Happy Birthday To Morgan Freeman: Actor, Pilot, Airforce Mechanic, And Loving Grandfather

Jun 01, 2020

Morgan Freeman turns 83 today. The actor is best known for his 'Godlike' voice which has been responsible for the success of many top-billed movies, documentaries and more. Outside his Hollywood career, Freeman is also a pilot, a vocation of his that is a lot less talked about than his on-screen roles.

Morgan Freeman was born on June 1, 1937, in Memphis, Tennessee. It was by chance that Freeman himself got into acting: As punishment for pulling out a chair from underneath a girl that he had a crush on, Freeman was ordered to participate in his junior high school's drama competition. To his (and the teachers') surprise, the then 12-year-old proved to be an immediate natural on the stage, taking top honors in the program.

Freeman's acting style is perhaps best carried in a popular quote by novelist Josiah Gilbert Holland, "calmness is the cradle of power." He has the ability to associate the troubles of a common man through his characters, an emotional depth that compels many to watch his films. This has made Freeman one of the most identified and respected faces of Hollywood over the years.

The 83-year-old's rumbling baritone gives gravitas to anything he says. Playing 'God' in Bruce Almighty and in its sequel Evan Almighty is a divine case in point. We can't think of anyone else that could have done it better.

Freeman wrote in a tweet last month talking about his alma mater, Los Angeles City College: "Before we were instructed to stay home, I had the opportunity to go back to @LACityCollege, the college I attended 60 years ago." He continued, "It was here that I honed my voice [and] even dropped it a full octave." He had visited LACC in February for a rededication ceremony of the Morgan Freeman Theater and a discussion with its students.

Freeman started out as a mechanic in the U.S. Air Force in his late teens before considering training as a fighter pilot. He finally achieved his pilot license at the age of 65 and flies his own planes: a Cessna Citation 501 jet, a Cessna 414 twin, and an SJ30 private jet.

His grandson, Aldric Johns, is also getting his own wings; Freeman posted a selfie with Aldric on Instagram in May congratulating his grandson on getting accepted to Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, a college specializing in aviation and aerospace.

Freeman wrote:

I want to congratulate my grandson Aldric on finishing his senior year of Woodward Academy and getting accepted into Embry Riddle Dalton. I'm very proud (and not just because you’re going to be a pilot like grandpa!). I know it's a hard time for all you graduates who don't get to celebrate in the traditional way... But this is a big achievement, so take time to revel in your accomplishment.

Happy 83rd birthday, Morgan Freeman! Join us in sending our best wishes to the beloved actor in the comments and be sure to pass this along to your friends and family.