At 86, Morgan Freeman Is Said To Have Lost 25 Lbs & Is ‘Wasting Away’ Due To Chronic Disorder

Sep 04, 2023

Morgan Freeman is not only a legendary actor and producer who has made a lasting impact on the film industry with his outstanding performances, but he is also in possession of one of the world’s most exceptional and recognizable voices.

Born on June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee, Morgan found solace in acting at an early age and performed in school plays and community theater productions throughout his youth.

After high school, Morgan joined the US Air Force and served as a mechanic for four years. After leaving the military, he pursued acting, starting in off-Broadway productions before making his way to television and films.

His breakthrough came in 1987 when he starred as a vicious pimp in “Street Smart.” His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. He continued to gain critical acclaim for his roles in films like “Glory,” “Driving Miss Daisy” and “The Shawshank Redemption.”

In 2005, Morgan won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in “Million Dollar Baby,” directed by Clint Eastwood. He had worked with Eastwood previously in “Unforgiven” and “Invictus.” Morgan’s ability to bring complex characters to life on screen has earned him numerous accolades and made him one of the most respected actors in Hollywood.

However, a series of public appearances in 2023 has raised concerns among his friends and fans. First, the actor was spotted at the 2023 Oscars with a shaved head and sporting a mysterious glove on one hand. By July 2023, reports from the actor's close circle revealed friends were worried about his weight loss. Read on to learn more about Morgan's life and how he's doing today.

Morgan’s distinctive voice has also become a defining feature of his career. He has lent his voice to several documentaries and narrated countless commercials, films and television shows. Morgan’s rich, deep voice is instantly recognizable and has become an iconic part of his legacy.

However, outside of his revered career in show business, Morgan hasn't always been lucky in his personal life. The actor has had his fair share of personal struggles, including romantic break-ups, a devastating car accident and the loss of his granddaughter. 

Morgan is the father of four children and welcomed his first son, Alphonso Freeman, in 1959, with his partner at the time, Loletha Adkins. Not much is known about Adkins, except that she and Morgan called it quits soon after Alphonso’s arrival. 

Morgan welcomed his second child, son Saifoulaye Freeman, in 1960. However, details are not known about Saifoulaye’s mother. 

In 1967, Morgan walked down the aisle for the first time with Jeanette Adair Bradshaw. Morgan became a stepfather to Jeanette’s daughter, Deena, and the couple also had their own child together, daughter Morgana Freeman. The pair divorced in 1979.  

In 1984, Morgan married Myrna Colley-Lee. They had no children together but raised Morgan’s stepgranddaughter, Edena Hines. However, tragedy struck on Aug. 16, 2015, when the then-33-year-old Hines was found murdered in front of her home in Washington Heights, New York. Her boyfriend was subsequently found guilty of her murder and sentenced to 20 years in jail.

“I want to acknowledge the tremendous outpouring of love and support my family has received regarding the tragic and senseless passing of my granddaughter Edena Hines. Thank you from the bottom of my heart,” Morgan posted on Facebook following her passing.  

For Morgan, transitioning into the role of fatherhood didn’t come naturally. He told The Telegraph:

“I’m not sure fatherhood changed me. You have to be married to be a father. I sired a couple of kids without being married, but that doesn’t make you a father. It took a while for me to become a father. I was busy trying to be an actor, and the two didn’t really go together in my youth.”

However, the years have softened the “Seven” star and entering grandfatherhood changed his demeanor.

“Now, I am in my dotage,” Morgan told The Telegraph. “I am a great-grandfather. I’m not a hands-on grandfather… I haven’t changed diapers. But when I had daughters, I changed theirs. Being hands-on makes a difference in your child’s life.”

Morgan is also known for his enduring qualities, with many corners of the internet dedicated to highlighting how the actor never appears to change. However, eagle-eyed viewers spotted the star wearing a black glove on his left hand at the 2023 Oscars, leaving fans puzzled.   

On March 12, 2023, Morgan got up on the world stage to introduce a tribute to Warner Bros. at the Academy Awards alongside Australian actress Margot Robbie. The most noticeable change in his appearance was his hair – or lack thereof. Morgan had gone bald, and fans were quick to chime in on the new look. One tweet read:

“Morgan Freeman looks great bald. Giving me hope when my time finally comes.”

Another user commented:

“Morgan freeman was walking with white long locks just a minute ago how is he completely bald now.”   

However, that wasn’t the only thing fans noticed about the star’s appearance. On his left hand, Morgan sported a black satin glove, throwing the Twitterverse into a tizzy. 

“Someone tell me Morgan Freeman is ok and the glove is meaningless please,” one user urged, while another wrote: “No idea why the black glove on one hand, but I dig it and hope he’s in good health.”  

This wasn’t the first time Morgan had been spotted at a public event wearing a single glove. The star delivered a spoken presentation during the opening ceremony for the World Cup in 2022 and wore a beige glove on his left hand. At the time, however, attention on the glove was superseded by Morgan's appearance at the ceremony after being one of the most vocal personalities lobbying for the United States’ bid to be a World Cup host. 

“Morgan Freeman was face of US bid to win right to host World Cup 2022. … Qatar shocked world by winning hosting rights and today, Morgan Freeman is face of their opening ceremony,” one tweet read. Another user wrote, “They got Morgan Freeman… who was actually one of the voices of the failed US bid for 2022!”

As it turned out, Morgan had worn the compression glove to keep circulation going in his arm after he sustained nerve damage from a devastating car crash in 2008. In the incident, Morgan's vehicle flipped over several times before landing in a ditch near Charleston, Mississippi. He and a passenger had to be cut free from the wreckage before they were airlifted to the hospital.   

A journalist described the ordeal as such:

“They had to use the jaws of life (hydraulic cutters) to extract him from the vehicle.”  

The crash left Morgan with serious nerve damage to his lower left arm and hand, which he can no longer move. Wearing a compression glove helps improve circulation and relieve pain.  

Morgan told People in 2010: “I suffered nerve damage and it hasn’t gotten better. I can’t move it."    

“It’s the fibromyalgia,” Morgan told Esquire in 2012. “Up and down the arm. That’s where it gets so bad. Excruciating.” 

The writer of the piece also mentioned several moments during the interview when Morgan appeared in agony. In one instance, he stopped talking and grabbed “his left arm, winces through what appears a supreme flash of pain.” The writer added the hand was “stiffly gripped by a compression glove most of the time to ensure that blood doesn’t pool there.”

However, the injury isn’t getting Morgan down. He told the same magazine:

“There is a point to changes like these. I have to move on to other things, to other conceptions of myself. I play golf. I still work. And I can be pretty happy just walking the land.”

He added that he plays golf with one hand, as he can't swing with his right arm. Despite still being able to enjoy some of his favorite pastimes, the actor was forced to quit piloting his jet and sailing alone.  

Morgan reiterated his stance to keep busy even in his twilight years in 2017 and told the Austin-American Statesman:

“You don’t decide if you’re going to take some time off or rest. But for those of us who are able to work, you’ve got to make hay while the sun is shining.”

Fibromyalgia is described by the National Institute of Health as "chronic, widespread pain throughout the body or at multiple sites. ... People often describe it as aching, burning, or throbbing.” Other symptoms of the condition include fatigue, numbness and headaches, as well as trouble sleeping. Once thought to be psychosomatic, the condition was later classified by the American Medical Association as a clinical diagnosis. Although there is no cure, fibromyalgia can be managed with “a combination of exercise or other movement therapies, psychological and behavioral therapy, and medications.”    

Following everyone's concern about Morgan's health during his Oscars appearance, it was only a few months later that new worries arose surrounding the actor's well-being. During an appearance, Morgan's noticeable weight loss was brought to the public's attention, leaving many further worried about his health. 

In July 2023, Morgan was recognized and honored as an actor and advocate for ocean conservation at the Oceana's SeaChange 2023 event in California. Despite his visibly gaunt appearance, Morgan put on a brave face, expressing his support for the Oceana organization's efforts to protect marine life and oceans. 

"This old sailor would like to thank and honor all the ocean heroes in this room for being so helpful to save my second home," he said. "Our oceans need each and every one of us."

In the same month, Morgan was forced to cancel a press trip to the United Kingdom for his 2023 TV series "Special Ops: Lioness." According to an exclusive via Radar Online, Morgan's friends revealed the actor had lost nearly 25 pounds and was "wasting away" and reaching a "crisis point," allegedly due to the current state of his health. 

Morgan’s friend reiterated the actor experiences discomfort while performing simple tasks like walking or moving his arms. However, the actor primarily suffers in silence, maintaining his professional commitments despite the pain he endures. 

"Morgan is still one of the hardest-working men in Hollywood," the friend said in an exclusive report, published on Aug. 15, 2023. “But the poor guy is in incredible pain. It hurts him to walk, get out of a chair, and even just move his arms. He mostly suffers in silence, but he's in agony much of the time.”  

Amid the speculations, Morgan's representative denied the claims of his deteriorating health and weight loss, calling the allegations "bogus." His absence during the United Kingdom press tour in July was blamed on a contagious infection. 

"Morgan had an infection which was contagious so he was not able to travel," his representative said, per Mirror. "He's fine now. Infection has gone and he's no longer contagious."   

With regard to the actor's weight loss, a friend revealed Morgan had lost between 20 and 25 pounds in the last two years. "When you suffer the kind of pain he does, your appetite tends to go away," they revealed. "You have to worry for him."

Meanwhile, Dr. Stuart Fischer — a physician who hasn't personally treated Morgan — offered his professional opinion on the actor's thin frame amid concerns about his health.

"Aging is associated with loss of muscle, and when you can't exercise because of pain issues, muscles further decrease in size," he said. "Sadly, that seems to be what's happening to Morgan."

Despite his health challenges, Morgan continues to work and pursue his passions. His latest project is the documentary "761st Tank Battalion: The Original Black Panthers," which aired in August 2023 on the History Channel. The project aimed to illuminate the courage, determination and resilience displayed by the 761st Tank Battalion amidst a racially segregated military. Working on the documentary inspired Morgan to aspire to another project. 

"I want to do a 'Band of Brothers,'" Morgan told CBS News. "I want it to be before the public in all of its depth and wonder, bravery and guts."  

Morgan Freeman’s commitment to his craft, despite his health issues, is truly inspiring! What do you think about his recent weight loss? Have you ever experienced chronic pain like him? Know someone who is a fan of the actor? Then pass this story along to them!