Morgan Freeman’s 10 Best Supporting Roles
Morgan Freeman has been active in Hollywood for almost 60 years. The veteran actor made his debut in Sydney Lumet. The pawnbroker in 1964. Since then he has appeared in over 100 films, some as a supporting actor, others as a leading actor. Although Freeman does well at almost everything, it has been argued that he shines more when he lends a hand and lets others take the spotlight.
Since he was a late bloomer, not gaining much fame until he was in his 40s, he tends to be better at father, consigliere, and leadership roles, although in most cases he never has to be the main character of the story. This is questionable since he has two Oscar nominations for Best Actor and two for Best Supporting Actor. Still, the following list will focus only on Freeman’s iconic supporting cast and what makes them stand out from the rest of his work.
10 Lucius Fox in the Dark Knight trilogy (2005 – 2012)
In The Dark Knight In the trilogy, Lucius Fox begins as head of the applied science department at Wayne Enterprise. After taking full control of the company, Bruce Wayne appoints Fox as his armorer. The tech expert takes responsibility for providing the Gotham billionaire with most of his gadgets and assisting him with other unofficial tasks related to his career as a vigilante.
Why the role is great
The aspect here is quality over quantity. Although Fox only has limited filming time, he has a lot of influence over the action. Without Fox, Bruce would never have had access to all of the equipment and technology he needed to be Batman. Fox also plays a crucial role in helping Bruce save his company when it is in danger of falling into the wrong hands. It’s also worth noting that Fox was never one of DC’s most popular characters before the trilogy, but thanks to Freeman’s incredible performance, he became one.
9 Ned Logan in Unforgiven (1992)
With Clint Eastwood unforgivenFreeman got to play one of the most famous sidekicks in western films. Ned, a retired bounty hunter, is forced to put his farming pursuits on hold and team up with his old pal Muny (Eastwood) when he learns of an escort’s recent attack. Together, the two try to achieve justice and at the same time free the city from its nefarious figures.
Why the role is great
Here Freeman delivers some of his greatest quotes of all time. In all the bantering moments between the two heroes, it is Ned who is able to steer the conversation. “I can still knock out the eye of a flying bird,” the bounty hunter tells Muny, confirming that age has not affected his abilities in any way. He is also very honest. “Last night I said I missed my wife, tonight I just miss my dadgum bed,” he says in another scene. Most importantly, Ned is the type of character who emphasizes the importance of friendship and loyalty. At first he has no real reason to leave his comfortable home. He only does it because he has to help his friend Muny.
8th Sloan in Wanted (2008)
Wanted is about Welsey, an employee who is recruited for an assassin organization called The Fraternity. His leader, Sloan (Freeman), helps Wesley discover his marksmanship skills before sending him on missions, but it soon becomes apparent that the honcho has ulterior motives and is hiding deep secrets about Wesley’s past.
Why the role is great
Freeman enjoys playing both leader and advisor, and he does both to good effect here. Fans also get to see his darker side. For an actor who rarely portrays evil characters, he manages to do so quite convincingly this time. Even more impressive is how Sloan effortlessly hides his true self and his true goals. He’s not overtly evil from the start. It’s only in the third act that the protagonist really realizes what he’s dealing with.
7 Eddie “Scrap Iron” Dupris in Million Dollar Baby (2004)
Many of the greatest films about boxing focus on underdogs and Million dollar baby follows the same path. The story follows Margaret “Maggie” Fitzgerald, a waitress from the Missouri Ozarks who dreams of becoming a sports legend, only to be snubbed by Frankie, a coach she looks up to. Frankie’s gym co-worker Scrap (Freeman) notices her will and determination and offers to help her achieve her dreams.
Why the role is great
Freeman impressively demonstrates his dramatic range in the film and it’s no surprise that he won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his performance. Whether he’s arguing or giving words of encouragement, he shows the same kind of enthusiasm. His character Scrap also serves as the film’s narrator, allowing fans to enjoy both the star’s unmatched screen presence and his golden voice. He is the ideal friend with good judgment, always offering to help Maggie when Frankie is being unreasonable and leaving her in his care and custody when his acting skills are up.
6 Allan Tranbull in the Has Fallen trilogy (2013 – 2019)
The Is fallen The trilogy is more of an action film than a political drama, so it is the Gerard Butler series. But Freeman also shines as the mild-mannered politician Allan Tranbul, who rises from Speaker of the House to Vice President before becoming the 46th President of the United States. And while he occupies the latter office, all hell really breaks loose.
