Myrna Colley-Lee was thrust into the limelight when she married famous actor Morgan Freeman. Here is everything we know about her and their messy divorce.
Not only is Morgan Freeman an actor, but he also has one of the most unique voices Hollywood has ever heard. Thanks to his vocal prowess, Morgan Freeman is also a prominent voice actor like James Earl Jones.
Also, because of his talents, he is one of the industry’s most-watched actors, and as expected, this transgresses onto his personal life. His relationship with his ex-wives has always made the news, with fans always having a thing or two to say. Let’s look into the life of one of his ex-wives, Myrna Colley-Lee.
Who Is Myrna Colley-Lee?
Myrna Colley-Lee is an African-American costume designer, artist, philanthropist, and Theater Producer. She is famously known as the ex-wife of Morgan Freeman, the veteran Hollywood actor. She was born in a little town called Hamlet in North Carolina in 1941.
Unlike some celebrity wives and ex-wives who capitalize on the fame their spouse brings, Myrna did the complete opposite and decided to keep her life as private as possible. Many details about her are vague or nowhere to be found.
Her early years and family life have been kept away from the public, although some reports claim that she spent most of it in Hamlet. It is also unclear who her parents were and if she grew up with siblings or as an only child.
Myrna Colley-Lee’s Educational History
The ex-celebrity wife is quite an educated woman. Her early education and high school are unknown, but she attended high school, which set her up to attend university.
She attended Women’s College of the University of North Carolina and earned a “Bachelor of Fine Arts” degree. This was how she kickstarted her career as an artist. Still hungry for more knowledge, Myrna enrolled at Brooklyn College in New York to study scene painting and properties. She also had a master’s in scenic and costume design from Temple University in Philadelphia.
Myrna Colley-Lee’s Career
As evident from her many qualifications and degrees, Myrna is highly skilled in her craft. She began as a costume designer in the entertainment industry and has thrived ever since.
Her work has been featured in several movies and TV shows such as “The Piano Lesson,” “Forest City,” and “Relativity and Wedding Band: A Love/Hate Story in Black and White,” to name a few.
She has also designed several costumes for many theatre productions, such as August Wilson’s “Radio Golf,” at the Public Theater in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She also works as an art director and full set designer who has been involved in many productions.
Recently, Myrna delved into the world of interior design, using all her skills and talents to design for various brands.
Morgan Freeman and Myrna Colley-Lee’s Relationship
The couple allegedly met through a mutual friend, like most Hollywood couples. They dated for a while and made their relationship legal when they walked down the aisle on June 16, 1984.
Their relationship was mostly kept highly private, and they even moved to Tallahatchie Country in northern Mississippi to live a peaceful life away from the glitz and glam of Hollywood. They were often referred to as an iconic black couple throughout their marriage.
Is Myrna Colley-Lee Still Morgan Freeman’s Wife?
No, Myrna is no longer married to the “Angel Has Fallen” star, Morgan Freeman. She is also not remarried and has not been rumored to be dating anyone yet.
Morgan Freeman and Myrna Colley-Lee’s Divorce
The fab-favorite couple were together for almost three decades before they divorced in 2010. However, some reports say they were separated in 2007, and the divorce was finalized in 2010.
Morgan Freeman, notoriously known for infidelity in his marriages, had multiple affairs during his 26-year marriage to Myrna. She was tired of the constant disrespect to their marriage and decided to file for a divorce from the actor.
One of the women tabloids claimed Freeman was having an affair with a schoolteacher named Mary Joyce Hays. Freeman denied this allegation, but from his reputation in his other relationships, it’s safe to say he’s not one to be faithful in a marriage.
After a legal divorce battle that went on for three years, their marriage was officially annulled on September 15, 2010. The ex-celebrity wife got a divorce settlement worth a whopping $400 million!
This made her the recipient of the fifth-largest divorce payout ever recorded, which was highly publicized as expected. She also got ownership of his $7 million houses in the British Virgin Islands and an apartment beside New York’s Central Park.
Fans were happy for Myrna and believed justice was served as she was heavily compensated for all his wrongdoings towards her.
