Morgan Freeman: The Voice of Hollywood
An actor best known as a character actor, Morgan Freeman rose to fame in the 1980s with his Academy Award-nominated performance in Driving Miss Daisy. He has since been declared one of the most respected and beloved actors in Hollywood with many accolades, including a Golden Globe and an Oscar. But, it’s not just his solid on-screen presence that makes Freeman special. His distinct, deep-voiced narration has earned him the nickname “The Voice of Hollywood” for his work as a narrator, narrator and documentarian. Here’s just a few career highlights of Morgan Freeman’s long career as the Voice of Hollywood.
Early Career and Roles That Established His Talent
Freeman was born in 1937 in Memphis, Tennessee and by the time he graduated from high school, the now-iconic actor was already an experienced theater performer with roles in The Heart Is a Lonely Hunter and The Gospel at Colonus. However, it wasn’t until 1987 when Freeman starred in Street Smart that he began gaining critical acclaim for his work. The film earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor and marked the beginning of Freeman’s A-list status in Hollywood. Other performances that stand out from Freeman’s early career are his roles in Clean and Sober and Glory, both in 1988.
Narrator of Renowned Documentaries
In addition to his A-list acting resume, Freeman has made a name for himself in documentary filmmaking. As narrated by Freeman, he lent his hypnotic, deep-baritone voice to some of the world’s best documentaries such as March of the Penguins, The Long Way Home and Through The Wormhole. However, it is his work as narrator for March of the Penguins that catapulted him to superstardom in the world of documentary filmmaking. His narration of the Academy Award-winning documentary earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Documentary.
Voice-Overs for TV, Film and Video Games
Freeman has dabbled in voice-overs for commercials and made-for-television films as well. As a voice-over performer, he has lent his distinctive vocal talents to television shows such as The Boondocks and The Cleveland Show. He has provided the signature narration for The History Channel’s series, How the Universe Works. Furthermore, Freeman has even taken his voice-over talents to the world of video games with roles in games such as Saints Row, LEGO Batman and others.
Voice of Wisdom and Soothing Tones
Freeman’s mellifluous, velvety-textured voice is synonymous with insight and wisdom. His narration of the critically acclaimed series Through The Wormhole was full of sage and thoughtful commentary, which earned him an Emmy Award nomination. His soothing tones and hypnotic cadence have even made them perfect for narrating public service announcements and providing sorely needed relaxation through meditation apps. He is unarguably the voice of wisdom and calmness in Hollywood.
Film Roles That Established His Place in Hollywood
No article about the work of Morgan Freeman paying homage to the actor is complete without mentioning some of his most famous roles. As one of Hollywood’s most beloved characters, Freeman has earned the hearts of millions for his roles in The Shawshank Redemption, Unforgiven, The Dark Knight, Invictus, Bruce Almighty, and Gone Baby Gone. These films cemented his status of royalty in Hollywood and made him one of the most in-demand and beloved actors of all time.
Freeman’s Achievements and Accolades
Morgan Freeman is not a stranger to awards and accolades. During his long career, he has been nominated for and won numerous prestigious awards. He won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his role as an ex-boxer in Million Dollar Baby in 2004. His body of work in The Shawshank Redemption, Million Dollar Baby and Invictus earned him nominations for the Academy Award for Best Actor as well. Furthermore, he also won the Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award, Broadcast Film Critics Association Award and the People’s Choice Award, among others.
Morgan Freeman is the quintessential talent known around the world as the Voice of Hollywood. He’s the embodiment of the classic character actor and his distinct, deep-voiced narration has earned him the nickname, “The Voice of Hollywood”. From his roles in Street Smart and Glory to projects such as March of the Penguins, The Long Way Home, Through The Wormhole and The Cleveland Show, Freeman has earned respect and awards throughout his career. He’s sure to remain one of Hollywood’s most beloved and iconic actors for generations to come.