Why the role is great
In a film series in which even the protagonist suffers from character development issues, Tranbull develops strongly from the first to the third part. He is experiencing tremendous career development and demonstrating great leadership qualities. When he finds himself in a gentleman-in-distress situation in the third part, he’s still doing well, and it’s all a testament to Freeman’s skill.
5 Fast Black in Street Smart (1987)
Street Smart was Christopher Reeve’s passion project, but it’s Morgan Freeman who steals the show. Reeve plays Jonathan Fisher, a struggling reporter who decides to make up a story about a New York pimp when he fails to receive any meaningful leads. It turns out that the character he created is very similar to a real-life pimp named Fast Black (Freeman). When Black finds out about this, he offers Fisher a deal. He will claim the story is true if the reporter provides him with an alibi for his murder trial.
Why the role is great
Freeman is more sadistic than any other role. His character screams, threatens and attacks. At some point it reaches a disturbing level, but that dedication is why this became his breakthrough role after two decades in the industry. The role of Fast Black earned Freeman his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor. There was also a Golden Globe Award, and what’s even more impressive is that these were the only two awards the film received overall. Street Smart is therefore worth seeing for Freeman alone.
4 General Billy Ford in Outbreak (1995)
outbreak is one of the most important films about viruses and pandemics. Events primarily revolve around clashes between military and medical personnel as each group does their best to contain a fictional virus called Motaba, which is set to spread in California due to the recent importation of a monkey into the United States. Freeman plays General Billy Ford, one of the more sensible senior officers in the army.
Why the role is great
In a film where everyone is frantic and unreasonable, Ford emerges as the only sane character. He eliminates most bureaucratic obstacles by supporting doctors when his colleagues do not, and never hesitates to call someone out when they try to impose their unrealistic policies. In the end, his characters play the crucial role in containing the situation.
3 Captain Jack Doyle in Gone Baby Gone (2007)
After a four-year-old girl goes missing, a private detective and his partner quickly come to the rescue. They frequently consult police captain Jack Doyle (Freeman), who leads them to believe that a drug lord may be responsible because the girl’s mother is a mule. Towards the end of the film they learn that Doyle was involved in the kidnapping. His goal was not to harm the girl, but to give her a better life away from her toxic mother.
Why the role is great
TheGone, baby gone The supporting character is so well written that the audience has good reasons to root both against him and for him. He doesn’t mean any harm. As a law enforcement officer, he’s seen enough children suffering under the care of their drug-addicted parents, and if he can save one, he will. However, he has no moral authority to take a child away from his parents. The question of what is wrong and what is right therefore remains complex, especially because Ben Affleck’s directorial debut ends sadly and the private investigator regrets his decision.
2 Dr. Cameron in Dolphin Tale (2011)
Dolphin story is a heartwarming story for marine conservation lovers, animal rights activists and general viewers alike. In it, a dolphin gets caught in a trap and seriously injures its tail while swimming. She is rescued and taken to Clearwater Marine Hospital, where several professionals work to save her life, including prosthetic designer Dr. Cameron (Morgan Freeman).
Why the role is great
Dr. Cameron is the type of character who is there for the wow factor. He is not complex. He simply shows off his skills while the audience sits back and enjoys it. Cameron also helps ramp up the film’s level of fear and tension, as everyone watching is forced to cross their fingers in the hope that their attempt to create a prosthetic tail for the dolphin will be successful. Luckily, there is a happy ending for everyone involved in the story.
1 Thaddeus Bradley in Now You See Me (2013) and Now You See Me 2 (2016)
Now you see Me follows a group of illusionists known as “The Four Horsemen” who devise tricks to siphon money from the accounts of corrupt people and corporations before showering it on viewers. To stop them before their next heist, an FBI agent enlists the services of former illusionist Thaddeus Bradley (Freeman), now working as a spotter.
Why the role is great
Anyone willing to delve into the strategies used by magicians can learn a thing or two from Bradley. He explains everything in detail and although he is familiar with what he sees, he never shy away from expressing his amusement. Even though he has a hard time keeping up with the younger wizards, he retains his sense of humor and even makes fun of the agent for being incompetent. He’s not a sore loser either and halfway through the film he acknowledges that the Horsemen are smarter than him.
