Morgan Freeman receives Renaissance Award in Chicago

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Oscar winner Morgan Freeman accepted a big honor in Chicago when he received the Renaissance Award, given by the Gene Siskel Film Center of the School of the Art Institute.

Once again it was an A-list Hollywood actor being honored by the Gene Siskel Film Center, an Oscar winner who has created a legendary career, 77-year-old Morgan Freeman.

Saturday night's event at the Ritz-Carlton included a discussion of Freeman's career. His interviewer, Jon Turteltaub, was the director of Freeman's recent film "Last Vegas."

Freeman has made many films here, but not a lot of people realize he spent part of his childhood in Chicago.

This award from the Gene Siskel Film Center has special meaning, for it was Siskel and Roger Ebert who recognized Freeman's talents very early on.

And with the help of two Chicago film critics, an acting legend was born and still thrives.