Million Dollar Baby hit the theaters in 2004, winning the hearts of millions of moviegoers (not to mention a nice handful of Oscars). The gritty story about a tough female boxer and her complex bond with her trainer became an instant classic. But what have the cast members been up to since? Let’s find out.
1. Hilary Swank (Maggie Fitzgerald)
Hilary Swank’s enticing performance as Maggie was a game-changer. The actress portrayed such raw determination and pure emotions that she won her second Oscar. After Million Dollar Baby, Swank appeared in films like The Homesman and I Am Mother. In recent years, she’s ventured into TV, starring in Away (2020), a Netflix space drama. Off-screen, Swank has been focusing on her family, and in 2023, she gave birth to a set of lovely twins!
2. Morgan Freeman (Eddie “Scrap-Iron” Dupris)
Morgan Freeman nailed it as Scrap, a former boxer with buckets of wisdom to spare. His voiceover narrations still give people chills. Since then, Freeman has remained a Hollywood staple. He was in The Dark Knight trilogy, Now You See Me, and Angel Has Fallen—that’s just to name a few of his hits. Morgan’s iconic voice also landed him major narration gigs, including March of the Penguins. These days, he’s still acting strong in films and on TV, keeping his legendary status intact.
3. Anthony Mackie (Shawrelle Berry)
Before he was flying around in his fancy wing suit as Falcon in the Marvel universe, Anthony Mackie had a small role in Million Dollar Baby as Shawrelle, a cocky yet unforgettable boxer. His career skyrocketed after the film. Mackie became a fan-favorite as Falcon in the Avengers movies and now leads the Captain America franchise. He has also appeared on shows like Black Mirror and films like The Banker. This guy is all about keeping busy and branching out.
4. Mike Colter (Big Willie Little)
Mike Colter, who played Big Willie, Frankie’s star boxer who’s ready to tap out, has come a long way. Post-Million Dollar Baby, Colter’s big break came when he was cast as Netflix’s Luke Cage. He’s since appeared in other Marvel series which culminated in a bit of an underwhelming crossover. Recently, Colter’s been starring in the supernatural series Evil and appeared in Plane (2023) alongside Gerard Butler.
5. Lucia Rijker (Billie “The Blue Bear”)
Lucia Rijker, a world champion boxer and kickboxer, flawlessly portrayed Billie, Maggie’s merciless opponent in the ring. After the movie, she maintained her connection to the sport by working as a trainer and motivational speaker. Rijker has also ventured back into acting, but her primary passion lies in the realm of fighting, where she advocates for the mental health and well-being of athletes.
6. Margo Martindale (Earline Fitzgerald)
Margo Martindale gave us all the feels as Maggie’s selfish mother, Earline. After Million Dollar Baby, Martindale became a go-to character actress. She’s best known for her Emmy-winning role on Justified and appearances in The Americans and BoJack Horseman, where she hilariously played a version of herself. She was also in last year’s hilariously gruesome thriller, Cocaine Bear, proving she can handle serious and quirky roles like a pro.
7. Michael Peña (Omar)
Michael Peña’s portrayal of Omar, one of the gym’s boxers, was just a warm-up for his career. After Million Dollar Baby, Peña became known for his comedic timing, which was heavily underused in Ant-Man. He’s also shown his range in serious roles, like in End of Watch and American Hustle. Most recently, Peña joined the cast of Narcos: Mexico and appeared in Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan.
8. Clint Eastwood (Frankie Dunn)
Don’t worry, we could never skip the legendary Clint Eastwood! He’s the man who played the tough, grizzled trainer Frankie Dunn and was also the one to direct everyone on set. After Million Dollar Baby, Eastwood continued his streak of directing and acting in dang good movies like Gran Torino, American Sniper, and Cry Macho. Even in his 90s, Clint Eastwood doesn’t seem to want to slow down and remains one of Hollywood’s most iconic figures.
