News

How Morgan Freeman and Samuel L Jackson deal with people who get them confused: “You’re lying, but I understand”

Even though they’ve got plenty of things in common, there’s no reason for anyone to get Morgan Freeman and Samuel L Jackson confused, apart from the obvious elephant in the room that would put any case of mistaken identity down to pure ignorance.

They’re both older Black gentleman, and that’s about it. Freeman is a decade older than Jackson but has always been one of those actors who feels like they were 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 an old man waiting for their body to catch up, whereas the latter is in his mid-70s and could easily pass for a decade and a half younger, if not much more.

Bruce Springsteen opening his set in Montreal with the Ghostbusters theme

Between them, they’ve racked up over 350 credits covering film and television, lent their names to some stone-cold cinema classics, a bounty of box office bonanzas, cult favourites, risible flops, and forgettable flicks. Freeman has a competitive Oscar for ‘Best Supporting Actor’ thanks to Clint Eastwood’s Million Dollar Baby, while Jackson has an honorary gong for his contributions to the industry, but that’s where the similarities begin and end.

Maybe it’s something to do with the fact they’ve largely been kept apart despite enjoying shared status as two of Hollywood’s most prolific, popular, and in-demand veterans. The first—and so far only—time they’ve shared an ensemble was in the entirely forgettable buddy caper sequel Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard.

Despite having such distinctly different careers, enduring as multi-generational icons and even having their own signature style of line delivery, Freeman admitted to The Talks that people continue to get them mixed up, conceding that “Sam and I go through this back and forth” and share war stories whenever they meet in person.

“I was in Dallas, Texas, one time waiting to change planes, and a guy walked over to me,” Freeman recalled. “I was wearing my cap and sunglasses. Not to hide from anybody, but, you know, you dress the way you dress. The guy came over and said, ‘I know you’re trying to be incognito, but I recognise you, Samuel L Jackson. I said, ‘No, I’m not’. He said, ‘You’re lying, but I understand.’”

Freeman revealed that “Sam has the same story,” with countless people mistaking him for Freeman. “That’s the reason why Sam will come on stage, and he’ll say first off, ‘I am not Morgan Freeman,’” his not-at-all doppelganger offered, but for some reason, folks can’t seem to wrap their heads around the fact the actors and legends are two entirely—and very different—people.

Freeman tells people he isn’t Jackson, Jackson tells people he isn’t Freeman, and on and on it goes as it has done for years. Realistically, all it would take is a working set of eyeballs, but somehow the memo keeps getting lost in translation.

Related Posts

Beulah Elizabeth Richardson – known professionally as Beah Richards, was an American actress and writer.

Beulah Elizabeth Richardson was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 in Vicksburg, Mississippi, on 12 July 1920. Her father, Wesley R. Richardson, was a Baptist minister; her mother, Beulah Molton Richardson, was a…

Alberta Hunter – This music biography portrays the life of the legendary blues singer and songwriter.

Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was an American singer-songwriter. She sang blues and jazz music. She was especially popular in the 1920s and 1930s….

“One of the Most Beautiful Women in America” ​​- Ethel Moses: The Black Jean Harlow

Ethel Moses was an American stage and film actress and dancer. She was known as the “Black Jean Harlow”. Moses is best known for her work in Oscar…

Nichelle Nichols: The Life and Legacy of a Pioneer

The woman who captivated the world with her portrayal of Lieutenant Nyota Uhura on Star Trek’s original series was 𝐛𝐨𝐫𝐧 to Lishia and Samuel Nichols in Robbins, Illinois, on December…

Jester Joseph Hairston was an African American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor.

Jester Joseph Hairston (July 9, 1901 – January 18, 2000) was an American composer, songwriter, arranger, choral conductor and actor. He was regarded as a leading expert on black spirituals and choral music. His…

The Brothers Johnson – A funk and R&B band that achieved fame from the mid-1970s to early 1980s.

The Brothers Johnson were an American funk and R&B band consisting of the American brothers George (“Lightnin’ Licks”) and Louis E. Johnson (“Thunder Thumbs”).[1] They achieved their greatest success from the mid-1970s to early 1980s,…

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *