Born in 1937, actor Morgan Freeman has been featured in more films and appeared on more television shows, than the years he’s been alive. His first acting job in film was as an extra in “The Pawnbroker” released in 1964. The actor has taken on 101 acting gigs thus far.
My earliest memory of Morgan is as a regular cast member on “The Electric Company” from 1971 to 1977. After years of being taught and inspired by his presence, he appeared as a pimp in “Street Smart” ten years later, broadening my education in a different realm. His performance was critically acclaimed, earning him an Oscar nomination. Two years later he was a lead in the movie “Glory,” rendering yet another lesson. That same year he also starred in the movie “Driving Miss Daisy,” depicting a character completely different from the aforementioned two. In short, Morgan Freeman’s ability to be diverse has afforded him a long career in making movies.
Presently on screens across the country in Antoine Fuqua’s latest direction “Olympus Has Fallen,” on April 19th, he’ll make his 96th appearance as an actor in the new movie “Oblivion” opposite Tom Cruise. A Sci-Fi flick, you can read more about it here: https://museumofuncutfunk.com/2013/03/27/seven-funky-sci-fi-flicks/ His 101st acting appearance is anticipated to be simply his voice in the animated feature “The Lego Movie,” of which he’s currently working on. Of course, prior to that are his scheduled 97th-100th performances, in films that are all in post-production. Among them are: “We The People,” of which he’s the narrator; fans may recall his voice for the films “March of the Penguins” or Steven Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds,” which starred Cruise — both were released in 2005; “The Last Knights,” where he’ll star opposite Clive Owen; “Now You See Me,” that features an ensemble cast including Woody Harrelson, Mark Ruffalo, Jessie Eisenberg, Isla Fisher, Melanie Laurent, and Michael Caine, it’s about a group of FBI agents tracking a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money; and “Last Vegas” with Robert DeNiro and Michael Douglas in a story that focuses on three sixty-something-year-old friends taking a break from their day-to-day lives to throw a bachelor party in Las Vegas for their last remaining single pal.
Even with all he’s got in the can, at the age of 76, Freeman is very musch sought after for his impeccable talent. During an interview with director David Fincher in 2011, total film.com talked to him about the status of production for the film adaptation of “Rendezvous With Rama.” Based on Arthur C. Clarke’s expansive sci-fi epic, Fincher said: “‘Rendezvous With Rama’ is a great story that has an amazing role for Morgan Freeman who is an amazing actor and would be amazing in this thing. The question was can we get a script that’s worthy of Morgan and can we get a script that is worthy of Arthur Clarke and can we do all of that in an envelope that will allow the movie to take the kinds of chances that it wants to take.” He continues, “…we want to make a movie where kids go out of the theatre and instead of buying an action figure they buy a telescope. That was the hope. The hope is, let’s get people interested in the fucking movie. So there have been people that have been interested in this idea and we have never been able to get a script.” As soon as we become aware of any updates, we’ll let you know.
This is just a piece to say hats off to a man who’s taken his passion for acting and made it work for him. Although acting is at the forefront of his career, Freeman has also produced. Among the many projects is a show that currently airs on the Discovery Channel titled “Through the Wormhole.” Freeman is also the narrator for the show that explores the deepest mysteries of existence and questions what has puzzled mankind for as long as we can remember. Films he’s Executive-Produced and starred in include: “Under Suspicion” with Gene Hackman; “Along Came A Spider” with Ashley Judd: and “Invictus” with Matt Damon. Morgan has one director’s credit amidst his illustrious career for the film “Bopha!” Released in 1993, it starred Danny Glover and Alfre Woodard, and told the story of a black policeman (Glover) during South African apartheid, who believes he’s trying to help his people, even while serving as a pawn of the racist.
The Last Knights
Long before his appearances on television and in film, Morgan Freeman was a thespian of the theatre. He made his acting debut at age nine, playing the lead role in a school play. Nominated five times for the coveted Oscar Award, Freeman scored one in 2004 for “Best Supporting Actor” in the Clint Eastwood film “Million Dollar Baby.”
for the FUNKY career of Freeman
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