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SAGAFTRA.org | Fall/Winter 2017 | SAG-AFTRA 55 W ith five decades of performances and more than 70 motion pictures to his name, Morgan Freeman is one of the most recognizable actors today. Known for both his legendary voice and his stellar acting chops, the multi- talented performer has left an indelible mark on the entertainment industry. Now at age 80, Freeman has been honored with SAG-AFTRA's highest tribute: the SAG Life Achievement Award. The award will be presented to Freeman at the 24th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards, which will be simulcast live on TNT and TBS on Jan. 21, 2018. "Some actors spend their entire careers waiting for the perfect role. Morgan showed us that true perfection is what a performer brings to the part," said SAG-AFTRA President Gabrielle Carteris. "He is innovative, fearless and completely unbound by expectations. It has been a privilege to see his genius at work." While his innate talents — who could forget that voice — make Freeman's road to success seem inevitable, he found his way to acting by happenstance at age 12. After pranking a fellow student, he was forced to enter a statewide drama competition as punishment. Although he lacked training, Freeman won the competition, launching a passion for acting that would carry him throughout his life. Raised in Mississippi under the harsh realities of the Jim Crow era, Freeman's rise to global stardom was arduous. Although opportunities were scarce, his dedication drove him to work hard and take risks. "When I first came to Hollywood in the 1950s, I showed up at the Paramount offices on Sunset and asked them for an acting job," Freeman told SAG-AFTRA. "They told me I needed to be a member of SAG. So I walked to the SAG offices and they told me I could join if I had an acting job! Catch-22. So being a member is the answer to a lifelong dream of mine to act." Freeman finally got his union cards, joining SAG in September 1964 and AFTRA in December 1967. His determination paid off in the early 1970s, when he became a series regular on PBS' The Electric Company, performing in 700 episodes over five years. Here, he built lasting friendships, including a bond with fellow SAG Life Achievement Award honoree Rita Moreno. His film career began to take off after he received his first Oscar nomination for his performance as pimp Fast Black in 1987's Street Smart. A second nomination followed two years later for his role as chauffer Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy, a role he originated in the show's off-Broadway production. Over the course of his career, Freeman continued to challenge himself as a performer by taking on an array of unusual and dynamic roles — everything from God to a convicted murderer to the president of the United States to Nelson Mandela. His extraordinary performances showcase his depth, heart and humor. Throughout the 1990s, Freeman continued to hone his craft, appearing in memorable roles in now-classic films such as Unforgiven (1992), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Se7en (1995) and Amistad (1997). In 2005, he took home his first Actor ® and his first Oscar for his role in Million Dollar Baby, appearing opposite fellow SAG Life Achievement Award honoree Clint Eastwood and Hillary Swank. Over the course of his career, Freeman's body of work has earned him dozens of awards, including the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's Cecil B. DeMille Award, an AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, seven Image Awards, several Obies, a Kennedy Center Honor and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Although he's now 80, Freeman shows no sign of slowing down. Recent films have included a slew of critical favorites PBS/PHOTOFEST CANON GROUP/PHOTOFEST WARNER BROS./PHOTOFEST In one of his best-known roles, Freeman plays chauffer Hoke Colburn in Driving Miss Daisy. He originated the character in the off-Broadway production. Freeman netted his first Oscar nomination starring opposite Christopher Reeve in 1987's Street Smart. One of Freeman's earliest television roles was on The Electric Company, a children's educational program on PBS. He starred alongside fellow Life Achievement honoree Rita Moreno.