Eddie Murphy
Birthdate: Apr 3, 1961
Birthplace: Brooklyn, New York City, New York, USA
Edward Regan Murphy was born April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, to Lillian Lynch (born: Lillian Laney), a telephone operator, and Charles Edward Murphy, a transit police officer who was also an amateur comedian and actor. After his father died, his mother married Vernon Lynch, a foreman at a Breyer's Ice Cream plant. His brothers are Charlie Murphy & Vernon Lynch Jr. Eddie had aspirations of being in show business since he was a child. A bright kid growing up in the streets of New York, Murphy spent a great deal of time on impressions and comedy stand-up routines rather than academics. His sense of humor and wit made him a stand out amongst his classmates at Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School. By the time he was fifteen, Murphy worked as a stand-up comic on the lower part of New York, wooing audiences with his dead-on impressions of celebrities and outlooks on life.
In the early 1980s, at the age of 19, Murphy was offered a contract for the Not-Ready-For-Prime-Time Players of Saturday Night Live (1975), where Murphy exercised his comedic abilities in impersonating African American figures and originating some of the show's most memorable characters: Velvet Jones, Mr. Robinson, and a disgruntled and angry Gumby. Murphy made his feature film debut in 48 Hrs. (1982), alongside Nick Nolte. The two's comedic and antagonistic chemistry, alongside Murphy's believable performance as a streetwise convict aiding a bitter, aging cop, won over critics and audiences. The next year, Murphy went two for two, with another hit, pairing him with John Landis, who later became a frequent collaborator with Murphy in Coming to America (1988) and Beverly Hills Cop III (1994). Beverly Hills Cop (1984) was the film that made Murphy a box-office superstar and most notably made him a celebrity worldwide, and it remains one of the all-time biggest domestic blockbusters in motion-picture history. Murphy's performance as a young Detroit cop in pursuit of his friend's murderers earned him a third consecutive Golden Globe nomination. Axel Foley became one of Murphy's signature characters. On top of his game, Murphy was unfazed by his success, that is until his box office appeal and choices in scripts resulted into a spotty mix of hits and misses into the late 1980s and early 1990s.
Films like The Golden Child (1986) and Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) were critically panned but were still massive draws at the box office. In 1989, Murphy, coming off another hit, Coming to America (1988), found failure with his directorial debut, Harlem Nights (1989). Another 48 Hrs. (1990), his turn as a hopeless romantic in Boomerang (1992) and as a suave vampire in Vampire In Brooklyn did little to resuscitate his career. However, his remake of Jerry Lewis's The Nutty Professor (1996) brought Murphy's drawing power back into fruition. From there, Murphy rebounded with occasional hits and misses but has long proven himself as a skilled comedic actor with laudable range pertaining to characterizations and mannerisms. Though he has grown up a lot since his fast-lane rise as a superstar in the 1980s, Murphy has lived the Hollywood lifestyle with controversy, criticism, scandal, and the admiration of millions worldwide for his talents. As Murphy had matured throughout the years, learning many lessons about the Hollywood game in the process, he settled down with more family-oriented humor with Doctor Dolittle (1998), Mulan (1998), Bowfinger (1999), and the animated smash Shrek (2001), in a supporting role that showcased Murphy's comedic personality and charm. Throughout the 2000s, he further starred in the hits The Haunted Mansion (2003), Shrek 2 (2004), Dreamgirls (2006) (for which he was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar), Norbit (2007), Shrek the Third (2007), and Shrek Forever After (2010).
Murphy was married to Nicole Mitchell Murphy from 1993 to 2006. Murphy has ten children.
Known For
Filmography
actor
Upcoming (2)
- 2026 |
- 2024 | Beverly Hills Cop: Axel FasAxel Foley
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F
Detective Axel Foley finds himself drawn back to the opulent environs of Beverly Hills to investigate the untimely demise of a long-time confidant.
Previous (69)
- 2023 | You Peopleas Akbar
- 2023 | Candy Cane LaneasChris Carver
Candy Cane Lane
A man is determined to win the neighborhood's annual Christmas decorating contest. After making a pact with an elf to help him win, the elf casts a spell bringing the 12 days of Christmas to life and unexpectedly bringing chaos to town.
