Morgan Freeman, the award-winning actor with the distinctive voice behind some of cinema's most iconic voiceovers, is celebrating a major milestone.
With numerous awards including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe, this A-list star is known as the "Voice of God" for her impeccable and compelling storytelling style.
In honor of the Hollywood star's 89th birthday, we take a look back at his career, from his breakout role in the 1980s to the memorable roles that cemented his legacy in the entertainment industry.
Born June 1, 1937, Freeman developed a love for acting after participating in school plays before enlisting in the United States Air Force in the mid-1950s.
After serving in the army, he decided to continue doing what he loved, moving to Los Angeles and New York to try his luck.
After working on Broadway, he made his breakthrough in film by joining the PBS educational program «The Electric Company» as Easy Reader.
Starring: Lee Chamberlin, Bill Cosby, Rita Moreno, Judy Graubart, Skip Hinnant, and Morgan Freeman. (Photo: Getty Images)
The iconic role instantly made him one of the most recognizable faces of the 1970s, especially given the popularity of the series.
In the 1980s, Freeman moved to the big screen, taking on more challenging roles that showcased his versatility.
His first major film was a crime drama «Street Smart» . The 1987 film earned him his first Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role as Fast Black.
Since then, he has attracted the attention of leading Hollywood directors thanks to films such as «Driving Miss Daisy» , «"Glory"» и «"Lean on me"» in 1989.
In 2004, he won his first Oscar, winning Best Supporting Actor for in the film "Million Dollar Baby"« .
Among his impressive accomplishments, one of Freeman's most memorable nicknames, "The Voice of God," has become firmly attached to him.
Although his voice is so powerful that it has become famous all over the world, the famous actor himself said that he never considered it to be anything particularly remarkable.
During his appearance on The Tonight Show, Jimmy Fallon asked Freeman if he thought he had a great voice. Freeman immediately replied, "No," and explained why.
«"This is a special event for you. For me, it's not," he said, but the host mentioned his iconic role in the film. «Bruce Almighty» , as well as his work as a narrator in TV series "Our Planet"« , which caused approving shouts in the hall.
He said he studied voice at Los Angeles Community College with a teacher who worked on his "diction and voice," where he learned to "drop" his voice "about an octave.".
On the topic: 88-year-old Morgan Freeman's latest television appearance has fans noticing the same thing.
This article was originally published by Parade on June 2, 2026, in the News section. Add Parade to your list of recommended sources by clicking here.