Happy Birthday, Morgan Freeman!

Today, we're celebrating the 75th birthday of Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman. A native of Memphis, Tennessee, Freeman has continued to gain popularity throughout his career and has become one of the more beloved performers to grace the silver screen. His first big-screen appearance came with an uncredited role in 1964's The Pawnbroker, but it wasn't until 1973's Blade that audiences actually started to take notice. He earned his first Oscar nomination for 1987's Street Smart, but 1989 proved to be his breakout year when he appeared in the films Lean on Me, Glory and Driving Miss Daisy, which would go on to win Best Picture. In the early 1990s, one could find Freeman playing opposite Kevin Costner in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Clint Eastwood in Unforgiven and Tim Robbins in The Shawshank Redemption. He worked consistently through the end of the millennium and easily transitioned into 21st-century films, breaking through with the role of God in 2003's Bruce Almighty. The following year, Freeman won his first - and to date, only - Oscar for his supporting role in Eastwood's Million Dollar Baby. Most recently, audiences have seen Freeman in 2011's Dolphin Tale, and they'll next be able to see him in theaters reprising his role as Lucius Fox in this summer's The Dark Knight Rises. And so, to celebrate his birthday and honor his career, I've listed my ten favorite of Freeman's acting endeavors. I've found a few videos that correspond with this roles for your viewing pleasure, so I hope you enjoy them. Once again, I'd like to wish Morgan Freeman a very happy birthday.

10. Jack Doyle

Gone Baby Gone (2007)

*****

9. Carter

The Bucket List (2007)

*****

8. Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins

Glory (1989)

*****

7. Detective Lt. William Somerset

Se7en (1995)

*****

6. Principal Joe Clark

Lean on Me (1989)

*****

5. Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris

Million Dollar Baby (2004)

*****

4. Nelson Mandela

Invictus (2009)

*****

3. Ned Logan

Unforgiven (1992)

*****

2. Ellis Boyd 'Red' Redding

The Shawshank Redemption (2004)

*****

1. God

Bruce Almighty (2003)

Happy Birthday, Jim Carrey!

Today we're celebrating the 50th birthday of A-list funnyman Jim Carrey. Carrey has enjoyed a successful comedic career that has included by film and television. He first came to prominent national attention after appearing on the TV show "In Living Color" for over ten years, but it was his film career that truly elevated him to superstar status. His first smash hit came with his two Ace Ventura films in 1994 (Pet Detective) and 1995 (When Nature Calls), and audiences were hooked. He appeared in a slew of comedy and dramatic comedy films throughout the 1990s, including such big-time fare as 1994's Dumb & Dumber, 1997's Liar Liar and 1998's The Truman Show. He has worked consistently throughout his career, and although he made a name for himself in comedy, he has tried out some more dramatic roles as well. For example, take a look at his performances in 2001's The Majestic, 2004's Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and 2007's The Number 23. While he hasn't received as rave of reviews for his dramatic portrayals, I personally have found them to be nearly as good as his comedic counterparts. Most recently, audiences have seen Mr. Carrey in the 2011 comedy Mr. Popper's Penguins, and it won't be until 2013 until we see him again in the comedy Burt Wonderstone. So to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite of Carrey's performances. I hope you enjoy the videos. Once again, happy birthday Jim Carrey!

5. Bruce Nolan
Bruce Almighty (2003)


*****

4. Truman Burbank
The Truman Show (1998)


*****

3. Grinch
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000)


*****

2. Joel Barish
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)


*****

1. Ace Ventura
Ace Ventura: Pet Detective (1994) / Ace Ventura: When Nature Calls (1995)