Morgan Freeman - biography, filmography and best roles (photo)

2024 Author: Leah Sherlock | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 05:25

Morgan Freeman is a famous actor with a difficult fate and an interesting biography. Let's look at the main periods of his life, as well as recall the famous films in which he starred.

Childhood, moving parents

Morgan was born in 1937. His hometown is Memphis. Morgan's parents worked in the same clinic - dad was a nurse, and mom was a nurse. After the birth of the boy and his sister, they separated, and the children were brought up without a father. When the war began, businesses in the North needed workers, and many African Americans from the South went there, hoping to get a good job. The father and mother of the boy (then he was four years old) went to Chicago, leaving him to be raised by his grandmother.

Parents fail to find happiness again

Mom and dad of the future actor quickly got a job in a new city. Their relationship was still tense, and they did not risk living together. But when her grandmother died, Morgan Freeman and his sister again settled with their mother, who wanted to return to the once happy life.

It was a difficult year in 1943. Morgan's father and mother triedto move in together, but nothing worked out for them: every day there was abuse and scandals, and they had to leave this unsuccessful idea. The future actor and his sister lived in Greenwood with relatives (this city is located in Mississippi), but sometimes moved back to Chicago.

Passion for dramaturgy

Growing up a bit, Morgan became interested in theater. At the age of 12, he realized that he simply loves to perform on stage - to participate in children's productions, to play funny miniatures. At the age of 15, he became the star of the school: a handsome, prominent young man, one of the most talented dancers. Morgan Freeman, whose best films today win the hearts of his fans, even then had the makings of a great actor.

Dream of becoming a pilot

The guy came to the flight school for the first time at the age of 16. As expected, he was not accepted - he did not fit in age. Only after graduating from high school did he manage to enter this institution. He really wanted to become a test pilot, but he was only allowed to study as a radar mechanic. It is difficult to say why it happened - because Morgan was black or because he was too young. The flight school was located in Texas, and there were still many who were prejudiced against African Americans. In addition, Morgan Freeman, whose photo you see in front of you, has always been distinguished by a masterful character. Later, he said that he hated idiots, and there are even more of them in the army than among representatives of show business. However, Morgan still trained as a mechanic, thinking that when he reaches adulthood, he will still becomepilot.

Desire to become an artist

But later the guy realized that his destiny was acting. In the 50s, Freeman moved to Los Angeles, and he had no connections, no finances, no experience, but only a love of performing. Subsequently, he said that he did not understand then that it was incredibly difficult to become an artist. Morgan Freeman, whose height, by the way, is 188 cm, just visited different studios and begged to be assigned to some role. Very rarely, an actor manages to break through immediately, it takes more than one year. However, Freeman had to spend decades on this, and he tried his luck in several areas at the same time: on television, in film and theater.

Participation in performances

When he was finally accepted into the theater, he was overjoyed. He played there for many years. Later he moved to New York, where he was appointed to several miserable roles, of course, that the payment was appropriate. Morgan Freeman also played in off-Broadway performances, which, of course, could not glorify him.

First successes

In 1966, when the actor was 29 years old, he was appointed to a small role in the production of "Under the Sun". For the first time he had to speak on stage. So he was able to somehow draw attention to himself. After that, he often received small roles in film, television and theater, in particular, he took part in the musical Hello, Dolly. Morgan Freeman, whose filmography today includes many paintings, at that time could not even imagine that he had oncewill achieve such success.

Electric Company

In the 60s, Freeman did not disdain any work. He regularly starred in The Electric Company, a TV show for children, but such despondency and melancholy reigned in the studio that the actor fell into despair and began to abuse alcohol. He dreamed of only one thing - to become famous in the cinema.

Harry and Son is a life-changing film

It's hard to believe nowadays that such a wonderful artist could not achieve fame for twenty years. However, the truth is that it was not until 1984, when Morgan Freeman starred in Paul Newman's Harry and Son, that he was noticed. Justice finally prevailed.

Oscar Nominations

The role in Jerry Schatzberg's film called "Street Trickster" brought the artist real success. He so remarkably got used to the role of a resourceful pimp that the audience was impressed to the core, and in 1987 he was nominated for an Oscar. After that, he received this award several times.

Freeman says he has always considered himself just an artist, while others, for some reason he does not understand, call him a star. However, he is satisfied - celebrities have more fees, besides, their names are written in large print. Morgan Freeman, whose filmography consists only of good films, is quite critical of himself.

Films about maniacs

The most successful picture of the actor can be considered the tape "And Came a Spider", which collected about 70 milliondollars. In this movie, his hero again enters into a confrontation with the killer, and his partner again becomes a pretty girl, Jessie Flanigan, who is an employee of the secret service. This role was played by Monica Potter. Jesse replaces his former partner Cross, for whose death Freeman's hero blames himself. Together they are looking for a sadist who kidnaps the children of the richest people in the United States. The detective is making every effort to neutralize the maniac.

Intriguing silence

Ever wonder what unites Morgan Freeman, Clint Eastwood and Gary Cooper? They may not say anything in the frame, but the viewer will still be interested in looking at them. Freeman can simply be in a static pose and intrigue the observer. Looking at him, the viewer is going through a storm of emotions. It turns out surprisingly: the less the actor works, the more exciting it is to watch him. Morgan Freeman, whose biography is interesting, captivates with his talent.

Role Model

The actor admits that his role model was Anthony Hopkins, who is excellent at playing the role of sadists. Morgan says that he adopts some of the tricks from this artist. He often revisits films with him. Morgan and Anthony starred in Spielberg's historical film Amistad, but they barely crossed paths on set.

Attitude towards journalists

Freeman has repeatedly said that he does not like to communicate with journalists, because it takesprecious minutes that he could while away on his farm, located in Mississippi, or on a yacht in the Caribbean. However, for the sake of his fans, he is willing to endure some inconvenience. He admits that he experiences inexpressible happiness when someone tells him that he did a great job with this or that role. After all, for the sake of this, he gives all his best on the set.

Movies starring Morgan Freeman

During his career, the actor managed to star in many films. Let's look at films with Morgan Freeman. 2013 in particular was a very fruitful year for him:

• 2014: "Superiority";
• 2013: Old Farts, Illusion of Deception, Oblivion, Olympus Has Fallen;
• 2012: The Dark Knight Rises;
• 2011: Wizard's Wish, Act Three, Dolphin Tale, Conan the Barbarian;

• 2010: "RED";
• 2009: "Unbowed";
• 2008: "The Dark Knight", "Wanted";
• 2007: "Holiday of Love", "Gone Baby Gone", "Before You Kick the Box", "Evan Almighty";
• 2006: "Slevin's lucky number", "10 steps to success";
• 2005: Edison, An Unfinished Life, The Contract, Danny the Watchdog, Batman Begins;
• 2004: Million Dollar Baby, Big Steal;
• 2003: "Remorse", "Dreamcatcher", "Bruce Almighty";
• 2002: "The Price of Fear", "Extreme Crimes";
• 2001: "And Came a Spider";
• 2000: "Betty Sisters", "Undersuspicion";
• 1998: "Abyssal Impact", "Rainstorm";
• 1997: Kiss the Girls, Amistad;
• 1996: Chain Reaction, Mall Flanders;

• 

  1995: Epidemic, Seven;

• 1994: The Shawshank Redemption;
• 1992: "The Power of Unity", "Unforgiven";
• 1990: Bonfire of the Vanities, Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves;
• 1989: "Glory", "Handsome Johnny", "Driving Miss Daisy", "Hold Me";
• 1988: "Clean and Sober", "Blood Money";
• 1987: "Street Rogue", "Fight for Life";
• 1986: "Resting Place";
• 1985: "It Was Then… It Is Now", "The Atlanta Child Murders", "Marie", "The Execution of Raymond Graham";
• 1984: The Teachers, Harry and Son;
• 1981: "Death of a Prophet", "The Witness", "The Marva Collins Story";
• 1980: Brubaker;
• 1964: "Another World".

Morgan Freeman, whose filmography is a real find for connoisseurs of quality cinema, has earned the love and appreciation of a huge number of fans. And this is not surprising, because his talent is obvious and undeniable.