It's been 27 years since The Shawshank Redemption hit the screen for the first time, but the Frank Darabont-directed movie has always been hailed as one of the greatest of all time. The novel adaptation centers around a bank teller, Andy Dufresne, as he finds himself framed into murdering his wife and sentenced to life in Shawshank State Penitentiary.
Starring the likes of Morgan Freeman, Tim Robbins, Bob Gunton, and many more, The Shawshank Redemption received a plethora of high-end nominations. While it wasn't a massive box office hit, the movie's cultural impact was undeniable. To celebrate it, here's what the movie's cast has been up to today.
10 Jeffrey DeMunn (1946 D.A.)
Before The Shawshank Redemption, Jeffrey DeMunn was already a known name in Hollywood. Some of his best works include The Hitcher (1986) and The Blob (1988). Now, the New York actor has ventured into TV series, with impressive titles like The Walking Dead from 2010 to 2012 and Billions from 2016 to present embellishing his acting resume.
9 Renee Blaine (Linda Dufresne)
Renee Blaine could have had her acting career reach new heights after The Shawshank Redemption hit mainstream success. However, that was not the case. Blaine appears to have taken some time off from Hollywood since the film. She's now a proud mother of two daughters and a son and is a happy grandmother too.
8 Alfonso Freeman (Fresh Fish Con)
Morgan Freeman's son, Alfonso, has a cameo credit in The Shawshank Redemption as the "Fresh Fish Con" guy at the prison. Just like his father, Alfonso Freeman's acting skills have since landed him several roles. His most recent, TV short series Death's Door and Inlighten Films, were released in 2020.
7 James Whitmore (Brooks Hatlen)
James Whitmore played the old con in The Shawshank Redemption, the portrayal that won him a legion of new fans. In fact, he's one of a handful of actors who had won three out of the four EGOT awards: a Tony, a Grammy, and an Emmy. Unfortunately, after a long battle with lung cancer in the late 2000s, Whitmore passed away at 87, in 2009 at his Malibu home.
6 Gil Bellows (Tommy Williams)
Best known for his portrayal of Tommy Williams in The Shawshank Redemption, Gil Bellows has also appeared in several TV series. The former Academy of Dramatic Arts graduate was a regular for USA Network's Eyewitness and CBS' The Agency. Now, the actor is gearing up for Awake, a Mark Raso-directed sci-fi flick, alongside the likes of Gina Rodriguez (Jane The Virgin) and Jennifer Jason Leigh (Atypical). The movie will see a worldwide release on Netflix this year.
5 Clancy Brown (Captain Byron Hadley)
In addition to on-screen acting, Clancy Brown's portfolio in voice-acting video games and animated movie characters is a testament to his versatility as an entertainer. For years, the Ohio actor served as the voice actor of Doctor Neo Cortex from the Crash Bandicoot franchise, Mr. Krabs on SpongeBob SquarePants, and the latest, Lieutenant Hank in Detroit: Become Human. His latest movie, Promising Young Woman, was released on HBO last year.
4 William Sadler (Heywood)
The Shawshank Redemption elevated William Sadler's career to new heights. Thanks to his portrayal of a fellow convict Heywood, Sadler keeps adding more titles to his impressive laundry-list of movies and series. Last year, Sadler shared the stage with Keanu Reeves, Alex Winter, Samara Weaving, Kid Cudi, and many others in Bill & Ted Face the Music. While the box office receipt was a wreck due to COVID-19 restrictions, the third movie of the Bill & Ted franchise received outstanding acceptance from the critics.
3 Bob Gunton (Warden Samuel Norton)
After The Shawshank Redemption, Bob Gunton continued his career as a prolific entertainer. In addition to his TV career, the California actor is also a prolific performer in theater. However, as he gets older, Gunton chooses take some time off from Hollywood's spotlight. Most of his recent works are small cameo appearances, which is understandable.
2 Morgan Freeman (Ellis Redding)
Everybody wants to hear Morgan Freeman narrating their favorite series. Particularly known for his distinctive deep voice, the Academy Award-winning actor has ventured into thriller and action films. The Fallen actor also narrated the intro of rap duo 21 Savage and Metro Boomin's album, Savage Mode II, in 2020. The proud father of four's recent work includes Angel Has Fallen and George Gallo-directed crime-comedy The Comeback Trail.
1 Tim Robbins (Andy Dufresne)
Tim Robbins, the man behind Andy Dufresne, has one hidden talent up his sleeves. The Academy Award-winning actor released his debut music album, Tim Robbins & The Rogues Gallery Band, in 2010. The album is a collection of songs he'd written since his 1992 movie Bob Roberts. However, the actor seems to enjoy a lowkey life away from the big screen. He's more focused on his TV works, with the latest venture Castle Rock released in 2019.