Contents
Morgan Freeman
Playing Red in The Shawshank Redemption and bringing a distinctive voice to film narration.
Driving Miss Daisy · The Shawshank Redemption
- Born
- 1 June 1937
- Birthplace
- Memphis, Tennessee, United States
More people
Morgan Freeman
An American actor whose breakthrough arrived after years on stage and television. He became known for performances combining composure, humour and emotional weight.
Early life
Mississippi childhood
Grew up largely in Mississippi and performed in school productions.
Military service
Served in the US Air Force before pursuing performance professionally.
Career
- 1960s–1970s
Stage and television
Worked in theatre and became familiar through The Electric Company.
- 1987–1989
Film breakthrough
Street Smart and Driving Miss Daisy expanded his film career.
- 1990s
Leading character roles
Appeared in The Shawshank Redemption and Se7en.
- 2005
Academy Award
Won Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby.
Selected work
Driving Miss Daisy
Played chauffeur Hoke Colburn over a changing relationship.
The Shawshank Redemption
Played and narrated Red’s account of friendship and imprisonment.
Million Dollar Baby
Portrayed a former boxer who watches a gym’s unfolding tragedy.
Beyond acting
Narration
Lent his voice to documentaries including March of the Penguins.
Mississippi ties
Maintained business and cultural connections with the Mississippi Delta.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Academy Awards ceremony ↗Photo: U.S. Secretary of Defense. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
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