Morgan Freeman Is Getting an Honorary Degree From Boston University
Morgan Freeman photo via cinemafestival / Shutterstock.com
If you see Morgan Freeman strolling through Boston soon, don’t get too excited that the city is playing host to yet another Hollywood film production: Freeman is just here to claim an honorary degree for his decades-long career.
Freeman, 75, will be presented with a Doctor of Humane Letters at Boston University’s 140th commencement ceremony on the Sunday, May 19, as students of the class of 2013 take the stage and graduate.
According to BU Today, Freeman has been pretty humble about receiving his latest accolades, which he will stack on top of honors like Golden Globe and Academy Awards. “I am most proud to receive this honorary degree from Boston University,” Freeman told the university in advance of his visit. “However we must never lose sight that there is no such thing as an honorary education.”
Freeman is known for his roles in films like “Shawshank Redemption,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” the Boston-based film “Gone, Baby, Gone,” and “Million Dollar Baby,” which earned him an Academy Award for the best supporting actor, alongside Clint Eastwood and Hilary Swank.
He has also played the role of God in two separate roles on the big screen during his career, which includes roughly 70 feature films in all.
The two-hour commencement ceremony, where Freeman will make an appearance, will take place on BU’s Nickerson Field, and include speeches from Wendy Kopp, founder and chairwoman of the Board of Teach For America. Mayor Tom Menino will also receive an honorary degree and recognition from the university.
