Morgan Freeman is trending today because the 89-year-old Oscar winner is making his College GameDay debut as celebrity guest picker for the LSU vs Ole Miss showdown in Oxford, Mississippi. This complete guide covers Morgan Freeman’s Ole Miss connection, his age, his best movies, his role in Lioness and why he wears a glove on his left hand. It also explains the famous names fans search alongside him, including Tim Curry, Peter Cullen and Diana Ross. We updated this page on September 19, 2026, so the details are current.
Few actors carry as much trust and gravitas as Morgan Freeman. His deep voice has narrated documentaries, anchored blockbusters and defined characters from Red in The Shawshank Redemption to God in Bruce Almighty. In 2026, he is also back on screen in the Paramount+ series Lioness, and he is back in the spotlight in college football country. Read on for the facts, dates and context behind every trending question.
Morgan Freeman at a Glance
Here is the quick answer for readers in a hurry. These facts come from Wikipedia, Britannica and ESPN Press Room.
- Born: June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Age: 89 years old, and he turns 90 on June 1, 2027.
- Best known for: The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, Million Dollar Baby, Bruce Almighty and The Dark Knight trilogy.
- Awards: An Academy Award for Million Dollar Baby, a Golden Globe and a Kennedy Center Honor in 2008.
- Current TV role: U.S. Secretary of State Edwin Mullins in Lioness on Paramount+.
- This weekend: Celebrity guest picker on ESPN’s College GameDay from The Grove at Ole Miss.
- Ole Miss honor: Honorary Alumni Award in 2025.
- Production company: Revelations Entertainment, which he founded with Lori McCreary in 1996.
Morgan Freeman Ole Miss: College GameDay Guest Picker
ESPN announced on Thursday, September 17, that Morgan Freeman will serve as the celebrity guest picker when College GameDay broadcasts from The Grove in Oxford. It is his first appearance on the show, according to WAFB. He revealed the news on The Pat McAfee Show, and he joins the crew at the end of the broadcast to predict the Week 3 games.
Why ESPN Chose Him
The choice makes sense. Freeman was born in Memphis and raised in Mississippi, and he has been a familiar face at Ole Miss sporting events for years. The university gave him its Honorary Alumni Award in 2025, an honor for people who did not graduate from Ole Miss but showed major support. Because GameDay picks a guest with ties to the host school every week, Morgan Freeman was a natural fit.
Ole Miss has hosted the show only a few times. Katy Perry was the guest picker in 2014, right before the Rebels upset No. 1 Alabama. Lane Kiffin then sat at the picks table in 2021 as the Ole Miss coach. This year, Freeman becomes the third celebrity to represent the school on the set.
LSU vs Ole Miss: What Is at Stake
College GameDay airs from 8 to 11 a.m. CT on ESPN, ESPNU, Disney+ and the ESPN app. The game itself kicks off at 6:30 p.m. CT (7:30 p.m. ET) on ABC at Vaught-Hemingway Stadium. No. 8 Ole Miss hosts No. 7 LSU, and it is the first AP Top 10 meeting between the schools since 1962, according to the ESPN Press Room.
The storyline around Kiffin adds drama. He coached Ole Miss from 2020 through the 2025 regular season, and now he returns to Oxford as the LSU head coach. Only one other head coach in AP Poll history, Paul Brown, faced a Top 10 team he had coached the year before. In addition, the home team has won the last six games in this series, and Ole Miss coach Pete Golding is joining the show live.
Reports from the scene said Kiffin received boos and expletive-laden chants during the broadcast. Meanwhile, one report listed LSU quarterback Sam Leavitt as doubtful on the first injury report of the week, so check the latest status before kickoff. You can follow the live blog on Yahoo Sports for Freeman’s picks. For more American football coverage, read our Lions vs Bills recap and browse the NFL category.
Morgan Freeman Age: How Old Is He in 2026?
People often search for the age of Morgan Freeman because he still works at a level few actors reach. He was born on June 1, 1937, so he is 89 years old today. He will turn 90 on June 1, 2027. That makes him one of the oldest working stars in Hollywood.
Freeman grew up in Mississippi and served in the U.S. Air Force from 1955 to 1959. He made his film debut in 1964 in The Pawnbroker. He then rose to fame on the children’s series The Electric Company in the 1970s. His Hollywood breakthrough arrived in 1989, when four of his films reached theaters, including Glory, Lean on Me and Driving Miss Daisy.
Even at 89, he keeps a full schedule. He stars in Lioness, he continues to narrate and produce, and he is appearing on College GameDay this weekend. For a deeper biography, see the Britannica entry.
Career Timeline: From Memphis to Lioness
Freeman’s career stretches across stage, television, film and production. This timeline highlights the key moments in order.
- 1937: Born on June 1 in Memphis, Tennessee.
- 1955 to 1959: Serves in the U.S. Air Force.
- 1964: Makes his film debut in The Pawnbroker.
- 1970s: Becomes a household face on the children’s series The Electric Company.
- 1987: Earns his first Oscar nomination for Street Smart.
- 1989: Has a breakthrough year with Glory, Lean on Me, Johnny Handsome and Driving Miss Daisy.
