Reason Morgan Freeman always wears gold earrings and it's a lot darker than you'd expect

Morgan Freeman has switched it up playing dozens of different roles, but one thing that's stayed the same throughout his career is his wearing of gold earrings to events.

From playing God in Bruce Almighty to Ellis in The Shawshank Redemption, Freeman has taken on a plethora of iconic roles throughout his fifty plus years in the film and TV industry.

However, when attending awards shows or events, one thing he hasn't switched up is his gold hoop earrings - with fans of the 87-year-old actor pointing out that he's never seen without them.

In recent years at public events, Freeman has been spotted with a singular black glove on one of his hands, however, his gold earrings have remained part of his attire spanning as far back in his career as many can remember - but why?

Freeman first started working in the industry as a dancer before joining a musical theater group in San Francisco. He later appeared as an extra in Sidney Lumet's 1965 drama film The Pawnbroker, before going on to debut on Broadway in 1968.

However, it wasn't until 1971, when Freeman starred in his first television show and the same year, also saw the actor gain his first credited appearance in a feature film and Freeman's breakout role didn't come until 1987's Street Smart, when he around 50 years old at the time.

And he's since gone on to star in a multitude of classics from Bruce Almighty to The Dark Knight Rises and his most recent appearance being in the 2024 Amazon Prime release Gunner.

Freeman has gone on to win an array of awards for his acting, from an Academy Award to two Golden Globe Awards, and is reportedly worth $250 million, as per Celebrity Net Worth, however, he's never changed up his gold hoops.

Freeman is always seen with his gold hoops (Getty Images/ Emma McIntyre/WireImage)

Why? Well, in a post to Instagram, he told fans: "These earrings. I get asked all the time about them. The truth is, these are worth just enough for someone to buy me a coffin if I die in a strange place. That's why sailors used to wear them and that's why I do."

Freeman also drew inspiration from Burt Lancaster after watching him in The Crimson Pirate, which tells the story of a fictional sailor in the Caribbean.

Made during Hollywood’s Golden Age of Cinema, Lancaster also wore similar golden earrings in the 1952 movie.

Freeman told Fox News in 2016 that he thought the look was ‘sexy’, so he adopted the accessory.

He revealed: "I thought that was sexy. Then I learned that sailors wore gold earrings to pay for funerals if they died in foreign lands. I'm a sailor, so that nailed it."