Morgan Freeman’s voice is hard to miss — sometimes we hear it in commercials, movies and even as our inner guiding conscious. In honor of Freeman’s 80th birthday, here are nine times you’ve heard his voice but didn’t see him on screen.
“War of the Worlds”
Freeman served as the narrator for “War of the Worlds,” a film in which Tom Cruise struggles to survive and protect his family during an alien invasion.
“The Lego Movie”
Freeman was the voice of Vitruvius in the computer-animated hit that also voice starred Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman and Liam Neeson.
“The Civil War”
Freeman was the voice of Frederick Douglass and John Boston in this 1990 television documentary miniseries from Ken Burns that aired on PBS.
“Cosmic Voyage”
Freeman narrated this short documentary about the universe. It was nominated for an Academy Award in 1997.
Waze
The actor can even guide you through stressful traffic and to your destination, as his voice is now an option on popular GPS app, Waze.
ESPN’s “30 for 30” (“The 16th Man”)
The Oscar winner narrated this “30 for 30” special about the 1995 Rugby World Cup as Nelson Mandela’s new government began rebuilding a nation badly in need of racial unity.
“Batman Begins” (Video Game)
Freeman voiced Lucious Fox in the video game after playing the research head of Wayner Enterprises in Christopher Nolan’s Batman films starring Christian Bale.
“Bruce Almighty”
For the majority of this Jim Carrey comedy, you only hear Morgan Freeman’s voice as God — but viewers are rewarded with a brief meeting with him further in the film.
“March of the Penguins”
The English version of this feature-length French documentary is narrated by Morgan Freeman. It follows the yearly journey of the emperor penguin and won the 2006 Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature.
