Join or Sign In

Continue with Facebook Continue with email

By joining TV Guide, you agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy.

Morgan Freeman Biography

Birth Name:Morgan Freeman

Birth Place:Memphis, Tennessee, United States

Profession Actor, Producer, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

Received the 2006 Mississippi's Best Lifetime Achievement Award
Participated in the Broadway debut of "8," playing the role of David Boies to raise money for the American Foundation for Equal Rights in 2011
Co-founded the Grenada Relief Fund in 2004 to help aid and support the people affected by Hurricane Ivan
Received an honorary doctorate degree from Delta State University in 2010
Got his start in acting in "The Electric Company․"
Quote: "I'm not intimidated by lead roles․ I'm better in them․ I don't feel pressure․ I feel released at times like that․ That's what I'm born to do․"
Known for his rich, yet calm voice
Co-founded the production company Revelations Entertainment
Is featured on the opening track on the B․o․B․ album "Strange Clouds․"
Enlisted in the United States Air Force after graduating high school, rising to the rank of airman first class while serving as an automatic tracking radar repairman
Was inspired to become an actor after watching the films of Gary Cooper
Obtained his private pilot's license at the age of 65

Awards

1987LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1987NYFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1988Oscar-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
1988Independent Spirit Award-Best Supporting Male: winner
1988Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
1988NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
1989ACE-Supporting Actor in a Movie or Miniseries: nominated
1989Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
1989KCFCC Award-Best Actor: winner
1989LAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1989NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
1989NYFCC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1990Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1990American Comedy Award-Funniest Actor in a Motion Picture (Leading Role): nominated
1990Silver Berlin Bear-Best Acting Team: winner
1990CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1990Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical: winner
1990Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
1990NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1992MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Duo: nominated
1993Bronze Wrangler-Theatrical Motion Picture: winner
1994ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
1994ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1995Oscar-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1995Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1995ACCA-Best Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
1995ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
1995CFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
1995Chlotrudis Award-Best Actor: winner
1995DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1995Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
1996Saturn Award-Best Actor: nominated
1996CFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
1996Image Award-Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
1996MTV Movie Award-Best On-Screen Duo: nominated
1996NSFC Award-Best Actor: nominated
1997Empire Award-Best Actor: winner
1997ALFS Award-Actor of the Year: winner
1998Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Suspense: nominated
1998Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
1999Blockbuster Entertainment Award-Favorite Actor - Sci-Fi: nominated
1999Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2001Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Actor: nominated
2001Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2001Golden Satellite Award-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role, Comedy or Musical: nominated
2002BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2002Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2003Black Reel-Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2003Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2003Teen Choice Award-Choice Movie Chemistry: nominated
2004ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: nominated
2004ACCA-Best Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2004BET Comedy Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Box Office Movie: nominated
2004Black Reel-Film: Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2004Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2004LAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2004SEFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2004UFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2004WAFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role: winner
2005Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture: nominated
2005BET Award-Best Actor: nominated
2005Black Movie Award-Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role: nominated
2005Black Reel-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005Critics Choice Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005DFWFCA Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005Gold Derby Film Award-Supporting Actor: nominated
2005Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2005Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture: nominated
2005Image Award-Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2005INOCA-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005IOMA-Best Supporting Actor (Miglior attore non protagonista): winner
2005NSFC Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005OFTA Film Award-Best Supporting Actor: nominated
2005VFCC Award-Best Supporting Actor: winner
2006Camie-: winner
2008Movies for Grownups Award-Best Buddy Picture: winner
2008ACCA-Best Cast Ensemble: winner
2008Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2009AAFCA Award-Best Actor: winner
2009COFCA Award-Best Ensemble: winner
2009Critics Choice Award-Best Acting Ensemble: nominated
2009DFWFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009Gold Derby Film Award-Ensemble Cast: nominated
2009HFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009NBR Award-Best Actor: winner
2009People's Choice Award-Favorite Cast: winner
2009SLFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2009WAFCA Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010Movies for Grownups Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010Oscar-Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2010Actor-Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role: nominated
2010Black Reel-Best Actor: winner
2010Critics Choice Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010DFCS Award-Best Actor: nominated
2010Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama: nominated
2010Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: winner
2011Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2012Emmy-Outstanding Science and Technology Programming: nominated
2013Image Award-Outstanding Actor in a Motion Picture: nominated
2015Felix-Best Actor: nominated
2015BTVA People's Choice Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: winner
2015BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Vocal Ensemble in a Feature Film: nominated
2015BTVA Feature Film Voice Acting Award-Best Male Vocal Performance in a Feature Film in a Supporting Role: nominated
2015Black Reel-Outstanding Voice Performance: winner
2015Image Award-Outstanding Character Voice-Over Performance: nominated
2016Movies for Grownups Award-Best Grownup Love Story: winner
2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Informational Series or Special: nominated
2018Image Award-Outstanding Host in a Talk or News/Information (Series or Special) - Individual or Ensemble: nominated
2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
2021Gold Derby TV Award-Comedy Guest Actor: nominated
2021OFTA Television Award-Best Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series: nominated
2023OFTA Television Award-Best Narration: nominated
2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
2024OFTA Television Award-Best Narration: nominated
2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Narrator: nominated
2025Festival Award-Best Supporting Performance: nominated