Fans of beloved actor Morgan Freeman are enraged about continued rumors regarding the 75-year-old actor's death.

Representatives for Freeman have confirmed he is alive and well, but a Facebook page called "R.I.P. Morgan Freeman" has drawn 866,000 likes as online hoaxers continue to perpetuate rumors of his demise.

Some fans have suggested jail time or banishment from social networks as punishment for the anonymous sources who continue to report Freeman is dead.

Death hoaxes that spread through social media can be emotionally damaging for either the celebrity involved or that person's fans, according to Dr. Pamela Brown Rutledge, who spoke to Gather.com.

"While a hoax may strike some as funny, and there are undoubtedly some instances of funny ones that we might commonly refer to as 'practical jokes,' most hoaxes are designed to promote the psychological or commercial interests of the perpetrator at the expense of the victims," she said.

A spokesman for Freeman addressed the rumors over the weekend to ease the minds of worried fans.

"Morgan is alive and well and joins the long list of actors who have been victimized by this hoax. He's still alive and well, stop believing what you see on the Internet," Freeman's rep said in a statement.

Freeman is only the most recent celebrity to succumb to a fictional demise publicized online. Bill Cosby is one of the death hoax's most frequent targets, and Eddie Murphy and Jackie Chan have also fallen victim to false death reports.

Freeman is one of Hollywood's most successful stars, both commercially and critically. His films have grossed a total of more than $5 billion worldwide and $3 billion in the U.S., and his more than 60 movies average about $64 million per film at the box office.

Tags: Morgan Freeman