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  3. Morgan Freeman through the years

Morgan Freeman through the years

Celebrate the star with a look back

Lauren Morgan
By Lauren Morgan Updated October 28, 2022 at 01:23 AM EDT
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The evolution of Morgan Freeman

morgan-freeman
Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage ; Richard Chapin Downs Jr/Getty Images; JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images

Born in Memphis on June 1, 1937, Morgan Freeman has been acting since he was a child, and got his start in Hollywood with roles on the soap opera Another World and the PBS kids' show The Electric Company. He has gone on to capture audiences with his performances in films such as Driving Miss Daisy (1989), Glory (1989), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Million Dollar Baby (2004), and many more. See photos of the star through the years, ahead.

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1971

'The Electric Company'
Credit: John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images

On the set of the PBS TV series The Electric Company

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April 12, 1978

"Mighty Gents" New York Opening Party - April 12, 1978
Credit: Bobby Bank/WireImage

With his first wife, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, at The Mighty Gents' Broadway opening party

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1986

Portrait Of Street Smart
Credit: John D. Kisch/Separate Cinema Archive/Getty Images

Publicity shot of Freeman in the 1987 film Street Smart in New York

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Jan. 23, 1988

The 45th Annual Golden Globe Awards
Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

At the 45th annual Golden Globe Awards

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Jan. 24, 1988

At New York Film Critics Circle Awards
Credit: Tom Gates/Getty Images

Broadcast journalist Walter Cronkite, film director Joseph L. Brooks, Freeman, actor Jack Nicholson at the New York Film Critics Circle Awards at Sardi's in New York City

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Feb. 26, 1990

Actors Morgan Freeman (right) and Sidney Poitier at the D.W.
Credit: Richard Corkery/NY Daily News Archive via Getty Images

With Sidney Poitier at the D.W. Griffith Awards

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March 20, 1990

62nd Academy Awards Nominees Luncheon
Credit: Ron Galella/WireImage

Attending the annual Academy Awards Oscar Nominees luncheon at the Beverly Hilton Hotel

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March 26, 1990

62nd Annual Academy Awards
Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

With his second wife, Myrna Freeman, at the 62nd annual Academy Awards

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March 6, 1993 

Indian Wells IBMATP Tour Awards Champions Cup
Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

At the Indian Wells IBM/ATP Tour Awards Champions Cup at Stouffer Esmeralda Resort in Palm Springs, Calif.

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Sept. 24, 1993

Morgan Freeman
Credit: Colin McConnell/Toronto Star via Getty Images

Portrait taken in Toronto

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March 27, 1995

The 67th Annual Academy Awards - Arrivals
Credit: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage

With wife Myrna Freeman and their daughter Morgana during the 67th annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles

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Sept. 7, 1995

1995 VH1 Honors
Credit: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic

With Michael Jackson during the VH1 Honors in Los Angeles

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Sept. 13, 1997

Actor Morgan Freeman
Credit: Richard Maw/In-Focus

In London

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October 1998

"Elizabeth" Premiere Party
Credit: Catherine McGann/Getty Images

With Cate Blanchett at the New York premiere of the actress' film Elizabeth

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Sept. 18, 2000

US actor/executive producer Morgan Freeman (R) hug
Credit: LUCY NICHOLSON/AFP/Getty Images

Hugging actor Gregory Peck at the premiere of Under Suspicion in Santa Monica

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Oct. 28, 2000

14th Carousel of Hope Ball 2000 for Barbara Davis Center for Diabetes
Credit: Steve Granitz/WireImage

With Sidney Poitier at the 14th annual Carousel of Hope Ball at the Beverly Hills Hilton Hotel

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July 16, 2001

Picture shows actor Morgan Freeman in Melbourne, 16 July 2001. The Age Picture
Credit: Fairfax Media via Getty Images

Portrait taken in Melbourne

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May 29, 2002

The Sum of All Fears Premiere
Credit: Kevin Winter/ImageDirect

At the premiere of The Sum of All Fears in Westwood, Calif.

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June 5, 2002

Morgan Freeman Footprint Ceremony
Credit: Gregg DeGuire/WireImage

At his footprint ceremony at Mann's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood

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Jan. 16, 2003

2003 Sundance Film Festival - Opening Night Premiere of "Levity"
Credit: George Pimentel/WireImage

Attending the premiere of Levity at the Sundance Film Festival in Salt Lake City

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May 30, 2004

Indianapolis 500
Credit: Donald Miralle/Getty Images

Acknowledging the crowd as an official pace car driver during the Indianapolis 500 at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway

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Sept. 7, 2004

30th Deauville American Film Festival: "The Sugarland Express" screening
Credit: Bruno Vincent/Getty Images

At the screening of The Sugarland Express at the Deauville American Film Festival in France

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Feb. 12, 2005

Clive Davis' 2005 Pre-GRAMMY Awards Party - Cocktail Reception
Credit: Kevin Mazur/WireImage

With Diana Ross at Clive Davis' Pre-Grammy Awards party at the Beverly Hills Hotel

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Feb. 27, 2005

Actor Morgan Freeman, nominated for Best
Credit: JEFF HAYNES/AFP/Getty Images

Posing with his Best Supporting Actor trophy (for his role in 2004's Million Dollar Baby) at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood

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Nov. 16, 2006 

Morgan Freeman at the Sithengi Round Table - November 16, 2006
Credit: Michelly Rall/WireImage

