Morgan Freeman is an American actor, director, and narrator known for his long career in film, television, and theatre. He is also famous for his deep and recognizable voice, which has made him one of the most popular narrators in documentaries and television programs.
Freeman was born on June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee. Unlike many Hollywood stars, he became a major film star later in life. Before his biggest movie roles, he spent years working in theatre and television.
His film career began with a small, uncredited appearance in The Pawnbroker in 1964. Over the following decades, he gradually moved from small roles to major supporting and leading roles.
Some of his most recognized characters include Red in The Shawshank Redemption, Detective William Somerset in Se7en, Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy, Lucius Fox in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films, Eddie Dupris in Million Dollar Baby, and Nelson Mandela in Invictus.
However, Freeman’s career is much larger than his most famous movies. His filmography includes more than 100 acting credits, along with television appearances, theatre productions, documentaries, and narration work. Current filmography listings also include his recent work in Now You See Me: Now You Don’t and the 2026 series The Dinosaurs.
Morgan Freeman Movies In Order
Below is a chronological list of Morgan Freeman’s film appearances. It includes his early uncredited appearances, major acting roles, voice roles, and projects in which he worked as a director or executive producer.
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Pawnbroker | Man on Street | Uncredited |
| 1966 | A Man Called Adam | Party Guest | |
| 1968 | Where Were You When the Lights Went Out? | Grand Central Commuter | |
| 1971 | Who Says I Can’t Ride a Rainbow! | Afro | |
| 1973 | Blade | Chris | |
| 1980 | Brubaker | Walter | |
| 1981 | Eyewitness | Lieutenant Black | |
| 1984 | Teachers | Alan Lewis | |
| 1984 | Harry & Son | Siemanowski | |
| 1985 | Marie | Charles Traughber | |
| 1985 | That Was Then… This Is Now | Charlie | |
| 1987 | Street Smart | Fast Black | |
| 1988 | Clean and Sober | Craig | |
| 1989 | Glory | John Rawlins | |
| 1989 | Driving Miss Daisy | Hoke Colburn | |
| 1989 | Lean on Me | Joe Louis Clark | |
| 1989 | Johnny Handsome | Lt. Drones | |
| 1990 | The Bonfire of the Vanities | Judge White | |
| 1991 | Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves | Azeem | |
| 1992 | Unforgiven | Ned Logan | |
| 1992 | The Power of One | Geel Piet | |
| 1993 | Bopha! | — | Director |
| 1994 | The Shawshank Redemption | Ellis “Red” Redding | Also narrator |
| 1995 | Outbreak | General Billy Ford | |
| 1995 | Se7en | Detective William Somerset | |
| 1996 | Chain Reaction | Paul Shannon | |
| 1996 | Moll Flanders | Hibble | |
| 1997 | Amistad | Theodore Joadson | |
| 1997 | Kiss the Girls | Alex Cross | |
| 1998 | Deep Impact | President Beck | |
| 1998 | Hard Rain | Jim | |
| 2000 | Nurse Betty | Charlie | |
| 2000 | Under Suspicion | Victor Benezet | Also executive producer |
| 2001 | Along Came a Spider | Alex Cross | |
| 2002 | The Sum of All Fears | William Cabot | |
| 2002 | High Crimes | Charlie Grimes | |
| 2003 | Bruce Almighty | God | |
| 2003 | Dreamcatcher | Colonel Abraham Curtis | |
| 2003 | Levity | Pastor Miles Evans | Also executive producer |
