Myrna Colley-Lee is widely recognised as Morgan Freeman’s former wife, but her personal achievements tell a much richer story. She is an accomplished costume designer, art collector, philanthropist, and cultural advocate. Through decades of work in American theatre, she has helped shape visual storytelling while supporting African-American art, education, and creative communities across Mississippi.
Profile Bio
| Profile Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Myrna Colley-Lee |
| Birth Year | 1941 |
| Age | Around 84–85 years old in 2026 |
| Birthplace | Hamlet, North Carolina, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Costume designer, art director and arts advocate |
| Known For | Her theatre career and former marriage to Morgan Freeman |
| Height | Not publicly confirmed |
| Marital Status | Divorced |
| Former Husband | Morgan Freeman |
| Children | No confirmed biological children |
| Net Worth | Not publicly verified |
| Social Media | Limited public presence; a likely Instagram account exists |
Who Is Myrna Colley-Lee?
Born in 1941 in Hamlet, North Carolina, Myrna is an American theatrical costume designer and arts patron. Based on her reported birth year, she is around 84 or 85 years old in 2026. Her exact birthday has not been confirmed publicly, and she has shared few details about her early childhood or private family background.
Education
Myrna reportedly earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Woman’s College of the University of North Carolina, now called the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. She later studied scenic and costume design at Temple University. Her formal training helped her understand fabrics, historical clothing, colour, stage settings, and the visual needs of theatrical characters.
Costume Career
Myrna began working in theatrical design during the late 1960s. Her professional career has included more than 70 productions and two films at approximately 50 theatres and venues. Instead of simply choosing attractive clothing, she used costumes to express each character’s background, personality, financial position, and emotional development within the story.
Theatre Work
Her credits have been associated with productions such as The Ballad of Emmett Till, Wedding Band, Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, Fences, A Raisin in the Sun, The Piano Lesson, and Trouble in Mind. Many of these plays explore African-American history, family, identity, racism, and cultural change through emotionally complex characters.
Black Theatre
Myrna Colley-Lee is regarded as an important designer connected with the Black Theatre Movement. This movement provided greater opportunities for Black writers, directors, actors, and designers. Her carefully researched costumes helped theatrical productions represent African-American experiences with authenticity while showing how clothing can communicate history, regional traditions, social class, and cultural identity.
Awards
In 2022, Myrna received the Mississippi Governor’s Arts Award for Excellence in Costume Design and Arts Patronage. She has also received recognition from the National Black Theatre Festival. Mississippi State University awarded her an honorary doctorate for her contributions to costume design, cultural preservation, theatre education, and community arts throughout her long professional career.
Morgan Freeman
Myrna married actor Morgan Freeman in 1984, before many of his most famous film roles were released. Their marriage lasted for approximately 26 years. While Freeman became internationally known for his acting, Myrna continued building an independent creative identity through theatrical design, visual art, philanthropy, and her involvement with cultural organisations in Mississippi.
Divorce
The couple reportedly separated in December 2007, and their divorce was finalised in 2010. The legal process remained largely private, meaning many claims about its causes and financial settlement cannot be independently verified. Neither person publicly disclosed every detail, so dramatic figures and stories repeated by entertainment websites should not be treated as confirmed information.
Children and Family
Myrna and Morgan Freeman had no publicly confirmed biological children together. Freeman had four children connected to earlier relationships: Alfonso, Saifoulaye, Deena, and Morgana. Myrna also helped raise E’Dena Hines, Deena’s daughter, as part of their family. E’Dena pursued acting before her tragic death in New York in 2015.
Parents and Siblings
Very little reliable information is available about Myrna’s parents or siblings. She has kept her family history away from public attention, and established professional biographies concentrate primarily on her artistic work. Websites that publish specific names without providing trustworthy evidence should be approached carefully, as those details may have been repeated from unverified celebrity profiles.
Art Collection
Beyond theatre, Myrna Colley-Lee is a respected collector of African-American art. Works from her collection appeared in the exhibition Reflections: African American Life from the Myrna Colley-Lee Collection. The collection explores themes such as Black identity, family, community, Southern traditions, cultural memory, work, and ordinary life through different visual forms.
Arts Advocacy
Myrna has served as chair of the Mississippi Arts Commission’s Board of Commissioners and supported several cultural organisations. She also co-founded the SonEdna Foundation, which promotes literary and artistic development. Her work with community initiatives demonstrates a lasting commitment to helping artists, preserving regional culture, and bringing educational opportunities to communities in the Mississippi Delta.
Costume Collection
Mississippi State University houses the Myrna Colley-Lee Costume Collection, a working resource connected with Theatre MSU. Students and theatre professionals can study and use its materials for educational and production purposes. The collection preserves practical examples of her craft while allowing future designers to learn about costume construction, theatrical storytelling, and historically informed visual design.
Net Worth
Myrna’s exact net worth has never been publicly confirmed. Online estimates vary considerably and are generally unsupported by financial records. Her possible wealth comes from decades of professional design work, property, artwork, consulting, and assets associated with her divorce. Any precise amount should therefore be described as an unverified estimate, not a proven financial fact.
Height and Appearance
No dependable source confirms her exact height, weight, or body measurements. Public photographs show an elegant woman with a polished and artistic fashion sense. She frequently wears coordinated outfits, jewellery, and distinctive accessories. Her personal presentation reflects the same understanding of colour, fabric, balance, and visual detail found throughout her professional costume-design career.
Lifestyle
Unlike many people linked to Hollywood stars, Myrna Colley-Lee maintains a quiet and culturally focused lifestyle. Her public appearances usually relate to theatre, museums, exhibitions, charitable events, or community programs. She has strong ties to Charleston, Mississippi, and appears more interested in artistic and educational work than in sharing her private routine with celebrity media.
Social Media
Myrna has a limited presence on social media. An Instagram account using @myrnacolleylee appears to belong to her, although it does not have a widely recognised verification badge. No confirmed official profiles have been established for her on Facebook, TikTok, YouTube, or X. Other accounts using her name may be fan-created pages.
Interesting Facts
Myrna has worked in theatrical design for more than five decades and contributed to over 70 productions. She is both a practising designer and an African-American art collector. Although she appeared in connection with 60 Minutes, she is not primarily an actress. Her reputation comes from her behind-the-scenes creativity, cultural leadership, and philanthropic activities.
Conclusion
Today, Myrna Colley-Lee remains respected for her contribution to American theatre and Mississippi’s cultural community. Her costumes, art collection, advocacy, and educational resources have created a legacy that exists independently of her famous marriage. Her story is ultimately about a private but accomplished woman who used creativity to support history, culture, and future generations.
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FAQs
Who is Myrna Colley-Lee?
Myrna Colley-Lee is an American costume designer, art collector, philanthropist, and arts advocate. She is also known as Morgan Freeman’s former wife.
How old is Myrna Colley-Lee?
She was reportedly born in 1941. Based on that birth year, she is approximately 84 or 85 years old in 2026.
Does Myrna Colley-Lee have children?
Myrna and Morgan Freeman had no confirmed biological children together. However, she helped raise Freeman’s step-granddaughter, E’Dena Hines.
What is Myrna Colley-Lee’s net worth?
Her personal net worth has not been officially disclosed. Figures published by celebrity websites are estimates and should not be considered confirmed.
Why did Myrna Colley-Lee and Morgan Freeman divorce?
They separated in 2007 and finalised their divorce in 2010. The complete reasons and settlement terms remained private.