- 1994: Stars in The Shawshank Redemption.
- 1996: Founds Revelations Entertainment with Lori McCreary.
- 2005: Wins the Oscar for Million Dollar Baby.
- 2008: Survives a serious car accident in Mississippi and receives a Kennedy Center Honor.
- 2011 to 2018: Receives the AFI Life Achievement Award, the Cecil B. DeMille Award and the SAG Life Achievement Award.
- 2014 to 2019: Produces the CBS drama Madam Secretary.
- 2024: Appears in Lioness Season 2 on Paramount+.
- 2025: Receives the Ole Miss Honorary Alumni Award and pays tribute to Gene Hackman at the Oscars.
- 2026: Stars in Lioness Season 3 and makes his College GameDay debut.
This record shows how Morgan Freeman built his legacy over more than six decades. He moved from small stage roles to children’s television, and then to some of the most respected films ever made.
Morgan Freeman Movies: Best Films and Roles
Classic Morgan Freeman Movies
Morgan Freeman movies span six decades and almost every genre. The table below lists the roles that fans and critics mention most often.
| Film | Year | Freeman’s role |
|---|---|---|
| Street Smart | 1987 | Fast Black (Oscar nomination) |
| Driving Miss Daisy | 1989 | Hoke Colburn (Oscar nomination) |
| Glory | 1989 | Sergeant Major John Rawlins |
| Unforgiven | 1992 | Ned Logan |
| The Shawshank Redemption | 1994 | Ellis Boyd ‘Red’ Redding (Oscar nomination) |
| Se7en | 1995 | Detective Somerset |
| Bruce Almighty | 2003 | God |
| Million Dollar Baby | 2004 | Eddie ‘Scrap Iron’ Dupris (Oscar win) |
| Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and The Dark Knight Rises | 2005 to 2012 | Lucius Fox |
| Invictus | 2009 | Nelson Mandela (Oscar nomination) |
| Olympus Has Fallen and Angel Has Fallen | 2013 and 2019 | Allan Trumbull |
| Now You See Me: Now You Don’t | 2025 | Thaddeus Bradley |
These Morgan Freeman movies show his range. He plays wise mentors, calm leaders and, occasionally, a menacing figure. The Shawshank Redemption and Se7en often top fan polls, while Million Dollar Baby earned him his Oscar.
Awards and Honors
Freeman won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby. He also earned Oscar nominations for Street Smart, Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption and Invictus, according to The Cinemaholic. He won a Golden Globe in 1990 for Driving Miss Daisy.
Lifetime honors followed. He received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2008, the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2011, the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2012 and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2018. You can browse the full list on the Morgan Freeman on screen and stage page.
Upcoming Projects
Freeman is attached to The Little Bedroom, a Lionsgate drama with Laurence Fishburne and Kate Mara, and the project is still waiting for filming updates. A fourth season of Lioness has not been officially greenlit yet. Because plans change quickly, check trusted sources before you assume any release date.
Lioness Morgan Freeman: His Role as Edwin Mullins
Lioness is Taylor Sheridan’s military spy series on Paramount+. Zoe Saldana stars as CIA officer Joe McNamara, and Nicole Kidman plays her boss, Kaitlyn Meade. Morgan Freeman in Lioness plays U.S. Secretary of State Edwin Mullins, a bold and risk-taking politician who pushes back against the CIA when he wants a different outcome, according to the Paramount+ cast guide.
Season 3 premiered on August 2, 2026, and new episodes arrive every Sunday. The season has eight episodes, and the finale streams on September 20, 2026, as MovieWeb reported. Episodes drop at 3 a.m. ET, according to Forbes. Seasons 1 and 2 are also streaming on Paramount+.
The main cast includes these actors:
- Zoe Saldana as Joe McNamara
- Nicole Kidman as Kaitlyn Meade
- Morgan Freeman as Edwin Mullins
- Michael Kelly as Byron Westfield
- Laysla De Oliveira
- Dave Annable as Neal
- Jill Wagner as Bobby
- LaMonica Garrett as Tucker
- Genesis Rodriguez
- Ian Bohen as Grady
Critics have warmed to the show over time. Season 2 earned a 90% score on Rotten Tomatoes, compared with 54% for Season 1, according to MovieWeb. Freeman’s scenes remain a highlight because Mullins often clashes with Joe, Kaitlyn and the CIA. Morgan Freeman Lioness scenes often take place in briefing rooms, where Mullins debates policy and risk with the intelligence chiefs. That setting suits his calm, authoritative style. For a full episode list, see the TV Guide season 3 guide.
Morgan Freeman Glove: Why He Wears It on His Left Hand
Fans ask the same question whenever they see him on a red carpet: why does Morgan Freeman wear a glove? The short answer is medical. The glove is a compression glove that supports his left hand after a serious injury. This section is informational only and does not replace professional medical advice.
What Happened to Morgan Freeman’s Hand
In August 2008, Freeman was driving in Mississippi when his car flipped several times. He broke bones in his left arm and shoulder, and surgeons repaired them. However, the nerve damage did not heal, and he has said he cannot move his left hand normally. He told People magazine in 2010 that a hand you never move will swell, because you move it a million times a day.
