Morgan Freeman

With an authoritative voice and calm demeanor, this ever popular American actor has grown into one of the most respected figures in modern US cinema. Morgan was born on June 1, 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee, to Mayme Edna (Revere), a teacher, and Morgan Porterfield Freeman, a barber. The young Freeman attended Los Angeles City College before serving several years in the US Air Force as a mechanic between 1955 and 1959. His first dramatic arts exposure was on the stage including appearing in an all-African American production of the exuberant musical Hello, Dolly!.Throughout the 1970s, he continued his work on stage, winning Drama Desk and Clarence Derwent 'Awards' (qv) and receiving a Tony Award nomination for his performance in The Mighty Gents in 1978. In 1980, he won two Obie 'Awards' (qv), for his portrayal of Shakespearean anti-hero Coriolanus at the New York Shakespeare Festival and for his work in Mother Courage and Her Children. Freeman won another Obie in 1984 for his performance as The Messenger in the acclaimed Brooklyn Academy of Music production of 'Lee Breuer' (qv)'s The Gospel at Colonus and, in 1985, won the Drama-Logue Award for the same role. In 1987, Freeman created the role of Hoke Coleburn in 'Alfred Uhry' (qv)'s Pulitzer Prize-winning play Driving Miss Daisy, which brought him his fourth Obie Award. In 1990, Freeman starred as Petruchio in the New York Shakespeare Festival's The Taming of the Shrew, opposite 'Tracey Ullman' (qv). Returning to the Broadway stage in 2008, Freeman starred with 'Frances McDormand' (qv) and 'Peter Gallagher' (qv) in 'Clifford Odets' (qv)' drama The Country Girl, directed by 'Mike Nichols' (qv).Freeman first appeared on TV screens as several characters including "Easy Reader", "Mel Mounds" and "Count Dracula" on the Children's Television Workshop (now Sesame Workshop) show _The Electric Company (1971)_ (qv). He then moved into feature film with another children's adventure, _Who Says I Can't Ride a Rainbow! (1971)_ (qv). Next, there was a small role in the thriller _Blade (1973)_ (qv); then he played Casca in _Julius Caesar (1979)_ (qv) and the title role in _Coriolanus (1979)_ (qv). Regular work was coming in for the talented Freeman and he appeared in the prison dramas _Attica (1980)_ (qv) and _Brubaker (1980)_ (qv), _Eyewitness (1981)_ (qv), and portrayed the final 24 hours of slain Malcolm X in _Death of a Prophet (1981)_ (qv). For most of the 1980s, Freeman continued to contribute decent enough performances in films that fluctuated in their quality. However, he really stood out, scoring an Oscar nomination as a merciless hoodlum in _Street Smart (1987)_ (qv) and, then, he dazzled audiences and pulled a second Oscar nomination in the film version of _Driving Miss Daisy (1989)_ (qv) opposite 'Jessica Tandy' (qv). The same year, Freeman teamed up with youthful 'Matthew Broderick' (qv) and fiery 'Denzel Washington' (qv) in the epic Civil War drama _Glory (1989)_ (qv) about freed slaves being recruited to form the first all-African American fighting brigade.His star continued to rise, and the 1990s kicked off strongly with roles in _The Bonfire of the Vanities (1990)_ (qv), _Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves (1991)_ (qv), and _The Power of One (1992)_ (qv). Freeman's next role was as gunman Ned Logan, wooed out of retirement by friend William Munny to avenge several prostitutes in the wild west town of Big Whiskey in 'Clint Eastwood' (qv)'s de-mythologized western _Unforgiven (1992)_ (qv). The film was a sh and scored an acting Oscar for 'Gene Hackman' (qv), a directing Oscar for Eastwood, and the Oscar for best picture. In 1993, Freeman made his directorial debut on _Bopha! (1993)_ (qv) and soon after formed his production company, Revelations Entertainment.More strong scripts came in, and Freeman was back behind bars depicting a knowledgeable inmate (and obtaining his third Oscar nomination), befriending falsely accused banker 'Tim Robbins' (qv) in _The Shawshank Redemption (1994)_ (qv). He was then back out hunting a religious serial killer in _Se7en (1995)_ (qv), starred alongside 'Keanu Reeves' (qv) in _Chain Reaction (1996)_ (qv), and was pursuing another serial murderer in _Kiss the Girls (1997)_ (qv).Further praise followed for his role in the slave tale of _Amistad (1997)_ (qv), he was a worried US President facing Armageddon from above in _Deep Impact (1998)_ (qv), appeared in 'Neil LaBute' (qv)'s black comedy _Nurse Betty (2000)_ (qv), and reprised his role as Alex Cross in _Along Came a Spider (2001)_ (qv). Now highly popular, he was much in demand with cinema audiences, and he co-starred in the terrorist drama _The Sum of All Fears (2002)_ (qv), was a military officer in the 'Stephen King' (qv)-inspired _Dreamcatcher (2003)_ (qv), gave divine guidance as God to 'Jim Carrey' (qv) in _Bruce Almighty (2003)_ (qv), and played a minor role in the comedy _The Big Bounce (2004)_ (qv).2005 was a huge year for Freeman. First, he he teamed up with good friend 'Clint Eastwood' (qv) to appear in the drama, _Million Dollar Baby (2004)_ (qv). Freeman's on-screen performance is simply world-class as ex-prize fighter Eddie "Scrap Iron" Dupris, who works in a run-down boxing gym alongside grizzled trainer Frankie Dunn, as the two work together to hone the skills of never-say-die female boxer 'Hilary Swank' (qv). Freeman received his fourth Oscar nomination and, finally, impressed the Academy's judges enough to win the Best Supporting Actor Oscar for his performance. He also narrated 'Steven Spielberg' (qv)'s _War of the Worlds (2005)_ (qv) and appeared in _Batman Begins (2005)_ (qv) as Lucius Fox, a valuable ally of 'Christian Bale' (qv)'s Bruce Wayne/Batman for director 'Christopher Nolan' (qv). Freeman would reprise his role in the two sequels of the record-breaking, genre-redefining trilogy.Roles in tentpoles and indies followed; highlights include his role as a crime boss in _Lucky Number Slevin (2006)_ (qv), a second go-round as God in _Evan Almighty (2007)_ (qv) with 'Steve Carell' (qv) taking over for 'Jim Carrey' (qv), and a supporting role in 'Ben Affleck' (qv)'s directorial debut, _Gone Baby Gone (2007)_ (qv). He co-starred with 'Jack Nicholson' (qv) in the breakout hit _The Bucket List (2007)_ (qv) in 2007, and followed that up with another box-office success, _Wanted (2008)_ (qv), then segued into the second Batman film, _The Dark Knight (2008)_ (qv).In 2009, he reunited with Eastwood to star in the director's true-life drama _Invictus (2009)_ (qv), on which Freeman also served as an executive producer. For his portrayal of 'Nelson Mandela' (qv) in the film, Freeman garnered Oscar, Golden Globe and Critics' Choice Award nominations, and won the National Board of Review Award for Best Actor.Recently, Freeman appeared in _RED (2010)_ (qv), a surprise box-office hit; he narrated the _Conan the Barbarian (2011)_ (qv) remake, starred in 'Rob Reiner' (qv)'s _The Magic of Belle Isle (2012)_ (qv); and capped the Batman trilogy with _The Dark Knight Rises (2012)_ (qv). Freeman has several films upcoming, including the thriller _Now You See Me (2013)_ (qv), under the direction of 'Louis Leterrier' (qv), and the science fiction actioner _Oblivion (2013)_ (qv), in which he stars with 'Tom Cruise' (qv).::[email protected]