One of the pioneers in costume design in the Black Theatre Movement, Myrna Colley-Lee, has a long list of credits to her name. From iconic works like The Ballad of Emmett Till and Ain’t Misbehavin’ to Fences and Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, she’s turned costume design into an art form.
Yet, Lee wasn’t only known for her mastery of creating stunning costumes. She was Morgan Freeman’s wife for nearly 26 years. Even though they’re now divorced, they remain close.
Here’s everything you need to know about Myrna Colley-Lee.
Personal Life
Myrna Colley-Lee was born in 1941 in Hamlet, North Carolina, where she lived for the first six months of her life before her family relocated to Atlanta, Georgia, then Daytona Beach, Florida, where she started her elementary education.
Several years later, the family moved again to Prairie View, Texas. She enrolled in the Prairie View A&M College and graduated in 1957.
She continued her education by attending Bennett College in Greensboro, North Carolina, for two years. This was followed by her studies at the Women’s College of the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG), where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) in art education in 1962.
A decade later, Lee studied scene painting and properties at Brooklyn College. Later, she earned a Master’s degree in fine arts (MFA) in costume and scenic design from Temple University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1980.
Married Life
She married her first husband, American jazz musician Don Pullen, in 1964. But the marriage lasted for nearly a year and a half before the couple filed for a divorce.
Today, Myrna Colley-Lee is a renowned and well-established film and theater costume designer. Yet, she was mainly known as Morgan Freeman’s wife for years.
Freeman and Lee wed on June 16, 1984, and were happily married until December 2007, when they decided to separate. A year later, after 26 years of marriage, the divorce was finalized and filed under seal in July 2008.
The reasons behind the couple’s separation were never disclosed publicly, although rumors frequently attribute the split to alleged extramarital affairs by Freeman.
Freeman and Colley-Lee didn’t have any children together. However, she’s remained close with her ex-husband’s children from his previous marriage.
Plus, they adopted Freeman’s step-granddaughter, E’dena Hines. Sadly, she was murdered by her boyfriend in 2015.
Professional Life
Myrna Colley-Lee has been actively designing for stage and film since the 1960s. She began her career as an art supervisor at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg School in North Carolina.
Because of her raw talent and outstanding designs, she’s been hailed as one of the foremost costume designers in the Black Theatre Movement.
She’s also won numerous accolades and awards, including the following:
- Outstanding Costume Design from the National Black Theatre Festival
- Winona Lee Fletcher Award for Outstanding Achievement as a Designer from the Black Theatre Network
- Honored Artist from the National Museum of Women in the Arts
- Mississippi Institute of Arts and Letters Lifetime Achievement Award
- Doctor of Creative Arts, honoris causa, also from Mississippi State University
Conclusion
Myrna Colley-Lee, a leading figure in costume design, has been decking out actors on screen and on the big stage since the 1960s. Her artistic vision and dedication to storytelling have left a memorable mark on the entertainment industry.
To this day, Lee continues to inspire and influence future generations with her remarkable contributions.
