Myrna Colley-Lee is an American costume designer, arts advocate, and philanthropist whose career spans decades of work in theater and film. Although she is widely recognized as the former wife of Academy Award-winning actor Morgan Freeman, her professional achievements extend well beyond her connection to Hollywood.
Colley-Lee built her reputation through costume design, set design, and art direction, contributing to productions that brought African American stories and experiences to the stage. Her work has earned recognition from arts organizations, including the Mississippi Arts Commission, which honored her in 2022 for excellence in costume design and arts patronage.
Her life combines a long creative career, involvement in cultural organizations, and a private personal history that has attracted public interest because of her marriage to Freeman.
| Biography Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Myrna Colley-Lee |
| Profession | Costume designer, art director, arts advocate |
| Known For | Theater design and former marriage to Morgan Freeman |
| Birthplace | North Carolina, USA |
| Date of Birth | Not reliably confirmed |
| Age | Not publicly verified |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | BFA from the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina; MFA in scenic and costume design from Temple University |
| Career Started | Late 1960s |
| Notable Work | Fences, Seven Guitars, Radio Golf, Frederick Douglass: An American Life |
| Former Husband | Morgan Freeman |
| Marriage Date | June 16, 1984 |
| Divorce Finalized | September 15, 2010 |
| Children | No biological children together; helped raise E’Dena Hines |
| Awards | Mississippi Governor’s Award for Excellence in Costume Design (2022) |
| Philanthropy | Founded SonEdna, supporting literary arts |
| Net Worth | Not reliably established |
Early Life and Background
Myrna Colley-Lee is a native of North Carolina. Although her exact birth date and other details about her childhood are not consistently established by authoritative public sources, her educational and professional history provides a clearer picture of her background.
She developed an interest in art and design before entering the theater industry in the late 1960s. Her early training helped prepare her for a career that would involve costumes, scenic design, and visual storytelling.
Colley-Lee later became associated with Mississippi, where she contributed to local arts initiatives and cultural organizations. Her work in the state reflects a commitment to supporting the performing arts and preserving opportunities for artists and communities.
Education
Colley-Lee studied art education at the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina, now the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree.
She later pursued graduate training in scenic and costume design at Temple University in Philadelphia, earning a Master of Fine Arts degree.
Her education provided a foundation in visual composition, design, and the practical demands of creating costumes and theatrical environments. These skills became central to her work across stage and screen productions.
Career and Achievements
Costume Design and Theater
Myrna Colley-Lee began her professional career in the late 1960s, during a period of renewed activity in Black American theater. Her work has included costume design, set design, and art direction for productions at theaters across the United States.
According to the Arizona Theatre Company, she has designed costumes for more than 70 productions at approximately 50 theaters and venues. Her career has included collaborations with directors and theater companies presenting both contemporary plays and established works.
Colley-Lee’s work has been particularly associated with productions that explore African American history, identity, and culture. Costume design in these settings requires more than selecting clothing; it helps establish historical context, communicate character, and support a production’s visual language.
Notable Theater Productions
Some of the productions associated with Colley-Lee’s career include:
- Fences: She designed costumes for productions of August Wilson’s acclaimed play, including collaborations with director Ricardo Khan.
- Seven Guitars: She designed costumes for the Arizona Theatre Company’s 1996–1997 season.
- Radio Golf: She worked on the August Wilson play presented at the Public Theater in Pittsburgh in 2008.
- Trouble in Mind: Her more recent theater credits include work on Alice Childress’s play at Utah Shakespeare Festival.
- Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom: She has also been associated with a production of August Wilson’s play at Writers’ Theatre in Illinois.
These projects demonstrate the range of her theatrical work and her continuing connection to American drama.
Film and Television Work
In addition to theater, Colley-Lee has worked in film and television production. One documented screen credit is the 1985 production Frederick Douglass: An American Life, for which she worked in the costume and wardrobe department.
Her wider professional experience includes art direction and set design. These disciplines involve shaping the visual environment of a production, from the appearance of characters to the spaces in which a story unfolds.
Although she is not a regular on-screen performer, her contributions illustrate the important work that takes place behind the scenes in film and theater.
Awards and Recognition
Myrna Colley-Lee received the Mississippi Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Costume Design and Arts Patron in 2022.
The Mississippi Arts Commission recognized her as an internationally known costume designer, arts advocate, and patron. The award acknowledged both her professional work and her support for the arts.
Her other reported honors include Outstanding Costume Design from the National Black Theatre Festival and a lifetime achievement award from the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters.
These distinctions recognize a career that has contributed to theater production and the broader cultural community.
Myrna Colley-Lee and Morgan Freeman’s Marriage
Myrna Colley-Lee married actor Morgan Freeman on June 16, 1984. Their marriage lasted more than two decades and brought her additional public attention because of Freeman’s successful acting career.
