Morgan Freeman is one of Hollywood's most respected stars. An actor, director and narrator, Freemam has received Academy Award nominations for his performances in "Street Smart," "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Shawshank Redemption" and "Invictus" and won in 2005 for "Million Dollar Baby." He has also won a Golden Globe Award and a Screen Actors Guild Award.

In 1967, Freeman's big career break came when he landed a part in an all African-American Broadway production of "Hello, Dolly!" starring Pearl Bailey. Some national exposure followed in 1971, when he started appearing regularly on "The Electric Company," a public television-produced children's TV show that focused on teaching kids how to read. But television proved to be a grueling and demanding life for Freeman. Despite some stage work, including a Tony-nominated performance in "The Mighty Gents" in the late 1970s, Freeman couldn't seem to break into movies like he wanted.

Freeman's career film career picked up when he landed a part as a crazed inmate in the Robert Redford film, "Brubaker." Soon after, he was back to television for two years on the cast of the soap opera "Another World."

In 1987, Freeman's fortunes changed when he was cast in the film "Street Smart," which earned him an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. His critical acclaim followed with "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Se7en" and "Deep Impact." In 2005, Freeman won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby." He later reprised his role as Lucius Fox from "Batman Begins" for the blockbuster sequels "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises."

His voice can be heard on such memorable films as "War of the Worlds" and the Academy Award-winning documentary "March of the Penguins." In 1997, Freeman co-founded the movie production company Revelations Entertainment, including its online movie distribution company, ClickStar.

Freeman has coupled his ever-expanding brand with a host of charitable endeavors. The actor, who resides in the Mississippi Delta, raised money for Katrina victims not long after the devastating hurricane ripped through the area. Through Rock River Foundation, an organization he started, Freeman's group has donated millions to educational programs. And in 2004 he helped organize relief funds for hurricane victims in Grenada.

Freeman's energy extends into other realms, too. In his home state of Mississippi, the actor co-founded a blues club in Clarksdale. In recent years Freeman also earned his pilot's license.

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