| 2003 | Guilty by Association | Lt. Redding | |
| 2004 | The Big Bounce | Walter Crewes | |
| 2004 | Million Dollar Baby | Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris | |
| 2005 | An Unfinished Life | Mitch | |
| 2005 | Batman Begins | Lucius Fox | |
| 2005 | Unleashed | Sam | |
| 2005 | Edison | Ashford | |
| 2005 | Magnificent Desolation: Walking on the Moon 3D | Neil Armstrong | Documentary |
| 2006 | The Contract | Frank Carden | |
| 2006 | Lucky Number Slevin | The Boss | |
| 2006 | 10 Items or Less | Himself | Also executive producer |
| 2007 | Evan Almighty | God | |
| 2007 | Feast of Love | Harry Stevenson | |
| 2007 | Gone Baby Gone | Jack Doyle | |
| 2007 | The Bucket List | Carter Chambers | |
| 2008 | Wanted | Sloan | |
| 2008 | The Dark Knight | Lucius Fox | |
| 2009 | Thick as Thieves | Keith Ripley | Also known as The Code |
| 2009 | The Maiden Heist | Charles Peterson | |
| 2009 | Invictus | Nelson Mandela | Also executive producer |
| 2010 | RED | Joe Matheson | |
| 2011 | Dolphin Tale | Dr. McCarthy | |
| 2012 | The Magic of Belle Isle | Monte Wildhorn | |
| 2012 | The Dark Knight Rises | Lucius Fox | |
| 2013 | Olympus Has Fallen | Allan Trumbull | Speaker of the House |
| 2013 | Oblivion | Beech | |
| 2013 | Now You See Me | Thaddeus Bradley | |
| 2013 | Last Vegas | Archie | |
| 2014 | The Lego Movie | Vitruvius | Voice |
| 2014 | Transcendence | Joseph Tagger | |
| 2014 | Lucy | Professor Norman | |
| 2014 | Dolphin Tale 2 | Dr. McCarthy | |
| 2014 | 5 Flights Up | Alex | Also executive producer |
| 2014 | Lennon or McCartney | Himself | Short documentary |
| 2015 | Last Knights | Bartok | |
| 2015 | Ted 2 | Patrick Meighan | |
| 2015 | Momentum | Senator | |
| 2016 | London Has Fallen | Allan Trumbull | Vice President |
| 2016 | Now You See Me 2 | Thaddeus Bradley | |
| 2016 | Ben-Hur | Sheikh Ilderim | |
| 2017 | Going in Style | Willie | |
| 2017 | Just Getting Started | Duke Diver | |
| 2018 | The Nutcracker and the Four Realms | Drosselmeyer | |
| 2018 | Brian Banks | Jerome Johnson | Uncredited |
| 2019 | The Poison Rose | Doc | |
| 2019 | Angel Has Fallen | Allan Trumbull | President |
| 2020 | The Comeback Trail | Reggie Fontaine | |
| 2021 | Coming 2 America | Himself | |
| 2021 | Vanquish | Damon | |
| 2021 | Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard | Michael Bryce Sr. | |
| 2022 | Paradise Highway | Gerick | |
| 2022 | The Minute You Wake Up Dead | Sheriff Thurmond Fowler | |
| 2023 | The Ritual Killer | Dr. Mackles | |
| 2023 | A Good Person | Daniel | |
| 2023 | 57 Seconds | Anton Burrell | |
| 2024 | My Dead Friend Zoe | Dr. Cole | |
| 2024 | Gunner | Kendrick Ryker | |
| 2025 | Now You See Me: Now You Don’t | Thaddeus Bradley | |
| 2026 | The Dinosaurs | Narrator | Series |
Freeman has continued to work well into his 80s. His recent film work includes My Dead Friend Zoe, Gunner, and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t. The Dinosaurs is also listed among his 2026 projects.
Morgan Freeman Television Filmography
Film is only one part of Morgan Freeman’s career. He also worked in television from the early stages of his career.
One of his earliest and most recognizable television roles was on The Electric Company, where he played several characters between 1971 and 1977.
His television work later expanded into television films, guest appearances, documentaries, and major series.
