Morgan: An actor's actor

Morgan Porterfield Freeman Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee, on June 1, 1937. He grew up in very modest homes in Mississippi, where his grandparents lived, and Chicago, Illinois, the big city his parents had moved to. Morgan was a bright kid and, at age 12, won a statewide drama competition. Later he performed on a radio program before joining the United States Air Force to work as a mechanic. Morgan would have many jobs in his life. In Los Angeles he worked at Los Angeles Community College for a while and later in New York City, as a young dancer. In New York he was able to act in stage plays and have a small part in some movies. On TV Morgan was Easy Reader and Vincent the Vegetable Vampire in the kids’ show, The Electric Company.

Early important movies Morgan played in were Driving Miss Daisy and Glory. His voice was the one narrating the documentary March of the Penguins and the movie War of the Worlds. Morgan has had 2 wives, Jeanette and Myrna, at this writing. He has 4 grown children (2 sons, 2 daughters) now. At age 65 Morgan earned his pilot’s license. He likes to fly! He enjoys racing automobiles, too, and has some very fine ones in his collection. In Mississippi, where he lives today, he owns some clubs and restaurants.

Mr. Freeman, at this writing, is still doing wonderful acting in movies and on stage. One of his recent projects was portraying the South African Nelson Mandela. Morgan discovered movies as a child and fell in love with them. That love motivated him to try acting. Acting jobs did not always come easily for him. Sometimes he had to wait a long time for a job. During those times Morgan had little or no money, but he was a hard worker and waited for the next streak of luck. He is a fine and popular actor today with many fans around the world. It seems that not many actors are as natural as Mr. Freeman when in front of a camera. On the screen, Mr. Freeman convinces us completely. He is an actor’s actor.