Jeanette Adair Bradshaw married actor Morgan Freeman in 1967, supporting him through his early career struggles. They divorced in 1979 after 12 years together. She raised their blended family and chose complete privacy after separation, remaining out of public view for over four decades despite her ex-husband’s global fame.
Who Is Jeanette Adair Bradshaw
Jeanette Adair Bradshaw became known as Morgan Freeman’s first wife, but her story extends beyond that single connection. She married Freeman on October 22, 1967, when he was an unknown actor struggling to establish himself in New York’s theater scene. Their relationship began in the early 1960s, years before Hollywood knew Freeman’s name.
What makes her story interesting is not fame or scandal. It’s her consistent choice to remain private for over 45 years after their divorce. While Freeman became one of the world’s most recognized actors, Jeanette built a life completely separate from his spotlight. She never gave interviews, never appeared on social media, and never used her former marriage for attention or money.
Very few details about her early life exist in public records. Some sources claim she was born on November 30, 1940, which would make her 84 years old in 2024. However, this information remains unverified. What we do know is that she was already a mother when she met Freeman, bringing a daughter named Deena into their relationship.
Married to Morgan Freeman in 1967
Freeman married Jeanette during one of the most uncertain periods of his career. In 1967, he was performing in off-Broadway productions and working various jobs to make ends meet. He wouldn’t land his breakout television role on “The Electric Company” until 1971, four years after their wedding.
The couple’s marriage lasted 12 years, from 1967 to 1979. During this time, Freeman moved from stage actor to television performer, slowly building the foundation that would later support his film career. Jeanette provided stability during years when success was far from guaranteed.
Friends and colleagues from that era described Freeman as intensely focused on his craft, often working long hours on stage productions that paid little. Jeanette managed their household and raised their children while he pursued his dreams. This pattern of support during the struggle years later became significant when Freeman’s career exploded in the 1980s and beyond.
Their marriage ended in 1979, right before Freeman’s major career breakthrough. He would go on to earn his first significant film role in the 1980s “Brubaker,” followed by “Street Smart” in 1987, which earned him his first Oscar nomination.
Their Blended Family and Children
Jeanette brought her daughter, Deena Adair, into the marriage. Freeman legally adopted Deena, giving her his last name and treating her as his own child. This adoption created a bond that lasted beyond his marriage to Jeanette.
The couple also had a biological daughter together. Morgana Freeman was born in 1971, four years into their marriage. Morgana has maintained a relatively private life, much like her mother, though she occasionally appears in connection with her father’s public events.
Freeman also had two sons from a previous relationship. Alfonso Freeman, born in 1959, and Saifoulaye Freeman, born in 1960, became part of their blended family structure. This meant Jeanette helped raise four children during their marriage, managing a complex family dynamic that required patience and dedication.
Deena Adair later had a daughter named E’dena Hines in 1982. Freeman and his second wife, Myrna Colley-Lee, helped raise E’dena, creating a close bond between grandfather and granddaughter. This relationship would later make E’dena’s death particularly devastating for the family.
The 1979 Divorce and Its Aftermath
Jeanette and Freeman divorced on November 18, 1979, after 12 years of marriage. Neither party ever publicly discussed the reasons for their separation. No tabloid drama followed. No bitter court battles made headlines. They simply ended their marriage and moved forward separately.
Some observers have speculated that Freeman’s growing career ambitions created strain. Others suggest the pressures of raising a blended family in difficult financial circumstances took their toll. Without statements from either person, these remain only guesses.
What is clear is how they handled the divorce. They maintained respect for each other and focused on their children’s well-being. Freeman never spoke negatively about Jeanette in interviews. She never sought media attention or tried to profit from their past together.
After the divorce, their paths diverged completely. Freeman married costume designer Myrna Colley-Lee in 1984, five years after his split from Jeanette. His career took off dramatically in the mid-1980s with roles in “Street Smart,” “Driving Miss Daisy,” and “Glory.”
Jeanette made a different choice. She withdrew from any connection to Freeman’s public life. While he became a global icon, she remained in the background, focused on her family and personal life away from cameras and media.
The E’dena Hines Tragedy in 2015
The most painful public moment connected to Jeanette came in August 2015, when her granddaughter E’dena Hines was killed outside her apartment in Manhattan’s Washington Heights neighborhood.