At the Sithengi round table in Cape Town, South Africa

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Sept. 2, 2007

Nelson Mandela - Unite For A Better World Gala Dinner - Inside
Credit: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images

With Nelson Mandela at the Unite for a Better World gala dinner in Monte Carlo, Monaco

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Dec. 18, 2007

The National Press Club Newsmaker Luncheon Program with Morgan Freeman's Grenada Relief Fund
Credit: Paul Morigi/WireImage

Discussing the impact of severe storms and hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico, Atlantic Ocean, and Caribbean Sea at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

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Dec. 7, 2008

31st Annual Kennedy Center Honors
Credit: Ron Sachs-Pool/Getty Images

The 2008 Kennedy Center honorees: (L–R, front row) performer Barbra Streisand, Freeman, dancer Twyla Tharp, (L–R, back row) producer George Stevens Jr., President of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Michael M. Kaiser, musician Roger Daltrey, musician Pete Townshend, musician George Jones, U.S. Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, and Chairman of the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Stephen A. Schwarzman 

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Nov. 18, 2009

GQ "Men Of The Year" Party - Inside
Credit: Lester Cohen/Getty Images

With actor/director Clint Eastwood at the GQ Men of the Year party at Chateau Marmont in Hollywood

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Oct. 4, 2010

Late Night with Jimmy Fallon
Credit: Lloyd Bishop/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank via Getty Images

Being interviewed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon in New York 

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June 9, 2011 

39th AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Morgan Freeman - Show
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Receiving the Life Achievement Award at the AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute to Morgan Freeman 

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June 7, 2012

40th AFI Life Achievement Award Honoring Shirley MacLaine - Show
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Attending the AFI Life Achievement Award honoring Shirley MacLaine in Culver City, Calif.

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June 6, 2013 

AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Mel Brooks - Show
Credit: Stefanie Keenan/WireImage

With Robert De Niro backstage at AFI's Life Achievement Award Tribute to Mel Brooks in Hollywood

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Jan. 18, 2014

20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Arrivals
Credit: Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images

Hugging Rita Moreno at the Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles

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Nov. 18, 2014

Academy Of Motion Picture Arts And Sciences' 20th Anniversary Screening Of "The Shawshank Redemption"
Credit: Valerie Macon/Getty Imag

With costar Tim Robbins at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 20th anniversary screening of The Shawshank Redemption in Beverly Hills

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May 9, 2015

2015 Howard University Commencement Ceremony
Credit: Richard Chapin Downs Jr/Getty Images

Waving before receiving an honorary doctorate at Howard University in Washington, D.C. 

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May 8, 2016

Invictus Games Orlando 2016 - Opening Ceremony
Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

On stage at the opening ceremony of the Invictus Games in Orlando

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Feb. 6, 2017

16th Annual AARP The Magazine's Movies For Grownups Awards
Credit: Gabriel Olsen/Getty Images

Puckering up to Helen Mirren after being presented the Career Achievement Award at AARP the Magazine's 16th annual Movies for Grownups Awards in Beverly Hills

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March 28, 2017

Build Series Presents Alan Arkin, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman And Ann-Margret Discussing "Going In Style"
Credit: Jim Spellman/WireImage

Attending the AOL Build series to discuss Going in Style (2017) in New York City

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Jan. 21, 2018

24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards - Show
Credit: Kevin Winter/Getty Images

Accepting the Life Achievement Award on stage during the 24th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles

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Feb. 10, 2019

2019 Winter TCA Portrait Studio
Credit: Corey Nickols/Contour/Getty

Portrait taken at the 2019 Winter TCA at the Langham Huntington in Pasadena

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April 21, 2021

Solos
Credit: Jason LaVeris/Amazon Prime Video

On set of sci-fi anthology series Solos

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    Everything in This Slideshow

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    1 of 43 The evolution of Morgan Freeman
    2 of 43 1971
    3 of 43 April 12, 1978
    4 of 43 1986
    5 of 43 Jan. 23, 1988
    6 of 43 Jan. 24, 1988
    7 of 43 Feb. 26, 1990
    8 of 43 March 20, 1990
    9 of 43 March 26, 1990
    10 of 43 March 6, 1993 
    11 of 43 Sept. 24, 1993
    12 of 43 March 27, 1995
    13 of 43 Sept. 7, 1995
    14 of 43 Sept. 13, 1997
    15 of 43 October 1998
    16 of 43 Sept. 18, 2000
    17 of 43 Oct. 28, 2000
    18 of 43 July 16, 2001
    19 of 43 May 29, 2002
    20 of 43 June 5, 2002
    21 of 43 Jan. 16, 2003
    22 of 43 May 30, 2004
    23 of 43 Sept. 7, 2004
    24 of 43 Feb. 12, 2005
    25 of 43 Feb. 27, 2005
    26 of 43 Nov. 16, 2006 
    27 of 43 Sept. 2, 2007
    28 of 43 Dec. 18, 2007
    29 of 43 Dec. 7, 2008
    30 of 43 Nov. 18, 2009
    31 of 43 Oct. 4, 2010
    32 of 43 June 9, 2011 
    33 of 43 June 7, 2012
    34 of 43 June 6, 2013 
    35 of 43 Jan. 18, 2014
    36 of 43 Nov. 18, 2014
    37 of 43 May 9, 2015
    38 of 43 May 8, 2016
    39 of 43 Feb. 6, 2017
    40 of 43 March 28, 2017
    41 of 43 Jan. 21, 2018
    42 of 43 Feb. 10, 2019
    43 of 43 April 21, 2021

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