| Year | Television Show | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1971–1977 | The Electric Company | Easy Reader, Mel Mounds, Dracula and others | Main role |
| 1978 | Roll of Thunder, Hear My Cry | Uncle Hammer Logan | Television film |
| 1979 | Hollow Image | Ralph Simmons “Sweet Talk” | |
| 1980 | Attica | Hap Richards | |
| 1981 | Ryan’s Hope | Cicero Murphy | 2 episodes |
| 1981 | The Marva Collins Story | Clarence Collins | Television film |
| 1981 | Death of a Prophet | Malcolm X | |
| 1983 | Another World | Dr. Roy Bingham | 5 episodes |
| 1985 | The Atlanta Child Murders | Ben Shelter | Miniseries |
| 1985 | The Twilight Zone | Tony | “Dealer’s Choice” |
| 1985 | The Execution of Raymond Graham | Warden Pratt | Television film |
| 1986 | Resting Place | Luther Johnson | Television film |
| 1987 | Fight for Life | Dr. Sherard | |
| 1988 | Clinton and Nadine | Dorsey Pratt | |
| 1990 | The Earth Day Special | Walter Samson | TV special |
| 2008 | Smithsonian Channel’s Sound Revolution | Himself | Host |
| 2008 | Stephen Fry in America | Himself | “Mississippi” |
| 2010 | Saturday Night Live | Himself | Cameo |
| 2014–2019 | Madam Secretary | Chief Justice Frawley | Also executive producer |
| 2016 | 2017 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony | Himself | Host |
| 2016–2019 | The Story of God with Morgan Freeman | Himself | Also executive producer |
| 2017 | The Story of Us with Morgan Freeman | Himself | |
| 2018 | 2018 Breakthrough Prize Ceremony | Himself | TV special |
| 2020 | Scooby-Doo and Guess Who? | Himself | Guest appearance |
| 2021 | Solos | Stuart | 1 episode |
| 2021 | The Kominsky Method | Himself | 2 episodes |
| 2023 | The Muppets Mayhem | Himself | Cameo |
| 2023 | 761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers | Himself | Host and executive producer |
| 2023–present | Special Ops: Lioness | Edwin Mullins | Main role |
Freeman’s later television work has included documentary and factual programs as well as scripted television. His role as Edwin Mullins in Special Ops: Lioness is one of his more recent major television roles. Current sources list the series among his ongoing work.
Morgan Freeman as a Narrator
Morgan Freeman’s voice is almost as famous as his acting.
His deep, calm voice has made him a popular choice for documentaries, television programs, and other productions. He has narrated documentaries about history, science, nature, space, religion, and society.
His narration credits include:
| Year | Title | Type |
|---|---|---|
| 1994 | Shelley Duvall’s Bedtime Stories | Television |
| 1996 | Cosmic Voyage | Documentary |
| 1997 | The Long Way Home | Documentary |
| 2003 | A Tale of Two Schools | Documentary |
| 2004 | The Hunting of the President | Documentary |
| 2004 | A Remarkable Promise | Short film |
| 2004 | Slavery and the Making of America | Documentary |
| 2005 | March of the Penguins | Documentary |
| 2005 | War of the Worlds | Narrative feature |
| 2008 | The Love Guru | Narrative feature |
| 2008 | A New Birth of Freedom | Documentary |
| 2009 | Prom Night in Mississippi | Documentary |
| 2010–2017 | Through the Wormhole | Television series |
| 2011 | Curiosity | Television |
| 2011 | Born to Be Wild | Documentary |
| 2011 | Breaking the Taboo | Documentary |
| 2011 | Conan the Barbarian | Narrative feature |
| 2013 | JFK: A President Betrayed | Documentary |
| 2014 | Island of Lemurs: Madagascar | Documentary |
| 2014 | The Mona Lisa Myth | Documentary |
| 2016–2019 | The Story of God with Morgan Freeman | Television series |
| 2017 | The Age of Spin: Dave Chappelle Live at the Hollywood Palladium | Stand-up special |
| 2017 | Deep in the Heart of Texas: Dave Chappelle Live at Austin City Limits | Stand-up special |
| 2018 | Alpha | Narrative feature |
| 2020 | Savage Mode II | Album and album trailer |
| 2021 | Great Escapes with Morgan Freeman | Television documentary |
| 2022 | Our Universe | Documentary |
| 2023 | 100 Years of Warner Bros. | Television documentary |
| 2023 | Life on Our Planet | Documentary |
| 2025 | The Power of Chi | Documentary |
| 2026 | The Dinosaurs | Miniseries |
His narration work is an important part of his career because it allowed him to appear in productions even when he was not playing a character on screen.
