic Voyage
Narrator (voice)
1996
Chain Reaction
Paul Shannon
1996
Moll Flanders
Hibble
1996
Se7en
Somerset
1995
Outbreak
General Billy Ford
1995
The Shawshank Redemption
Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding
1994
Unforgiven
Ned Logan
1992
The Power of One
Geel Piet
1992
Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves
Azeem
1991
The Bonfire of the Vanities
Judge Leonard White
1990
Follow the Drinking Gourd
Narrator (voice)
1990
Glory
Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins
1989
Driving Miss Daisy
Hoke Colburn
1989
Johnny Handsome
Lt. A.Z. Drones
1989
Sniff
Joe Mulwray
Lean On Me
Principal Joe Clark
1989
Clean and Sober
Craig
1988
Street Smart
Leo "Fast Black" Smalls, Jr.
1987
Resting Place
Luther Johnson
1986
That Was Then... This Is Now
Charlie Woods
1985
Teachers
Lewis
1984
Harry & Son
Siemanowski
1984
Eyewitness
Lieutenant Black
1981
Death of a Prophet
Malcolm X
1981
The Blues Live On! The Delta Blues Museum
Narrator (voice)
57 Seconds
Anton Burrell
2023
761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers
Self
2023
Paradise Highway
Gerick
2022
Panama Canal in 3D a Land Divided a World United
Self
2019
London Has Fallen
Alan Trumbull
2016
Dolphin Tale 2
Dr. Cameron McCarthy
2014
Lucy
Professor Norman
2014
Transcendence
Joseph Tagger
2014
Island of Lemurs: Madagascar
Narrator (voice)
2014
The Lego Movie
Vitruvius (voice)
2014
JFK: A President Betrayed
Narrator (voice)
2013
Last Vegas
Archibald 'Archie' Clayton
2013
Now You See Me
Thaddeus Bradley
2013
Oblivion
Beech
2013
Olympus Has Fallen
Alan Trumbull
2013
Tales from the Warner Bros. Lot
Self
2013
B.B. King: The Life of Riley
Narrator (voice)
2012
The Magic of Belle Isle
Monte Wildhorn
2012
Betty White's 90th Birthday: A Tribute to America's Golden Girl
Self
2012
Breaking the Taboo
Narrator (voice)
2011
The Eastwood Factor
Self - Narrator (voice)
2010
Stephen King: Shining in the Dark
Self
1999
The Long Way Home
Narrator (voice)
1997
Blacklist: Hollywood on Trial
Edward G. Robinson
1996
Inside the White House
Narrator (voice)
1996
The True Story of Glory Continues
Narrator (voice)
1991
Clinton and Nadine
Dorsey Pratt
1988
The Execution of Raymond Graham
Warden Pratt
1985
Marie: A True Story
Charles Traughber
1985
The Little Bedroom
Now You See Me: Now You Don't
Thaddeus Bradley
2025
Clint Eastwood : la légende
Himself
2025
SBALKANU
(narrator)
2024
How to Rob a Bank
Azeem (archive footage)
2024
Odysseus Returns
Narrator
2024
A Good Person
Daniel
2023
The Ritual Killer
Dr. Mackles
2023
Power of Chi
Narrator (voice)
2022
Oscar Micheaux: The Superhero of Black Filmmaking
Self
2021
Rita Moreno: Just a Girl Who Decided to Go for It
Self
2021
Hitman's Wife's Bodyguard
Senior
2021
Vanquish
Damon
2021
Coming 2 America
Morgan Freeman
2021
The Comeback Trail
Reggie Fontaine
2020
Meeting the Beatles in India
Narrator (voice)
2020
The Disney Family Singalong - Volume II
Self
2020
Into Nature's Wild
Narrator (voice)
2020
Angel Has Fallen
Alan Trumbull
2019
Brian Banks
Jerome Johnson (uncredited)
2019
The Poison Rose
Doc
2019
The Nutcracker and the Four Realms
Drosselmeyer
2018
America's Musical Journey
Narrator (voice)
2018
Just Getting Started
Duke
2017
John G. Avildsen: King of the Underdogs
Self
2017
The Words That Built America
Self - Reader: Declaration of Independence
2017
The C Word
Narrator (voice)
2016
JFK & LBJ: A Time for Greatness
Narrator (voice)
2015
The Fire Rises: The Creation and Impact of The Dark Knight Trilogy
Self (archive footage)
2013
Ending the Knight
Self
2012
Conan the Barbarian
Narrator (voice)
2011
The 16th Man
Narrator (voice)
