Morgan Freeman Names His Top Hollywood Legends

Morgan Freeman has long been a fan of classic films and the actors who starred in them. In a 2011 interview with Rotten Tomatoes, Freeman shared some of his favorite movies and the performers who have inspired him throughout his career.

He listed five films that he holds in high regard, including King Kong by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, High Noon directed by Fred Zinnemann, Clint Eastwood’s western The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!.

When asked about his fifth favorite, Freeman paused before saying, “Oh, I know! Moby Dick.” The 1956 adaptation of Herman Melville’s novel tells the story of a sailor hunting a giant white whale, and Freeman praised the film’s craftsmanship.

“Now that was filmmaking. John Huston. Call me… Ishmael. I read the book, and there are very few books that I have read and seen the movie and liked the movie,” he said.

Freeman also revealed that the film is special to him because it features one of his personal favorite actors, Gregory Peck. He named Peck, along with Gary Cooper and Humphrey Bogart, as his all-time favorite performers. “Gregory Peck was one of my favourite actors. Gregory Peck and Gary Cooper and Humphrey Bogart, those guys,” Freeman said.

Each actor Freeman mentioned has left a lasting mark on Hollywood. Peck won an Academy Award for his role in To Kill a Mockingbird, Bogart became a legendary figure with films like Casablanca and The African Queen, and Cooper is remembered for classic westerns such as High Noon.

Freeman’s choices reflect his love for films that combine strong storytelling with powerful performances. His admiration for these actors shows the lasting impact of classic Hollywood on today’s cinema.

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