The compression glove helps keep blood flowing and limits swelling in the hand. Freeman has also spoken about fibromyalgia, a condition that causes widespread pain, and he told Esquire in 2012 that the pain in his arm can be excruciating. The KTLA report explains that fibromyalgia often begins after a physical trauma.
Why Does Morgan Freeman Wear a Black Glove in Lioness?
Viewers noticed the black glove immediately in Lioness. Filmmakers on many of his later projects hid his left hand, but Lioness chose to show it, which surprised fans and sparked curiosity, according to Yahoo Entertainment. The reason is the same as in real life: the glove supports his injured hand.
He has also worn an elbow-length glove at public events. Examples include the 2023 Oscars, where he presented with Margot Robbie, and the 2025 Oscars, where he honored his late friend Gene Hackman. He wore one at the 2022 World Cup opening ceremony as well. In short, the glove is not a fashion choice, and it has nothing to do with a movie character.
Freeman’s hand injury has not slowed his work. Morgan Freeman’s hand still needs daily care, yet he has continued to act, narrate and produce. Fans often praise that resilience, and many mention it when they explain why he wears the glove in public.
Famous Voices: Peter Cullen, Tim Curry and More
Freeman’s voice is among the most recognizable in film. That is why fans often search his name next to other unmistakable voices. Two of those names made headlines last month.
Peter Cullen was the voice of Optimus Prime in the Transformers franchise and of Eeyore in the Winnie the Pooh cartoons. He died on August 26, 2026, at age 85, according to NBC News. His family asked fans to honor him by serving their communities with compassion.
Tim Curry starred as Dr. Frank-N-Furter in The Rocky Horror Picture Show and also played the butler Wadsworth in Clue. He died on August 25, 2026, at age 80, as NBC News reported. After a stroke in 2012, he worked mostly in voice acting.
Freeman, Cullen and Curry share one thing: each built a career on a voice that audiences know within seconds. However, they worked in very different styles, and no report links them to a shared project.
Related Searches Explained: Diana Ross, Reba, NYT, Running Man and Harlem Shake
Several other names appear beside Morgan Freeman in search results. Here is what we could confirm about each one.
- Diana Ross: She received the Kennedy Center Honor in 2007, and Freeman received it in 2008, according to Playbill. They were honored in consecutive years.
- Reba: Reba McEntire is a country star and the lead of the sitcom Reba. We found no shared project with Freeman, so treat any claim of a collaboration with caution.
- Morgan Freeman NYT: A New York Times Connections puzzle on August 25, 2026, listed The Shawshank Redemption in a Stephen King adaptations group, as Parade explained. Freeman starred in that film as Red.
- Running Man: The same puzzle group included The Running Man. Freeman is not in that film, so the link is only through the puzzle.
- Harlem Shake: This term appeared in another category of the same puzzle. It refers to a dance and a 2012 Baauer song, and it has no connection to Freeman.
Morgan Freeman FAQs
How old is Morgan Freeman?
Morgan Freeman is 89 years old. He was born on June 1, 1937, and he turns 90 on June 1, 2027.
Why does Morgan Freeman wear a glove on his left hand?
He wears a compression glove because of nerve damage from a 2008 car accident. The glove helps blood flow and limits swelling and pain in his left hand.
What happened to Morgan Freeman’s hand?
His car flipped in Mississippi in August 2008. He broke his left arm and shoulder, and lasting nerve damage left the hand largely immobile.
Who does Morgan Freeman play in Lioness?
He plays U.S. Secretary of State Edwin Mullins, who often clashes with the CIA and the Lioness team.
When is the Lioness season 3 finale?
The eight-episode season finale streams on Sunday, September 20, 2026, on Paramount+.
What are the best Morgan Freeman movies?
The most praised titles are The Shawshank Redemption, Se7en, Million Dollar Baby, Driving Miss Daisy, Glory, Unforgiven and Invictus.
Why is Morgan Freeman on College GameDay?
He is a Mississippi native and longtime Ole Miss fan, and ESPN chose him as guest picker for the LSU vs Ole Miss game in Oxford.
Has Morgan Freeman won an Oscar?
Yes. He won Best Supporting Actor for Million Dollar Baby, and he earned four other nominations.
Is Morgan Freeman alive?
Yes. Morgan Freeman is alive and working as of September 19, 2026, and he is set to appear on College GameDay this weekend.
Where was Morgan Freeman born?
He was born in Memphis, Tennessee, and he grew up in Mississippi.
Final Word on Morgan Freeman
Morgan Freeman remains one of the most respected performers alive, and this week he connects film fans and football fans at the same time. His College GameDay debut, his Lioness role and his long list of classic movies explain why searches for him are climbing. Bookmark this page, because we update our Morgan Freeman coverage as new episodes, interviews and appearances arrive.
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Sources: ESPN, WAFB, Yahoo, Paramount+, Forbes, NBC News, Playbill, Parade, Britannica and Wikipedia. Schedules and appearances can change, so confirm details with official sources.
