Morgan Freeman

Morgan Freeman (http://www.thespiannet.com/actors/ F/freeman_morgan/mf.jpg)

Keeping the big screen alive with dignified acting and class, Morgan Freeman has been in the spotlight for 18 years since his breakthrough role in Street Smart. Morgan was one of the first African-Americans to play roles not written specifically for an African-American. His smooth voice and unmatched acting has made him one of the most respected and praised actors of his time.

Morgan Freeman was born on June 1, 1937, to his parents, a school teacher and a barber. While Morgan was born in Memphis, Tennessee, his parents moved to Chicago and eventually to his grandparents' house in Mississippi. In 1955 at age 18, Morgan signed up for the U.S. Air Force with ambitions of becoming a fighter plane pilot. However, he ended up serving his five years as a mechanic.

Early in his life and career, Morgan attended Los Angeles City College. He married Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, with whom he had two children. Unfortunately the marriage ended in divorce in 1979. In 1984, he married Tomyma Colley-Lee and they're still married with two children today. His first big screen role was a noncredited one in "A Man Called Adam," in 1966. In 1976, he made his Broadway debut in an all black production of "Hello, Dolly." In the mid to late '70s and early '80s, Freeman appeared regularly in minor roles on daytime series and soaps.

Morgan in Deep Impact (http://www.thespiannet.com/actors/ F/freeman_morgan/di.jpg)

Some memorable roles of Morgan’s include, God in "Bruce Almighty," the U.S. President in "Deep Impact," Hoke Colburn in "Driving Miss Daisy," Robin’s sidekick in "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves," an aged lifer in "The Shawshank Redemption," a detective in "Seen," a former slave in "Amistad," and a trainer in "Million Dollar Baby." Morgan Freeman’s incredible acting has been awarded many times. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role in "Million Dollar Baby," a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor in "Street Smart," a Golden Globe, Silver Berlin Bear from the Berlin International Film Festival, Image Award, and a National Board of Review Award for "Driving Miss Daisy," a Best Actor Empire Award for "Seven," and many lifetime achievement awards including Outstanding Achievement in Acting Award at the Hollywood Film Festival, Joseph Plateau Life Achievement Award at Flanders International Film Festival, and a Philadelphia Festival of World Cinema Lifetime Achievement Award. On March 18, 2003 Morgan even got his own star on the Walk of Fame.

Morgan Freeman affects me in my daily life in the sense that neither his color nor age matter. He has become successful on pure talent. Our world today is filled with prejudices: against one's religion, skin color, nationality, or even age. To Morgan, none of that matters. He has never allowed his skin color to affect the roles he has taken. Nor will he ever. Even being sixty-eight hasn't slowed him down in the least. He recently starred in 2005’s "Batman Begins," narrated both "March of the Penguins" and a portion of "War of the Worlds," and will appear in "Lucky Number Slevin," "Edison," and "An Unfinished Life." One can only guess where his next role will take him. Something one can expect is many more years of unparalleled film success and unique acting from Morgan Freeman.