Freeman was already an established performer when they married, and he later became internationally known for films such as Driving Miss Daisy, The Shawshank Redemption, and Million Dollar Baby.
Despite the attention surrounding Freeman, Colley-Lee continued to pursue her own professional interests in design and the arts.
Why Did Myrna Colley-Lee and Morgan Freeman Divorce?
The couple separated in December 2007, and their divorce was finalized on September 15, 2010.
Public reporting covered the legal proceedings, but the former couple did not provide a comprehensive public account of the private reasons for their separation. Claims about their personal disagreements should therefore be treated cautiously unless supported by reliable evidence.
Their divorce ended a marriage of more than 26 years. Colley-Lee subsequently maintained a relatively private public profile while continuing her involvement in the arts.
Family and Personal Life
Myrna Colley-Lee and Morgan Freeman did not have biological children together. During their marriage, however, they helped raise E’dena Hines, Freeman’s step-granddaughter from his first marriage.
Freeman has children from other relationships, but details of Colley-Lee’s wider family life have not been extensively documented in reliable public sources.
Colley-Lee has generally kept her personal affairs private, and information about her current relationships and everyday life is limited.
Her public identity is more firmly established through her design career and arts advocacy than through personal disclosures.
Philanthropy and Arts Advocacy
Colley-Lee’s work extends beyond designing costumes for individual productions. She has been involved in cultural initiatives and organizations supporting artists and the performing arts.
She has served on the board of the Mississippi Arts Commission and has supported arts development in Mississippi. She has also been associated with organizations including Son-Edna, which highlighted African American writers, and the Charleston Arts and Revitalization Effort.
Her involvement in these initiatives reflects an interest in creating opportunities for artists and sustaining cultural activity within communities.
This aspect of her career is important because it demonstrates that her contributions have included both creative production and support for the institutions that help the arts thrive.
Myrna Colley-Lee’s Net Worth
Myrna Colley-Lee’s personal net worth has not been reliably established through credible financial reporting.
Although she has worked professionally for decades and has received recognition for her design work, there is insufficient verified information about her personal assets, income, investments, or financial arrangements to provide a dependable estimate.
Figures published by celebrity biography websites should not be treated as confirmed financial facts without reliable documentation.
Interesting Facts About Myrna Colley-Lee
- She has worked in theater since the late 1960s. Her career developed during a significant period for Black American theater.
- She has designed more than 70 productions. The Arizona Theatre Company reports that her work spans approximately 50 theaters and venues.
- She holds a Master of Fine Arts degree. Her graduate training in scenic and costume design came from Temple University.
- She received a major Mississippi arts award in 2022. The Governor’s Arts Award recognized her excellence in costume design and arts patronage.
- Her career extends beyond costumes. She has also worked in art direction and set design.
- She has supported arts organizations. Her work has included involvement with cultural initiatives and the Mississippi Arts Commission.
- She was married to Morgan Freeman for more than 26 years. Their marriage began in 1984, and their divorce was finalized in 2010.
Frequently Asked Questions About Myrna Colley-Lee
1. Who is Myrna Colley-Lee?
Myrna Colley-Lee is an American costume designer, art director, and arts advocate. She is also known publicly as the former wife of actor Morgan Freeman.
2. What does Myrna Colley-Lee do?
She has worked in costume design, set design, and art direction for theater, film, and television. She has also contributed to arts organizations and cultural initiatives.
3. When did Myrna Colley-Lee marry Morgan Freeman?
Myrna Colley-Lee and Morgan Freeman married on June 16, 1984. They separated in 2007, and their divorce was finalized in September 2010.
4. Does Myrna Colley-Lee have children?
She and Morgan Freeman did not have biological children together. During their marriage, they helped raise E’dena Hines, Freeman’s step-granddaughter from his first marriage.
5. What awards has Myrna Colley-Lee received?
Her honors include the 2022 Mississippi Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Costume Design and Arts Patron, as well as recognition from the National Black Theatre Festival and the Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters.
6. What is Myrna Colley-Lee’s educational background?
She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in art education from the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina and a Master of Fine Arts degree in scenic and costume design from Temple University.
7. What is Myrna Colley-Lee’s net worth?
Her net worth has not been reliably established. There is insufficient verified financial information to provide an accurate estimate.
Conclusion
Myrna Colley-Lee has built a substantial career in costume design and theater, earning recognition for her creative work and commitment to the arts. Her professional contributions span stage productions, film, art direction, and cultural advocacy.
Although public interest in her life often centers on her former marriage to Morgan Freeman, her awards, design credits, and work with arts organizations establish an independent legacy within American theater.
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