- 2021 | Coming 2 AmericaasPrince Akeem
Coming 2 America
The African monarch Akeem learns he has a long-lost son in the United States and must return to America to meet this unexpected heir and build a relationship with his son.
- 2020 | Eddie Murphy: Laugh 'Til it Hurts
- 2019 | Dolemite Is My Name
- 2019 | Dolemite Is My Nameas Rudy
- 2017 | Michael Jackson What If?
- 2017 |
- 2016 | Mr. Churchas Henry Church
- 2012 | A Thousand Wordsas Jack McCall
- 2011 | Tower HeistasSlide
Tower Heist
When a group of hard-working guys find out they've fallen victim to their wealthy employer's Ponzi scheme, they conspire to rob his high-rise residence.
- 2010 | Shrek Forever Afteras Donkey
- 2009 | Imagine Thatas Evan Danielson
- 2008 | Meet Daveas Captain
- 2008 | Meet Daveas Dave
- 2007 | Shrek the Thirdas Donkey
- 2007 | Norbit
- 2007 | Norbit
- 2007 | Norbitas Mr. Wong
- 2007 | Norbitas Norbit
- 2007 | Norbitas Rasputia
- 2006 | Dreamgirlsas James 'Thunder' Early
- 2004 |
- 2003 | The Haunted Mansionas Jim Evers
- 2003 | Daddy Day Careas Charlie Hinton
- 2002 | I Spyas Kelly
- 2002 | The Adventures of Pluto Nashas Pluto Nash
- 2002 | Showtimeas Officer Trey Sellars
- 2001 | Dr. Dolittle 2as Dr. John Dolittle
- 2001 | Shrekas Donkey
- 2000 | Nutty Professor II: The Klumpsas Buddy Love
- 2000 | Nutty Professor II: The Klumpsas Granny Klump
- 2000 | Nutty Professor II: The Klumpsas Sherman Klump
- 1999 | Bowfingeras Jiff Ramsey
- 1999 | Bowfingeras Kit Ramsey
- 1998 | Holy Manas 'G'
- 1998 | Doctor Dolittleas Dr. John Dolittle
- 1998 | Mulanas Mushu
- 1997 | Metroas Insp. Scott Roper
- 1996 | The Nutty Professoras Buddy Love
- 1996 | The Nutty Professoras Lance Perkins
- 1996 | The Nutty Professoras Sherman Klump
- 1995 | Vampire in Brooklyn
- 1995 | Vampire in Brooklyn
- 1995 | Vampire in Brooklynas Guido
- 1995 | Vampire in Brooklynas Maximillian
- 1995 | Vampire in Brooklynas Preacher Pauly
- 1994 | Beverly Hills Cop IIIas Det. Axel Foley
- 1992 | The Distinguished Gentlemanas Thomas Jefferson Johnson
- 1992 | Boomerang
- 1992 | Boomerangas Marcus
- 1990 | Another 48 Hrs.as Reggie Hammond
- 1989 | Harlem Nights
- 1989 | Harlem Nights
- 1989 | Harlem Nightsas Quick
- 1988 | Coming to America
- 1988 | Coming to Americaas Clarence
- 1988 | Coming to Americaas Prince Akeem
- 1988 | Coming to Americaas Saul
- 1987 | Eddie Murphy: Raw
- 1987 | Eddie Murphy: Raw
- 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop II
- 1987 | Beverly Hills Cop IIas Axel Foley
- 1986 | The Golden Childas Chandler Jarrell
- 1984 | Saturday Night Live Segment: The Lifestyles of the Relatives of the Rich and Famousas Leonard Brown
- 1984 | Beverly Hills CopasAxel Foley
Beverly Hills Cop
A freewheeling Detroit cop pursuing a murder investigation finds himself dealing with the very different culture of Beverly Hills.
- 1984 | Best Defenseas Lieutenant T.M. Landry
- 1983 | Trading Placesas Billy Ray Valentine
- 1982 | 48 Hrs.as Reggie Hammond
