Morgan Freeman honored by Film Society of Lincoln Center
Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, whose credits include "Street Smart," "Driving Miss Daisy," "The Shawshank Redemption," "Seven," and "Million Dollar Baby," will be honored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center for lifetime achievement with its Chaplin Award.
Freeman's five-decade career was celebrated at a gala event at New York's Lincoln Center on Monday, April 25, 2016.
Click though this gallery for a look at his most memorable work.
By CBSNews.com senior producer David Morgan
"Exhibition"
Born in Memphis, Tennessee in 1937, Morgan Freeman studied acting after a stint in the Air Force, working in musical theater In California and New York. He worked as an extra in Sidney Lumet's "The Pawnbroker," and appeared in the all-black version of "Hello, Dolly!" on Broadway.
Pictured: Morgan Freeman with Jeanne Rostaing and Vera Lockwood in "Exhibition," Frank Spiering's play about witchcraft, at Actors Playhouse in New York, 1969.
"The Electric Company"
Morgan Freeman was a member of the company of the rollicking PBS educational series, "The Electric Company" (1971-1977), blending comedy and song with lessons in spelling and grammar. Among his recurring characters was Vincent the Vegetable Vampire (lower left), and radio DJ Mel Mounds.
"Street Smart"
Morgan Freeman received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance as Fast Black, a pimp who believes reporter Christopher Reeve's expose on prostitution revealed information about him - not knowing that Reeve actually made up his story - in "Street Smart" (1987).
"Clean and Sober"
Morgan Freeman plays a drug counselor who helps addict Michael Keaton get on the road to recovery in the 1988 drama, "Clean and Sober."
"Driving Miss Daisy"
After originating the role of Hoek Coleburn in Alfred Uhry's Off-Broadway play "Driving Miss Daisy," he appeared in the 1989 film version starring Jessica Tandy. Freeman won a Golden Globe and was nominated for an Academy Award for his performance. The film won four Oscars, including Best Picture and Best Actress for Tandy.
"Glory"
In "Glory" (1989), Morgan Freeman stars as Sergeant Major John Rawlins, one of the free blacks and emancipated former slaves who enlist in the 54th Regiment Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, composed of African American soldiers, to fight in the Civil War.
"Lean on Me"
Morgan Freeman starred as no-nonsense New Jersey school principal Joe Clark, who helps raise the level of learning among his charges, in the biopic "Lean on Me" (1989).
"The Bonfire of the Vanities"
In the 1990 film adaptation of Tom Wolfe's "The Bonfire of the Vanities," the character of Bronx Judge Myron Kovitsky was changed from a Jew to an African American, becoming Leonard White. As played by Morgan Freeman, he was the singular voice of reason in the story's caustic take on race and injustice in New York City.
"The Taming of the Shrew"
Morgan Freeman with Tracy Ullman in a 1990 New York Shakespeare Festival production of "The Taming of the Shrew," at the Delacorte Theatre in New York City's Central Park.
"Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves"
In "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves" (1991), Morgan Freeman plays Azeem, who accompanies Robin of Lockley (Kevin Costner) back to England from the Crusades, to engage in much derring-do in Sherwood Forest.
"The Power of One"
Morgan Freeman stars as a boxing coach in South Africa training a young English boy (Guy Witcher) in the drama "The Power of One" (1992).
"Unforgiven"
Morgan Freeman and Clint Eastwood are former gunslingers who become bounty hunters in the 1992 Oscar-winning western "Unforgiven."
"The Shawshank Redemption"
Morgan Freeman earned his third Oscar nomination for "The Shawshank Redemption" (1994) as Red, an inmate who befriends a newly-jailed man framed for murder (Tim Robbins).
"Seven"
Brad Pitt and Morgan Freeman are detectives on the trail of a grisly serial killer in director David Fincher's artful suspense thriller, "Seven" (1995).
"Amistad"
Director Steven Spielberg, Anthony Hopkins and Morgan Freeman on the set of the historical drama "Amistad" (1997), about an 1839 revolt aboard a slave ship, and the runaway slaves' efforts for justice in America.
"Kiss the Girls"
Morgan Freeman starred as detective/psychologist Alex Cross tracking a serial killer in the 1997 film version of the James Patterson thriller, "Kiss the Girls." He returned to the role in "Along Came a Spider" (2001).
"Deep Impact"
Morgan Freeman got to play the President of the United States, just in time for Earth to be threatened with mass extinction owing to a collision course with a comet, in the 1998 science fiction thriller "Deep Impact."
