All About Morgan Freeman's Children and Grandchildren

Mar. 15, 2025

Left to right: Morgana Freeman, Morgan Freeman, Deena Adair and Alfonso Freeman at The AFI Life Achievement Award on June 9, 2011 in Culver City, California.Photo: Kevin Winter/Getty

Morgan Freemanis one of the most recognizable names in Hollywood, thanks to his legendary acting career that has spanned five decades, but the Oscar winner is also a father of four.

Freeman first became a dad in the early 1960s, welcoming his sons, Alfonso and Saifoulaye, with two different women. Over the years, Freeman has been candid about dedicating his early life to acting.

“I’m not sure fatherhood changed me,” Freeman admitted toThe Telegraphin 2014. “It took a while for me to become a father. I was busy trying to be an actor, and the two didn’t really go together in my youth.”

Freeman’s first marriage to Jeanette Adair Bradshaw in 1967 resulted in two more children: He adopted Bradshaw’s daughter from a previous relationship, Deena, and the couple had another daughter together named Morgana. He also helped raise Deena’s daughter,E’dena Hines, with his second wife, Myrna Colley-Lee.

The acclaimed actor revealed toThe Telegraphthat he was more “hands-on” with his daughters. However, it was becoming a grandfather where Freeman felt he really shined. “Now I am in my dotage, I am a great grandfather. I have 14 grandchildren,” he said.

One of Freeman’s grandchildren, Morgana’s daughter Alexis Freeman, shared a similar sentiment about her grandfather when she accompanied him to the 2016 Chaplin Awards in New York City.

“He makes you a really humble person,” she told PEOPLE. “He makes you realizethat you have to work for what you want. I really work hard for everything I do.”

Here’s everything to know about Morgan Freeman’s children and grandchildren.

Alfonso Freeman, 66

Morgan Freeman and his son, Alfonso Freeman, attend a Golden Globe Awards after party on January 15, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.Jeff Vespa/Getty

During his childhood, he didn’t know his connection to Freeman. “I grew up watchingThe Electric Companyand Easy Reader,” Alfonso toldUSA Todayin 2007, referencing one of the actor’s early roles. “I had no idea that was my dad.”

“I opened it, and there’s Morgan Freeman,” he told the outlet about their initial meeting. “At first, you get all those emotions. The anger, the wondering why he wasn’t there. But then all you can do is hug. I mean, he’s my dad.”

Alfonso eventually followed in his father’s footsteps and pursued an acting career. He had several minor roles throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, including appearances in films such asThe Shawshank RedemptionandSe7en— both of which Freeman had starring roles in — and on television shows likeWest Wing,ERandSouthland.

Alfonso’s most famous role came when he appeared opposite his father in 2007’sThe Bucket Listas Roger, Freeman’s on-screen son. According to director Rob Reiner, Freeman believed Alfonso “should audition like everyone else and not be given special treatment.”

Alfonso has been married twice: He and his first wife, Cynthia Gafford, were together from 1982 to 1989 and share three sons (Alfonso II, Joshua and Donovan). He married his second wife, Larcenia Letice, in 1994.

Saifoulaye Freeman, 65

Few details have been revealed about Freeman’s second child, son Saifoulaye, who was born in 1960 and whose mother’s identity isn’t known.

He was the only one of Freeman’s four children who was absent at the 2018Screen Actors Guild Awards, where the actorbrought his familyto witness his Lifetime Achievement Award.

Deena Adair, 61

Morgan Freeman and his daughter, Deena Adair, attend the “Landing Up” premiere on June 7, 2017 in Hollywood, California.Greg Doherty/Getty

When Freeman married his first wife, Jeanette Adair Bradshaw, in 1967, Bradshaw had a daughter from a previous relationship named Deena, who was born four years prior. Freeman eventually adopted Deena despite legislation that made it difficult at the time, according toEsquire.

“I have a stepdaughter, whom I adopted just as soon as I could,” Freeman told the outlet. “There was some sort of legislative action at the time … that stood in the way of adopting a girl. I don’t remember.”

As an adult, Deena’s career took her to Hollywood — but not to pursue acting like her father. Instead, she worked as an on-set hair and makeup artist, often serving as Freeman’s hairstylist.

Deena was also part of the hairstyling teams nominated for twoEmmy Awardsfor outstanding hairstyling in a miniseries or movie: forGifted Hands: The Ben Carson Storyin 2009 andRing of Firein 2013.

Morgana Freeman, 54

Morgan Freeman and daughter, Morgana Freeman, arrive at the premiere of “Oblivion” on April 10, 2013 in Hollywood, California.Frank Trapper/Corbis/Getty

Freeman and Bradshaw welcomed a daughter, Morgana, in 1971, and it was an emotional experience for the actor.

“When I had daughters, I changed their [diapers],” he toldThe Telegraphin 2014. “Being hands-on makes a difference in your child’s life.”

Morgana, Freeman’s namesake, has made several red carpet appearances with her famous father.

Morgana attended Spelman College in Atlanta, where she majored in economics, according to herLinkedIn. She also studied cosmetology and went on to own two salons in Georgia. Morgana currently serves as the executive director of her father’s nonprofit, the Tallahatchie River Foundation, which focuses on improving early childhood education in Freeman’s native Mississippi.

“My father Morgan Freeman, who grew up in Mississippi and became a very successful actor, felt that it was his responsibility when he returned back to give back,” she said in avideoabout the foundation. “He knew education was the way; it’s the core of everything that needs to happen in Mississippi.”

E’dena Hines

Morgan Freeman and granddaughter, E’Dena Hines, at the 62nd Annual Golden Globe Awards on January 16, 2005 in Beverly Hills, California.Kevin Winter/Getty

When Freeman married his second wife Colley-Lee in 1984, she was excited about raising children, and they took in Freeman’s granddaughter, E’dena Hines.

“His daughter Deena was having a hard time, so I asked for E’Dena to live with us,” Colley-Lee told PEOPLE in 1988. “Morgan functions more like a grandfather, but he’s happy I got this chance at parenting.”

Freeman and Colley-Lee raised Hines, who was born on March 4, 1982. After studying acting at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts from 2008 to 2011, she embarked on a career as an actress, with minor roles in the television seriesA Minority Reportand the short filmCohab. Hines eventually landed her biggest role in the movieLanding Up, however, tragedy stuck before it was released.

“The world will never know her artistry and talent, and how much she had to offer,” Freeman said in a statement to PEOPLE about his granddaughter. “Her friends and family were fortunate enough to have known what she meant as a person.Her star will continue to shine bright in our hearts, thoughts and prayers. May she rest in peace.”

source: people.com