Morgan Freeman 'not dead'

Morgan Freeman is not dead, his representatives have confirmed, after a death hoax began circulating on Facebook.

The hoax, which began on a page called 'R.I.P. Morgan Freeman', quickly garnered over 850,000 likes.

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“At about 5 p.m. ET on Thursday, our beloved actor Morgan Freeman passed away due to a artery rupture,” the page's header reads. “Morgan was born on June 1, 1937. He will be missed but not forgotten. Please show your sympathy and condolences by commenting on and liking this page.”

But the actor's people have since informed the press that the 75-year-old actor is 'alive and well'.

It's not the first time that Freeman has been the victim of an internet death hoax, with another circulating widely in 2010.

He was also the victim of a baseless internet rumour that he was to marry his step-granddaughter earlier this year, leading the actor to speak out personally.

“The recent reports of any pending marriage or romantic relationship of me to anyone are defamatory fabrications from the tabloid media designed to sell papers,” he said.

“What is even more alarming is that these fabrications are now being picked up by the legitimate press as well.”