"Nurse Betty"
Chris Rock and Morgan Freeman are hitmen in the black comedy "Nurse Betty" (2000).
Hollywood Film Awards
Actor Morgan Freeman arrives for the 2000 Hollywood Film Awards gala ceremony on August 7, 2000 in Beverly Hills, Calif.
"The Sum of All Fears"
Morgan Freeman is the director of the CIA and Ben Affleck is agent Jack Ryan, pursuing a missing nuclear weapon believed to have fallen into the hands of terrorists, in "The Sum of All Fears" (2002), based on the Tom Clancy spy novel.
God Almighty
Morgan Freeman played God, conferring god-like powers onto Jim Carrey, in the 2003 comedy "Bruce Almighty." He returned for the sequel, "Evan Almighty," in which Steve Carell is given the task of becoming a modern-day Noah.
Handprints In Cement
Actor Morgan Freeman places his hands in cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood on June 5, 2002.
"Million Dollar Baby"
In Clint Eastwood's "Million Dollar Baby" (2004), Hillary Swank stars as a waitress and amateur boxer who is encouraged by Eddie (Morgan Freeman), a former boxer and assistant at the gym run by Eastwood.
Golden Globe Awards
Morgan Freeman and granddaughter E'Dena Hines arrive for the 62nd annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel January 16, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California.
Directors Guild of America Awards
Morgan Freeman, director Clint Eastwood and Hilary Swank pose at the 57th annual Directors Guild of America Awards Dinner at the Beverly Hilton Hotel on January 29, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California. Eastwood won the DGA Award - his second - for "Million Dollar Baby."
Academy Awards
Actor Morgan Freeman poses backstage with his Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role for "Million Dollar Baby" during the 77th annual Academy Awards on February 27, 2005 at the Kodak Theater in Hollywood, California.
"An Unfinished Life"
Robert Redford and Morgan Freeman play friends nursing old wounds - physical and emotional - in Lasse Hallstrom's "An Unfinished Life" (2005).
"An Unfinished Life"
Actors Jennifer Lopez, Morgan Freeman and Becca Gardner attend the premiere of "An Unfinished Life" September 7, 2005 in New York City.
"Blood Diamond" Premiere
Morgan Freeman and Leonardo DiCaprio pose at the "Blood Diamond" after-party held at Grauman's Chinese Theater on December 6, 2006 in Hollywood, California.
The Batman Trilogy
In Christopher Nolan's Batman Trilogy ("Batman Begins," "The Dark Knight" and "The Dark Knight Rises"), Morgan Freeman plays Lucius Fox, a Wayne Enterprises employee responsible for crafting the elaborate tools and vehicles that Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale) uses during his superhero efforts.
Kennedy Center Honors
President George W. Bush and first lady Laura Bush stand for the National Anthem alongside the 2008 Kennedy Center Honors award recipients, at the John. F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., on December 7, 2008. Among the recipients, from left: musician Pete Townshend of The Who; director-singer-actress Barbra Streisand; actor Morgan Freeman; and singer George Jones. Also receiving honors were choreographer Twyla Tharp and musician Roger Daltrey of The Who.
"10 Items or Less"
Morgan Freeman and Paz Vega play an actor and a store cashier - strangers who embark on a road trip of sorts across Los Angeles - in the indie comedy-drama, "10 Items or Less" (2006).
"Gone Baby Gone"
In Ben Affleck's directing debut, "Gone Baby Gone" (2007), based on the Dennis Lehane crime novel, Morgan Freeman plays a police captain who is joined by a private investigator (Casey Affleck) in the search for a kidnapped girl. With Michelle Monaghan.
"The Bucket List"
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman star as two terminal lung cancer patients who decide to go out with a bang, embarking on a series of adventures around the world (including skydiving) in "The Bucket List" (2007).
"Wanted"
Morgan Freeman is the leader of a secret society of assassins (which includes Angelina Jolie) in the 2008 thriller "Wanted."
Plan!t Now
Actors Sidney Poitier and Morgan Freeman pose at Plan!t Now's gala benefit dinner at the Four Seasons Hotel on January 16, 2009 in Los Angeles, California.
"Invictus"
Directed by Clint Eastwood, "Invictus" (2009) stars Morgan Freeman and South African president Nelson Mandela and Matt Damon as Francois Pienaar, captain of the South Africa's national rugby team, who attempt to unite the fractured post-Apartheid country during the Rugby World Cup.
"Invictus"
Actor Morgan Freeman arrives at the premiere of "Invictus" in Beverly Hills, California on December 3, 2009. Freeman received his fifth Oscar nomination (this time for Best Actor) for his performance as Nelson Mandela.
Oceana
Actor Ted Danson, model Almudena Fernandez and actor Morgan Freeman attend the Nautica and Oceana Gulfport Press Conference at Gulfport Marina on August 24, 2010 in Gulfport, Mississippi. Freeman is a spokesperson for the charity advocating for the health of the oceans.
"Red"
Retired CIA agents can't quite give up the black ops life, as former operatives played by John Malkovich, Morgan Freeman and Bruce Willis try to get to the bottom of a string of assassinations in "Red" (2010).
AFI Life Achievement Award
Recipient Morgan Freeman speaks onstage at the 39th American Film Institute Life Achievement Award ceremony, at Sony Pictures Studios on June 9, 2011 in Culver City, California.
"The Magic of Belle Isle"
In "The Magic of Belle Isle" (2012), Morgan Freeman plays a writer and recovering alcoholic who finds inspiration in a neighboring family (whose kids seem to love face painting) during a summer vacation.
"Last Vegas"
Robert De Niro and Morgan Freeman are half of a quartet of seniors who head to Las Vegas for a bachelor party in the comedy "Last Vegas" (2013).
"Now You See Me"
Morgan Freeman as a former magician still up to his old tricks in the caper film "Now You See Me" (2013). With Jessica Lindsey and Mélanie Laurent.
"Oblivion"
Morgan Freeman plays a rebel commander who wants Tom Cruise's help in combating an invading alien force in the sci-fi film "Oblivion" (2013).
"Island Of Lemurs: Madagascar"
Morgan Freeman and a friend arrive at the premiere of the IMAX documentary "Island of Lemurs: Madagascar," at California Science Center on March 29, 2014 in Los Angeles.
As narrator, Freeman's voice has graced the soundtracks of such films and TV shows as "March of the Penguins," "Slavery and the Making of America," and "A Raisin in the Sun."
"Lucy"
In Luc Besson's science fiction thriller "Lucy" (2014), Scarlett Johansson stars as a woman whose accidental ingestion of a powerful nootropic drug gives her incredible mental and physical abilities, enabling her to track down the criminal syndicate responsible. Morgan Freeman plays a professor whose research in the brain may be key to her survival.
"The Shawshank Redemption"
Actors Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins arrive at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' 20th anniversary screening of "The Shawshank Redemption" at the AMPAS Samuel Goldwyn Theater on November 18, 2014 in Beverly Hills, California.
"5 Flights Up"
In "5 Flights Up" (2014), Diane Keaton and Morgan Freeman play an aging couple who put up their fifth-floor walk-up apartment in Brooklyn for sale to spare themselves the stairs.
"Last Knights"
Morgan Freeman stars as a Moorish nobleman sentenced to death in "Last Knights" (2015), a period tale of vengeful warriors.
"Madam Secretary"
In a 2015 episode of the CBS series "Madam Secretary" (of which he is executive producer), Morgan Freeman plays the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, who has to administer the oath of office to Secretary of State Elizabeth McCord (Tea Leoni) during a crisis of presidential succession. Freeman directed the episode as well.
"Ben-Hur"
Morgan Freeman as Sheik Ilderim trains Judah Ben-Hur (Jack Huston) as a chariot racer in the 2016 3-D film version of "Ben-Hur."
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Honoree Morgan Freeman attends the 43rd Chaplin Award Gala at Alice Tully Hall on Monday, April 25, 2016, in New York.
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Actors Morgan Freeman and Helen Mirren (who co-starred in "Red") and Robert De Niro pose backstage at the 43rd Chaplin Award Gala on April 25, 2016 in New York City.
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Matthew Broderick and Morgan Freeman, who co-starred in the Civil War drama "Glory," attend the 43rd Chaplin Award Gala on April 25, 2016 in New York City.
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Actors Helen Mirren and Morgan Freeman embrace onstage at the 43rd Chaplin Award Gala on April 25, 2016 in New York City.
Film Society of Lincoln Center
Actor Morgan Freeman speaks at the 43rd Chaplin Award Gala on April 25, 2016 in New York City.
Portrait
Chaplin Award honoree Morgan Freeman.
For more info: