Morgan Freeman Admits He Suffers From ‘Excruciating’ Pain Due to An Invisible Condition

Apr 05, 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 is also in possession of one of the world’s most exceptional and recognizable voices.

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

After high school, Freeman 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, Freeman 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.” Freeman'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.

Freeman'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. Freeman's rich, deep voice is instantly recognizable and has become an iconic part of his legacy.

Freeman 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, Freeman 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. Freeman 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, Freeman 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, “Morgan Freeman still looks (and sounds) amazing. 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 Freeman 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 Freeman’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, Freeman has 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, Freeman’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. 

“They had to use the jaws of life (hydraulic cutters) to extract him from the vehicle,” a journalist at the scene said. 

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

“It’s the fibromyalgia,” Freeman 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 Freeman appeared in agony. In one instance, he stopped talking and “grabs his left arm, winces through what appears a supreme flash of pain.” The writer added the hand “is stiffly gripped by a compression glove most of the time to ensure that blood doesn’t pool there.”

However, the injury isn’t getting Freeman 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.  

Freeman 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. Pain is often felt in the arms, legs, head, chest, abdomen, back, and buttocks. 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.”

Lady Gaga opened up to Vogue that she also suffers from the condition. "I get so irritated with people who don’t believe fibromyalgia is real," the music icon said. “People need to be more compassionate. Chronic pain is no joke. And it’s every day waking up not knowing how you’re going to feel.” Other celebrities who suffer from the condition include actress and comedian Janeane Garofalo and Irish singer Sinead O'Connor.

Despite the way it's impacted his life, Freeman hasn't let fibromyalgia affect his career. He's starred in numerous films since his diagnosis, including action-packed roles in "Red" (2010), "Now You See Me" (2013), "Oblivion" (2013) and "The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard" (2021).

Freeman's co-star in 2023's "The Ritual Killer," Cole Hauser, praised the actor. “He was amazing. He was incredible, man. He’s an actor and he’s also like a coach on set. He was giving me so many tips and reminders in the scenes that we were in together. It was incredible," he told People. 

Were you also puzzled by Morgan Freeman’s single glove during the Oscars ceremony? Did you know about Freeman’s terrible accident in 2008 and the fibromyalgia he's suffered from since? Let us know and be sure to pass this along to friends and family as well.