A man who exemplifies dignity and intelligence in films, talented actor Morgan Freeman (1937-) was born on this day in Memphis, Tennessee. As a child, he embraced reading.

"I learned that the sun was 96 million miles away from the earth because Superman told me that. I read it in a comic book. I grew up in the days of radio," recalled Freeman.

For five years (1971-1976), he starred as the popular character Easy Reader on the PBS children's show The Electric Company, a role he said "holds a special place in my heart not only because of the creative opportunity it offered, but because of the chance the role gave me to promote the joy of reading and the importance of literacy."

Freeman perfected his craft on stage and TV for years before landing a small but memorable part in the film Brubaker (w/Robert Redford, 1980).

His edgy performance as a pimp in Street Smart (1987, w/Christopher Reeve) earned him critical attention and his first Best Supporting Oscar nomination.

The six foot two actor continued to gather praise for roles in Driving Miss Daisy (1989), The Shawshank Redemption (w/Stephen King, 1994), and Seven (w/Brad Pitt, 1995). In the summer of 2002's The Sum of All Fears (w/ Ben Affleck), the seasoned actor again brought credibility to the screen as the director of the CIA.

"I do everything well," Freeman said. "I mean, I'm an actor." 

In a career marked by stellar performances, Freeman admitted that one of his own favorites was as Sergeant Major John Rawlins in Glory (1989, w/Denzel Washington).

Freeman said the film did everything a movie could do,"It entertains; it instructs; it says something about the human spirit and vision."

Your accomplishments define who you are.