Morgan Freeman Names His Top Actors of All Time

Morgan Freeman is a big fan of classic movies and some of the actors who starred in them. Back in 2011, he spoke with Rotten Tomatoes about his all-time favorite films and actors, sharing some personal picks and influences.

During the interview, Freeman revealed five movies that he loves. Among them were King Kong, directed by Merian C. Cooper and Ernest B. Schoedsack, Fred Zinnemann’s western High Noon, Clint Eastwood’s The Outlaw Josey Wales, and Baz Luhrmann’s Moulin Rouge!.

When asked about his fifth favorite, Freeman took a moment to think before choosing, “Oh, I know! Moby Dick.” He was referring to the 1956 adaptation of Herman Melville’s classic novel, about a sailor’s obsessive hunt for a white whale.

Freeman explained why the movie meant so much to him: “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.”

Part of Freeman’s admiration for Moby Dick comes from the lead actor. He said, “Gregory Peck was one of my favourite actors.” He also shared a short list of other actors who have influenced him over the years: “Gregory Peck and Gary Cooper and Humphrey Bogart, those guys.”

Peck is best known for his Oscar-winning performance in the 1962 classic To Kill a Mockingbird. Humphrey Bogart starred in iconic films like Casablanca and The African Queen, while Gary Cooper made a mark with westerns like High Noon.

Freeman’s comments, shared with Rotten Tomatoes, show his deep respect for classic Hollywood and the performers who shaped it. He clearly holds these actors and films close to his heart, pointing to their performances as examples of the craft at its best.

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