Morgan Freeman is an American actor and director. He has appeared in over 100 films of a wide range of genres. Freeman’s career has spanned five decades. Known for his deep and iconic voice, he is the preferred choice for narration in films and documentaries. Freeman is the recipient of several accolades, including an Oscar and a Golden Globe Award.
In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles to try to make a living as an actor, but he had a hard time finding work.With passion and hard work, Freeman became one of the greatest actors of his generation. Here’s his inspiring success story.
Early life and struggles:
Morgan Freeman was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 1, 1937. Memphis is in the state of Tennessee.His father worked as a barber and died in 1961 due to cirrhosis, a liver disease. Freeman has three older siblings. He lived with his paternal grandmother during his childhood and moved cities frequently.
When he was nine years old, he made his acting debut by playing the lead role in a school play. At the age of 12, Freeman won a statewide drama competition. While attending high school, he discovered his passion for music and theater.
After graduating from high school in 1955, Freeman got a drama scholarship from Jackson State University. However, he turned it down and decided to enlist in the United States Air Force. Freeman served as a tracking radar repairman and rose to the rank of airman first class. He served in the Air Force for five years.
In 1959, he moved to Los Angeles to try to make a living as an actor and theater performer.Initially, Freeman struggled to find any work. He then studied theater arts at a Los Angeles college, and his teacher encouraged him to pursue a career in dance.
Morgan Freeman’s career:
Before acting, Morgan Freeman worked as a dancer and member of the Opera Ring musical theater group in San Francisco. He finally realized that his true passion was acting. After appearing in a few films and television shows, Freeman got his breakthrough with the movie Street Smart in 1987.
He received praise from several critics for his excellent performance. This also earned him an Oscar nomination. In 1989, he appeared in four films. He received his second Oscar nomination for playing the lead role in Driving Miss Daisy. In 1992, he starred in Clint Eastwood‘s film Unforgiven and received critical acclaim. The film won four Oscars.
Next, Freeman appeared in The Shawshank Redemption, one of the most critically acclaimed dramas. Many loved his performance, and Freeman earned another Oscar nomination. Finally, in 2005, he received an Academy Award nomination for his performance in the film Million Dollar Baby.
After this, he continued to star in several hit films such as Batman Begins, The Dark Knight, Invictus, Olympus Has Fallen, and many more. Freeman also lent his voice to narrate several documentaries and films. Today, he is one of the finest actors the Hollywood film industry has ever seen.
Lessons we can learn: —
Passion, determination, and dedication are the keys to success. Morgan Freeman never gave up on his dreams. We should never lose hope and always give our best. Hope provides us with the ability to keep moving forward and bounce back.
Secondly, we should always try to learn from our mistakes. “If you want to see a miracle, be the miracle.” -Morgan Freeman
Courtesy: Failure Before Success