What Happened to Her Granddaughter
On August 16, 2015, E’dena’s boyfriend, Lamar Davenport, stabbed her multiple times on the street in the early morning hours. Witnesses reported that Davenport appeared to be having a psychotic episode, yelling religious statements during the attack. E’dena died from her injuries. She was 33 years old.
Davenport was arrested at the scene. His lawyers later argued that he was under the influence of PCP and experiencing a drug-induced psychosis. In May 2018, a jury convicted him of manslaughter rather than murder. The judge sentenced him to 20 years in prison.
Family Response and Freeman’s Statement
Morgan Freeman released a statement calling E’dena “the granddaughter I claimed as my own.” He described her as talented and ambitious, with dreams of becoming an actress and teacher. His statement reflected deep grief and shock.
The tragedy brought the private family together for E’dena’s funeral. Reports indicate that Jeanette attended, marking one of the few times she appeared in any public context since her 1979 divorce. Even then, she avoided media attention and left without giving statements.
The case received significant media coverage, partly due to Freeman’s fame and partly due to the brutal nature of the crime. E’dena had been working as an acting teacher and pursuing her own performance career when her life was cut short.
Deena Adair’s Career as a Makeup Artist
Jeanette’s daughter Deena chose an entertainment career, but behind the camera rather than in front of it. She works as a professional makeup artist, a skilled profession that requires both artistic talent and technical knowledge.
Unlike many connected to famous families, Deena keeps her professional work separate from her family connections. She built her career on her own skills rather than trading on her famous adopted father’s name. Specific details about her client list and projects remain private, consistent with her mother’s approach to public attention.
Deena’s career choice shows how the family found ways to be part of the entertainment industry while maintaining personal boundaries. She works in Hollywood’s ecosystem without becoming part of its celebrity culture.
Jeanette Adair Bradshaw’s Net Worth
Various sources estimate Jeanette’s net worth between $1 million and $4 million. These figures are difficult to verify since she has no public business interests or documented sources of income.
The estimates likely stem from assumptions about her 1979 divorce settlement. However, divorce laws in 1979 were significantly different from today’s standards. California, where Freeman was working at the time, had only recently adopted no-fault divorce laws. Settlement amounts from that era typically remained private.
For context, Freeman’s current net worth is estimated at over $250 million, earned through decades of consistent work in major films. The difference in their financial situations reflects their divergent paths after divorce. He continued building a high-earning career while she stepped away from any public profile.
Without confirmed sources of income or public records, any specific number attached to Jeanette’s wealth remains speculation. What matters more is that she apparently maintained financial independence and stability for over four decades without relying on public attention or media deals about her past.
Why She Chose Complete Privacy
Jeanette’s decision to avoid public life has remained consistent for 45 years. She doesn’t appear on social media. She hasn’t given interviews. She doesn’t attend red carpet events, even those celebrating her ex-husband’s achievements.
This level of privacy is unusual in an era when even distant celebrity connections often lead to media exposure. Her daughter Deena has also maintained a relatively low profile. This suggests a family-wide value system that prioritizes personal peace over public recognition.
If Jeanette was indeed born in 1940, she is now 84 years old. At this age, her absence from public view takes on a different context. Many people in their eighties naturally live quieter lives, focused on family and personal comfort rather than social engagement.
Her last confirmed public appearance was at E’dena’s funeral in 2015. Even then, she avoided the media and left without making statements. This shows that her privacy choice isn’t about bitterness or avoidance of her ex-husband. It reflects a genuine preference for living outside public scrutiny.
The mystery surrounding her current life has made her more interesting to some people. But the lack of information is not a story in itself. It’s simply the result of one person’s successful effort to live on her own terms.
Her Place in Freeman’s Success Story
Freeman’s career arc shows a clear timeline. He struggled throughout the 1960s and most of the 1970s. His breakthrough came in the 1980s with films like “Street Smart” (1987), “Driving Miss Daisy” (1989), and “Glory” (1989). Major stardom arrived in the 1990s and 2000s with “The Shawshank Redemption,” “Se7en,” “Million Dollar Baby,” and dozens of other films.
Jeanette was present during the foundation years. She supported him when success was uncertain and financial stability was difficult. She raised their children during the time when he was building his craft rather than earning major money.
This contribution matters, even if it’s not visible in credits or awards. Many successful people rely on partners who provide stability during uncertain times. Jeanette filled that role for Freeman during his formative professional years.
After their divorce, Freeman’s career trajectory changed dramatically. Whether this timing was coincidental or connected to personal changes in his life remains unknown. Both people moved forward separately, and both apparently found what they needed.