2010
Where the Water Meets the Sky
2008
A Raisin in the Sun
Narrator (voice) (uncredited)
2008
All About Us
Self
2007
The Electric Company's Greatest Hits & Bits
Self
2006
Boffo! Tinseltown's Bombs and Blockbusters
Self
2006
The Best of The Tony Awards: The Plays
Jaques (segment "As You Like It")
2006
Survivors of the Shoah: Visual History Foundation
2004
The Ellen DeGeneres Show
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Declaration of Independence
Self
2003
All on Accounta Pullin' a Trigger
Self
2002
Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven'
Self
2002
Partners of the Heart
Narrator (voice)
2002
Shawshank: The Redeeming Feature
Self
2001
The View
Self · (2 episodes)
1997
The Making of Se7en
Self
1997
Inside the Actors Studio
Self · (1 episode)
1994
Eastwood & Co.: Making 'Unforgiven'
Self
1992
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno
(1 episode)
1992
The Massachusetts 54th Colored Infantry
Narrator (voice)
1991
Rabbit Ears - The Savior is Born
Narrator (voice)
1990
The Earth Day Special
Walter Samson
1990
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
(2 episodes)
1988
The Gospel at Colonus
Messenger
1985
The Twilight Zone
Tony (segment "Dealer's Choice") · (1 episode)
1985
Hollow Image
Sweet Talk
1979
Out to Lunch
Self / Croupier
1974
Blade
Chris
1973
Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow!
Afro
1971
The Electric Company
Count Dracula · (780 episodes)
1971
The Electric Company
Mad Scientist · (780 episodes)
1971
The Electric Company
Easy Reader · (780 episodes)
1971
Caught in the Middle
1970
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
Grand Central Commuter
1968
A Man Called Adam
Party Guest (uncredited)
1966
The Pawnbroker
Man on Street (Uncredited)
1965
Hate to See You Go
Sonny Bell
CLINT
Narrator (voice)
Lioness
Secretary of State Edwin Mullins · (10 episodes)
2023
100 Years of Warner Bros.
Self - Narrator (voice) · (4 episodes)
2023
The Muppets Mayhem
Morgan Freeman · (1 episode)
2023
History's Greatest Escapes with Morgan Freeman
Self - Host · (16 episodes)
2021
Scooby-Doo and Guess Who?
Morgan Freeman (voice) · (1 episode)
2019
The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman
Self - Host · (6 episodes)
2017
The Story of God with Morgan Freeman
Self - Host · (15 episodes)
2016
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Self · (2 episodes)
2015
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Self · (2 episodes)
2014
Curiosity
Self - Narrator (voice) · (31 episodes)
2011
Through the Wormhole
Self - Host · (62 episodes)
2010
30 for 30
(1 episode)
2009
The Jay Leno Show
Self · (1 episode)
2009
Live from Studio Five
Self · (1 episode)
2009
The Graham Norton Show
Self · (1 episode)
2007
Slavery and the Making of America
Self - Narrator (voice) · (4 episodes)
2005
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson
Self · (2 episodes)
2005
The Chris Rock Show
(1 episode)
1997
The Daily Show
Self · (2 episodes)
1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
1993
Pebble Mill
Self · (1 episode)
1991
The Civil War
Frederick Douglass · (9 episodes)
1990
American Experience
Narrator (voice) · (2 episodes)
1988
CBS News Sunday Morning
Self · (1 episode)
1979
The Kennedy Center Honors
Self · (1 episode)
1978
Saturday Night Live
Self - Cameo (uncredited) · (1 episode)
1975
Spidey Super Stories
Easy Reader · (2 episodes)
1974
Spidey Super Stories
Count Dracula · (1 episode)
1974
Spidey Super Stories
Police officer · (1 episode)
1974
Spidey Super Stories
Umpire · (1 episode)
1974
60 Minutes
Self · (1 episode)
1968
The Oscars
