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, Denzel Washington!

Today, we're celebrating the 57th birthday of two-time Academy Award-winning actor, Denzel Washington. He got his acting start with an uncredited role in 1974's Death Wish but didn't make his first real splash until 1986's Power. He worked periodically throughout the 1980s, but it wasn't until 1989 that he crashed his way into the collective public consciousness after winning his first Oscar for his supporting performance in Glory. From there, Washington landed roles in some big-time early 1990s films like Malcolm X (1992), The Pelican Brief (1993), Philadelphia (1993) and Crimson Tide (1995). After a bit of a break, Washington came back strong with performances in 1999's The Hurricane and 2000's Remember the Titans, and he nabbed his second Oscar win for his leading role in 2001's Training Day. Denzel has continued to work periodically since the turn of the millennium, and in his entire career, he's managed a total of five Oscar nominations with the two aforementioned wins. Most recently, audiences have seen him in 2010's Unstoppable, and they'll next be able to see him in 2012's Safe Room and Flight. So, to celebrate his birthday, I've listed my five favorite Denzel performances. I hope you enjoy the videos! Once again, happy birthday, Denzel Washington!

5. Detective Keith Frazier
Inside Man (2006)


*****

4. Frank Lucas
American Gangster (2007)


*****

3. Pvt. Trip
Glory (1989)


*****

2. Coach Herman Boone
Remember the Titans (2000)


*****

1. Det. Alonzo Harris
Training Day (2001)