Morgan Freeman Receives AFI Lifetime achievement Award

Morgan Freemanhas played a chauffeur, a contract killer, a runaway slave, and even God in his fruitful career, and on Thursday night, friends, family, and Hollywood's A-list surrounded Freeman as he was honored with AFI's Life Achievement Award.

Matthew McConaughey,Samuel L. Jacksonand Matthew Broderick were just a few of many celebrities in attendance, and a visibly humbled Freeman tells us that receiving such a high achievement "feels great."

As a young black actor, Cuba Gooding Jr. says Morgan's work influenced him greatly, particularly the film 'Driving Miss Daisy,' which really "blew [him] away.

'Red' cast mate, and Oscar-winnerHelen Mirrenpraised Freeman as a "very interesting, complicated and fascinating man."

Samuel L. Jackson describes Freeman onscreen as "wonderful," confessing the actor has a magic quality that "convinces you that he is those people", which makes "you totally forget you're watching Morgan Freeman."

The AFI honor comes nearly two decades after Sidney Poitier accepted the award. Freeman will be the second African American to receive the honor.