Morgan Freeman on Stage
Before becoming one of Hollywood’s best-known actors, Freeman spent many years working in theatre.
His stage career includes Broadway productions, Shakespeare plays, musicals, and other theatrical productions.
Some of his notable theatre credits include:
| Year | Production | Role |
|---|---|---|
| 1967–1970 | Hello, Dolly! | Rudolph |
| 1967 | The Niggerlovers | Creampuff |
| 1969 | The Dozens | Kgaravu |
| 1969 | Exhibition | David |
| 1970–1971 | Purlie | Purlie |
| 1978 | The Mighty Gents | Zeke |
| 1978 | White Pelicans | Winston |
| 1979 | Coriolanus | Coriolanus |
| 1979 | Julius Caesar | Casca |
| 1980 | Mother Courage and Her Children | Chaplain |
| 1983 | Buck | Fred Milly |
| 1984 | Medea and the Doll | Dr. Winston Crews |
| 1987–1990 | Driving Miss Daisy | Hoke Colburn |
| 1988 | The Gospel at Colonus | Messenger |
| 1990 | The Taming of the Shrew | Petruchio |
| 2008 | The Country Girl | Frank Elgin |
| 2011 | 8 | David Boies |
His theatre experience helped him develop the acting skills that later became a major part of his film career.
See>>>Â My Best Morgan Freeman Movies: 10 Films I Can Watch Again and Again
Morgan Freeman as a Director and Producer
Morgan Freeman has also worked behind the camera.
In 1993, he directed Bopha!, a drama about apartheid in South Africa. He has also received executive producer credits on several projects, including Under Suspicion, Levity, 10 Items or Less, Invictus, 5 Flights Up, and television productions.
This part of his career is sometimes overlooked because his acting and narration work are much more famous.
Morgan Freeman’s Career Over the Years
Freeman’s career can be divided into several stages.
The Early Years
During the 1960s and 1970s, Freeman was mainly building his career through theatre and television. His film appearances were small, including his uncredited role in The Pawnbroker.
The Breakthrough
The 1980s brought more important film roles. Street Smart in 1987 was especially important because Freeman received his first Academy Award nomination for the role of Fast Black.
He followed this with major performances in films such as Glory and Driving Miss Daisy.
The 1990s
The 1990s became one of the most important periods of Freeman’s career.
He appeared in Unforgiven, The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, Outbreak, Amistad, Kiss the Girls, and Deep Impact.
This period established him as one of Hollywood’s most respected actors.
The 2000s
Freeman continued taking a wide range of roles.
He played God in Bruce Almighty, Eddie Dupris in Million Dollar Baby, Lucius Fox in Batman Begins and The Dark Knight, and Nelson Mandela in Invictus.
He also became increasingly involved in documentaries and narration.
The 2010s
During the 2010s, Freeman appeared in action films, comedies, dramas, science-fiction movies, and superhero films.
His roles included Joe Matheson in RED, Lucius Fox in The Dark Knight Rises, Thaddeus Bradley in Now You See Me, Professor Norman in Lucy, and Allan Trumbull in the Fallen film series.
The 2020s
Freeman continued acting despite being well into his 80s.
His credits during the decade include The Comeback Trail, Coming 2 America, Vanquish, Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard, Paradise Highway, A Good Person, 57 Seconds, My Dead Friend Zoe, Gunner, and Now You See Me: Now You Don’t.
He has also remained active in television and documentary work.
Conclusion
Morgan Freeman’s filmography is much more than a list of famous movies.
It is the record of a career that began with small appearances and theatre work and eventually grew into one of the longest and most recognizable careers in Hollywood.
He has played prisoners, detectives, presidents, soldiers, mentors, criminals, scientists, politicians, historical figures, and even God. He has also worked as a director, producer, television actor, theatre performer, and narrator.
His distinctive voice has given him another career outside traditional acting, with credits in documentaries, television series, and other productions.
What makes Freeman’s career especially notable is its length. He continued receiving major roles long after reaching an age when many actors had retired.
His filmography therefore covers more than six decades and includes work across drama, crime, action, comedy, science fiction, fantasy, historical films, animation, documentaries, television, and theatre.