The great Morgan Freeman turns 77 today and to even attempt to pick his best roles is going to be a difficult task but we’ll try to do it anyway. From the Shawshank Redemption to Seven, Freeman has never really given a bad performance. There may have been a couple of bad films in there but there have never been any bad performances. Here are seven of his best roles.
1. Seven
Not only Freeman’s finest performance, Se7en is one of the best films of our generation. Directed by David Fincher and co-starring Brad Pitt, the film followed a serial killer who was getting rid of his victims according to the seven deadly sins. Freeman was literally fantastic.
2. Million Dollar Baby
One of those films that you just would not be able to get through without crying, Freeman played Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris, a friend and employee of Eastwood’s Frankie Dunn, the wise one and the one with all of the answers.
3. Shawshank Redemption
Perhaps the performance he will be best remembered for, Freeman played the wise Red who had made some mistakes in the past and ended up in prison for life. However, he was truly sorry for his crime and lived a sorrowful life, almost of penance.
4. Batman Begins
Freeman in another one of his wise roles played Lucius Fox, one of Bruce Wayne’s employees and one of the very few people who knew the true identity of Batman. Fox almost became Wayne’s Q, the man with the machines, the man who was often his greatest assistant who always remained loyal. We would love a pal like this.
5. Driving Miss Daisy
The perfect Sunday film, Freeman played Hoke, the chauffeur for a pretty contrary Jewish woman played by Jessica Tandy. A simple plot but this pair together made on screen magic.
6. Glory
In Glory, a film about the first all-black volunteer company in the US Civil War, Freeman played Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins, a man who secretly trained the volunteer company at night before they were led into war. Not just a hero, a war hero, this is one of Freeman’s best roles.
7. Bruce Almighty
There were plenty of other choices but could we really finish an article about Morgan Freeman without mentioning his turn as God? No, we didn’t think so.