Self - Presenter · (5 episodes)
1953
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Clarence · (1 episode)
1951
The Promised Land
Narrator (voice) · (5 episodes)
Number One on the Call Sheet
Self · (1 episode)
2025
My Dead Friend Zoe
Dr. Cole
2024
Life on Our Planet
Self - Narrator (voice) · (8 episodes)
2023
Our Universe
Self - Narrator (voice) · (6 episodes)
2022
Clint Eastwood: The Last Legend
Self (archive footage)
2022
The Jennifer Hudson Show
Self · (1 episode)
2022
Sidney
Self
2022
Clint Eastwood: A Cinematic Legacy
Self · (9 episodes)
2021
Solos
Narrator (voice) · (7 episodes)
2021
Solos
Stuart Waldo Thompson · (1 episode)
2021
Morgan Freeman: Breaking Barriers
Self
2021
Die Clint Eastwood Story
Self
2018
Laddie: The Man Behind the Movies
Self
2017
Going in Style
Willie Davis
2017
Ben-Hur
Sheik Ilderim
2016
Now You See Me 2
Thaddeus Bradley
2016
Momentum
Senator
2015
Ted 2
Patrick Meighan
2015
Last Knights
Bartok
2015
Madam Secretary
Chief Justice Frawley · (1 episode)
2014
Madam Secretary
Chief Justice Wilbourne (uncredited) · (2 episodes)
2014
5 Flights Up
Alex Carver
2014
Wish Wizard
Maxwell Omni
2014
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
Self · (1 episode)
2014
We the People
Narrator (voice)
2014
Eastwood Directs: The Untold Story
Self
2013
The Editor and The Dragon: Horace Carter Fights the Klan
Narrator (voice)
2013
Le frontiere dell'Astronomia - EP-7 Vite aliene nel cosmo
Narratore
2012
Echoes 'Cross the Tracks
Self
2012
Honest Trailers
Lucius Fox (archive footage) · (2 episodes)
2012
Clint Eastwood's West
Self
2011
The President's Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Oval Office
Narrator (voice)
2010
For Love of Liberty: The Story of America's Black Patriots
Self (voice)
2010
AFI: 100 Years... 100 Movies... 10th Anniversary Edition
Self
2007
The Graham Norton Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2007
The Reichen Show
Self - Guest · (1 episode)
2005
Nos Bastidores de Hollywood
Self
2005
Blues Divas
Self
2005
Genius. A Night for Ray Charles
Self
2004
America Beyond the Color Line
Self · (1 episode)
2004
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Self · (1 episode)
2003
Clint Eastwood: Out of the Shadows
Narrator (voice)
2000
Parkinson
Self · (1 episode)
1998
Scandalize My Name: Stories from the Blacklist
Self
1998
HBO First Look
(1 episode)
1992
Shelley Duvall's Bedtime Stories
Narrator (Voice) · (1 episode)
1992
Robin Hood: The Myth, the Man, the Movie
Self
1991
Night of 100 Stars III
Self
1990
Fight for Life
Dr. Sherard
1987
American Masters
Narrator (voice) · (1 episode)
1986
The Atlanta Child Murders
Ben Shelter · (2 episodes)
1985
Goldene Kamera Verleihung
Self · (1 episode)
1984
The Marva Collins Story
Clarence Collins
1981
Brubaker
Walter
1980
Attica
Hap Richards
1980
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Uncle Hammer
1978
Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry
Uncle Hammer · (3 episodes)
1978
The American Film Institute Salute to ...
Self · (2 episodes)
1973
Great Performances
Messenger · (1 episode)
1971
Where Were You When the Lights Went Out?
Grand Central Commuter (uncredited)
1968
Tony Awards
Self - Performer · (2 episodes)
1956
The Oscars
Self · (1 episode)
1953
Today
Self · (1 episode)
1952
Hallmark Hall of Fame
Luther · (1 episode)
1951
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Presenter · (2 episodes)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Nominee · (4 episodes)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self · (1 episode)
1944
Golden Globe Awards
Self - Cecil B. DeMille Award Recipient · (1 episode)
1944