Morgan Freeman Honors Denzel Washington

ladies and gentlemen the recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2011 Morgan Freeman [Music] forty years ago 1979 Denzel and I were in a Joseph production of Coriolanus I was the lead Denzel was a stage prop now he has publicly said many time that during rehearsal he came to me with questions suggestions about how we should play a swordfight scene that could extend it with some extra stabbing and wounding until he said that I looked at him after asking his name and I told him this kid we clicked swords three times I stab you you fall down and die I'm gonna tell you the correct story what I actually said to Denzel was you that brilliant young actor just out of Fordham University that was a great suggestion so Pat never thought of it you know Shakespeare didn't think of that one clearly you know better than the two of them how this thing should be staged but a fine eye for action and I think you have a bright career ahead of you and I hope one day to perhaps work with you in a film but until then get back where you belong when you come out on stage we click swords three times I stab you and you fall down and die now I'm not too young to remember the very first AFI Life Achievement Award back in 1973 but I'm pretty sure this when they created this award Denzel Hays Washington jr. was waiting in the wings Denzel my dear friends congratulations [Applause]

Channel: American Film Institute

Views: 1,293,806

Keywords: morgan, freeman, denzel, washington, afi, life, lifetime, achievement, award

Id: TyyzL-AHPCA

Length: 3min 10sec (190 seconds)

Published: Thu Jun 20 2019