Biography

Eddie Murphy was born in Brooklyn New York, in 1961, the youngest son of Lillian Murphy, a widow who married Vernon Lynch, the step-father of Eddie, his brother Charles Q. Murphy, and Vernon Jr. Eddie himself 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 15, 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 shows 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) and his turn as a hopeless romantic in Boomerang (1992) 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 applaudable 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. In spite of being vocal in interviews about his career, Eddie Murphy continues to live a happy life with his wife and kids and has said that if his career would to end tomorrow he would be content just being with his family.

 

Details

Date of Birth
3 April 1961, Brooklyn, New York, USA

Birth Name
Edward Regan Murphy

Nickname
Ed

Height
5' 9½" (1.77 m)

Filmography

Untitled Brett Ratner Project (2008) (in production)
Shrek 4 (2010) (announced) .... Donkey
Untitled Eddie Murphy/Romeo and Juliet Project (2008) (announced)
Beverly Hills Cop IV (2009) (pre-production) .... Axel Foley
NowhereLand (2008) (pre-production)
Starship Dave (2008) (filming)
Shrek the Halls (2007) (TV) (filming) (voice) .... Donkey
Shrek the Third (2007) (voice) .... Donkey
... aka Shrek 3 (Singapore: English title) (USA: working title)
... aka The Third (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Norbit (2007) .... Norbit/Rasputia/Mr. Wong
Shrek: Smash n' Crash Racing (2006) (VG) .... Donkey
Dreamgirls (2006) .... James "Thunder" Early
Far Far Away Idol (2004) (V) (voice) .... Donkey
"Father of the Pride" .... Donkey (1 episode, 2004)
    - Donkey (2004) TV Episode (voice) .... Donkey
Shrek 2 (2004) (voice) .... Donkey
The Haunted Mansion (2003) .... Jim Evers
... aka Disney's The Haunted Mansion (USA: complete title)
Shrek 4-D (2003) (voice) .... Donkey
... aka Shrek 3-D (USA: DVD title)
Daddy Day Care (2003) .... Charlie Hinton
I Spy (2002) .... Kelly Robinson
... aka I-Spy (USA: promotional title)
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) .... Pluto Nash
... aka Pluto Nash (UK) (USA: working title)
Showtime (2002) .... Officer Trey Sellars
Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) .... Dr. John Dolittle
... aka DR.2 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
... aka DR2 (USA: promotional abbreviation)
Shrek (2001) (voice) .... Donkey
"The PJs" .... Thurgoode Orenthal Stubbs / ... (28 episodes, 1999-2000)
    - The Last Affirmative Action Hero (2000) TV Episode (voice) .... Thurgoode Orenthal Stubbs
    - Robbin' HUD (2000) TV Episode (voice) .... Thurgoode Orenthal Stubbs
    - The Jeffersons (2000) TV Episode (voice) .... Thurgoode Orenthal Stubbs
    - What's Eating Juicy Hudson (2000) TV Episode (voice) .... Thurgoode Orenthal Stubbs
    - Fear of a Black Rat (2000) TV Episode (voice) .... Thurgoode Orenthal Stubbs
      (23 more)
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) .... Professor Sherman Klump/Buddy Love/Cletus 'Papa' Klump/Young Cletus Klump/Anna Pearl 'Mama' Jensen Klump/Ida Mae 'Granny' Jensen/Ernie Klump, Sr./Lance Perkins
... aka The Klumps (Australia)
Bowfinger (1999) .... Kit Ramsey/Jeffernson 'Jiff' Ramsey
Life (1999/I) .... Rayford Gibson
Holy Man (1998) .... G
Doctor Dolittle (1998) .... Dr. John Dolittle
Mulan (1998) (voice) .... Mushu
Metro (1997) .... Insp. Scott Roper
The Nutty Professor (1996) .... Professor Sherman Klump/Buddy Love/Lance Perkins/Cletus 'Papa' Klump/Anna Pearl 'Mama' Jensen Klump/Ida Mae 'Granny' Jensen/Ernie Klump, Sr.
Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) .... Maximillian/Preacher Pauly/Guido
... aka Wes Craven's Vampire In Brooklyn (USA: complete title)
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) .... Det. Axel Foley
Dangerous: The Short Films (1993) (V) .... Pharaoh ('Remember The Time' video)
... aka Michael Jackson - Dangerous: The Short Films (USA)
The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) .... Thomas Jefferson Johnson
Boomerang (1992) .... Marcus Graham
Another 48 Hrs. (1990) .... Reggie Hammond
... aka Another 48 Hours (Philippines: English title)
Harlem Nights (1989) .... Quick
What's Alan Watching? (1989) (TV) .... Protester/James Brown
Coming to America (1988) .... Prince Akeem/Clarence/Randy Watson/Saul
... aka Prince in New York (Europe: English title: video title)
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) .... Det. Axel Foley
The Golden Child (1986) .... Chandler Jarrell
"Saturday Night Live" .... Various / ... (64 episodes, 1980-1984)
... aka NBC's Saturday Night (USA: first season title)
... aka SNL (USA: informal title)
... aka SNL 25 (USA: alternative title)
... aka Saturday Night (USA: second season title)
... aka Saturday Night Live '80 (USA: sixth season title)
    - Eddie Murphy/Robert Plant & The Honeydrippers (1984) TV Episode .... Host
    - Edwin Newman/Kool & The Gang (1984) TV Episode .... Various
    - Episode #9.13 (1984) TV Episode .... Various
    - Episode #9.12 (1984) TV Episode .... Various
    - Episode #9.10 (1984) TV Episode .... Various
      (59 more)
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) .... Det. Axel Foley
Best Defense (1984) .... Lieutenant T.M. Landry
... aka Best Defence (UK: poster title)
Trading Places (1983) .... Billy Ray Valentine
48 Hrs. (1982) .... Reggie Hammond

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