Morgan Freeman is often regarded as one of the best actors in Hollywood. Given his years of experience and performance, the actor has starred in a plethora of movies that have won a handful of awards. But among all, the particular film that stood out is the 1994 classic The Shawshank Redemption.
While the 1989 movie Driving Miss Daisy was Morgan Freeman’s breakout role, The Shawshank Redemption actually cemented his status as a legendary actor. Although Freeman earned a modest salary of $300,000 for his role in the 1994 movie, the film eventually turned out to be his career’s best, which visibly changed his life forever.
Morgan Freeman Made a Modest Salary for The Shawshank Redemption
Appearing in the 1994 classic about patience, and loyalty, The Shawshank Redemption, Morgan Freeman played the role of Red Redding, a lifer who narrated the tale of Tim Robbins’ character Andy Dufresne, from inside the walls of Shawshank Prison. The movie gradually disclosed the story of Andy alongside all sorts of details involving his case.
The movie turned into a timeless classic after Morgan Freeman’s voice and narrative style infused the film with emotional depth. The Shawshank Redemption’s success can be attributed to Freeman’s ability to bring a sort of gravitas to his character, which has now become a hallmark of his reputed career. However, when the actor starred in the film back in 1994, he earned a rather modest salary for his role.
Although Morgan Freeman made merely $300,000 from The Shawshank Redemption, as per ShowBizGalore (via The Things), the movie catapulted his fame in Hollywood. More than anything, Freeman’s role in the film is less about money and more about artistic expression. Therefore, the actor’s salary was never an issue, for the 1994 film earned him his deserving position.
The Shawshank Redemption Became the Best Film of Morgan Freeman’s Career
Instead of focusing on the paycheck as Morgan Freeman put his all into his stagecraft, he made a wise decision, since his performance in The Shawshank Redemption helped him land any role he wanted from that point onward. His appearance as Red is often cited as one of the greatest in cinema history, and the film eventually became one of the highest-rated projects in his career.
Following Morgan Freeman’s role in the 1994 movie, his iconic voice became synonymous with narrative excellence. Later on, the actor’s electrifying performance even earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. The film made an overall $28M (via The Numbers) at the worldwide box office, received critical acclaim, and even earned seven Academy Award nominations.
As The Shawshank Redemption continues to touch hearts and inspire millions of viewers with its allegory about holding onto a sense of personal worth, despite everything, Morgan Freeman continues to soar to the heights of success. Perhaps, alongside the themes of hope, redemption, and the power of the human spirit, Freeman’s performance is something that turned the film into a cult classic.
The Shawshank Redemption is available on Max.
