Morgan Freeman to receive Chaplin Award

Oscar-winning actor Morgan Freeman has been named the recipient of the 43rd annual Chaplin Award, the honour given out by the Film Society of Lincoln Center.

The announcement was made on Friday, and the actor will be bestowed with the honour at the award gala set to take place on April 25 at Lincoln Center in Manhattan, reports variety.com.

Freeman's acting credits include "The Electric Company", "Lean On Me", "Street Smart", "Unforgiven", "Driving Miss Daisy", "The Shawshank Redemption", "Outbreak", "Batman Begins", "The Dark Knight", "The Dark Knight Rises", "Bruce Almighty" and "Million Dollar Baby" -- the 2004 film that earned him an Academy Award.

The Chaplin award honours actors and filmmakers who have reached the highest level of prominence and artistic achievement.

Freeman, who has been honoured at the Golden Globes multiple times, and also received the Cecil B. DeMille Award as well as the Kennedy Center Honor, is also executive producer of CBS series "Madam Secretary", and hosts and executive produces "Through the Wormhole With Morgan Freeman".

The Chaplin gala was launched in 1972, when it honoured the comedy genius Charlie Chaplin.

The award has gone to a roster of talent that includes Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Martin Scorsese, Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand and Robert Redford.