2012 Golden Globes: Morgan Freeman and Other Cecil B. DeMille Award Winners [PHOTOS]

Actor Morgan Freeman was honored on Sunday with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2012 Golden Globes.

The 74-year-old actor was given the achievement award for his "outstanding contribution to the entertainment field."

The Cecil B. DeMille Award is chosen by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's board of directors. The award Is given out annually to a talented person who has changed the entertainment world, according to NBC's Golden Globe Web site.

Freeman is a ubiquitously recognizable face in American cinema and ranks 10^th among the world's top-grossing actors of all time, the Web site stated.

"In my movie career I got to save the world, solve some crimes, commit some crimes, drive Miss Daisy, be Nelson Mandela, play the president of the United States, and even God," Freeman said. "It's been said that, if you do what you love, you'll never work a day in your life. For the past 45 years or so I've never had to work, because my passion in life has always been acting."

Freeman said 58 people before him were honored with the DeMille award and that he is "truly honored" to be considered worthy of their company.

Freeman's name has been on many achievement awards list. He was the 2011 recipient of the 39th AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.

Here is some more interesting information about Morgan Freeman, as stated on NBC's Golden Globe site:

- He won the Academy Award in 2005 for Best Supporting Actor for his role in "Million Dollar Baby."

- In 1990, he won the Golden Globe for Best Actor for his performance in "Driving Miss Daisy."

- He received an Academy Award nomination in 1987 for Best Supporting Actor for "Street Smart." The same happened in 1994 for Best Actor for "The Shawshank Redemption."

- He received an Academy Award nomination, a Golden Globe nomination and a Broadcast Critics Association nomination for his performance as Nelson Mandela in the acclaimed film "Invictus," in 2010. He also won the National Board of Review award for Best Actor and was also the film's executive producer. That picture was produced by Revelations Entertainment, a company Freeman co-founded with Lori McCreary in 1996.

- He received the Hollywood Actor Award from the Hollywood Film Festival in 2000.

- Eight years later, Freeman got the Kennedy Center Honor for his distinguished acting.

- Much earlier in his career though, Freeman won a Drama Desk Award his role as Zeke in "The Mighty Gents," in 1978 and got a Tony Nomination for Best Performance by a Featured Actor.

- For his on stage work, Freeman got Obie Awards in 1980, 1984 and 1987.

The distinguished actor is currently working on "The Dark Knight Rises." It is the third installment in Christopher Nolan's Batman film series.

Start the slideshow to see Freeman and other recipients of the Cecil B. DeMille Award dating back to 2000.

Actor Morgan Freeman, recipient of the Cecille B. DeMille award, poses backstage at the 69th annual Golden Globe Awards in Beverly Hills, California, January 15, 2012.

Robert DeNiro received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2011.

Martin Scorsese received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2010.

Director Steven Spielberg received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2009.

Warren Beatty received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2007.

Anthony Hopkins received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2006.

Robin Williams received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2005.

Michael Douglas received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2004.

Gene Hackman received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2003.

Harrison Ford received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2002.

Actor Al Pacino received the Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2001.

Actress and singer Barbara Streisand has been a longtime backer of the Democratic Party.