House Resolution 36

A RESOLUTION COMMENDING MR. MORGAN FREEMAN FOR HIS OUTSTANDING CAREER AS AN ACTOR AND CONGRATULATING HIM UPON WINNING HIS FIRST OSCAR.

WHEREAS, Mr. Morgan Freeman, a native of Mississippi, is one of the most successful and highly respected actors in the entertainment industry, enjoying an impressive and varied career on stage, television and screen; and

WHEREAS, throughout his career, Mr. Freeman has received many awards for many of his performances including a Tony Award, the Clarence Derwent Award, Drama Desk Award, Obie Award, the Dramalogue Award and many others, but the highlight of his career came on Sunday, February 27, 2005, when after four career nominations, he was hailed Oscar recipient for "best actor in a supporting role" for his portrayal of ex-boxer, Eddie Scrap-Iron Dupris, in "Million Dollar Baby"; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman, who received his previous Oscar nominations for his work in "Street Smarts," "Driving Miss Daisy" and "The Shawshank Redemption" has also won the Los Angeles, New York and National Society of Film Critics Awards for best supporting actor; and

WHEREAS, born in Memphis, Tennessee, and growing up in Charleston, Mississippi, after graduating from high school, Mr. Freeman served a five-year stint with the Air Force from 1955 to 1959, before moving to California to study dance and theatre arts at Los Angeles City College; and

WHEREAS, in 1968, Mr. Freeman made his Broadway debut with Pearl Bailey in "Hello Dolly!" and became nationally known when he created the popular character, "Easy Reader" on the highly praised children's show, "The Electric Company," from 1971 to 1976; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman has not only been successful in television and the theatre, but has a long list of more than sixty film credits which include movies such as "Brubaker," "Eyewitness," "Harry and Son," "Teachers," "Clean & Sober," "Johnny Handsome," "Glory," "Chain Reaction," "Kiss the Girls," "Amistad," "Hard Rain," "Deep Impact," "Nurse Betty," "High Crimes," "The Sum of All Fears," "Dreamcatcher," "Bruce Almighty" and "The Big Bounce"; and

WHEREAS, in 1993, Mr. Freeman made his film directorial debut with "Bopha!" and soon after formed Revelation Entertainment, a production company developing entertainment products in all existing and emerging media; and

WHEREAS, Mr. Freeman partnered with Bill Luckett to open the upscale restaurant called Madidi and Ground Zero Blues Club in downtown Clarksdale, Mississippi; and

WHEREAS, it is the policy of the House of Representatives to recognize and commend outstanding Mississippians such as Mr. Freeman, whose long and distinguished career brings great pride to the State of Mississippi:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI, That we do hereby commend Mr. Morgan Freeman upon his successful career as an actor, congratulate him upon winning an Oscar and express our heartiest wishes for continued success in all his future endeavors.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be furnished to Mr. Morgan Freeman and to the members of the Capitol Press Corps.