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Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy has spent his screen career moving between fast-talking comedy, action, character work and animation without losing the lively comic presence that first brought him national attention. Born in Brooklyn on April 3, 1961, Murphy began performing comedy as a teenager and broke through as a cast member on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s. Characters including Buckwheat, Mr. Robinson and Gumby showed his taste for voices, impersonation and sharply defined comic personalities. His big-screen debut came in 48 Hrs. in 1982, followed by Trading Places the next year. Both films established how easily Murphy could turn verbal speed and reactive energy into movie-star momentum. Beverly Hills Cop gave him his first solo leading role as Axel Foley, a part he reprised in Beverly Hills Cop II. The Golden Child placed that quick-witted screen persona inside a supernatural comedy, while Coming to America gave him room to combine romantic comedy with the kind of character play that became a recurring part of his work. Murphy expanded his role behind the camera with Harlem Nights, serving as director, producer and star while sharing co-writing duties with his brother Charlie Murphy. The film also brought him together with two of his early comic influences, Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. Later, The Nutty Professor made especially full use of his ability to inhabit multiple performances within a single movie. By the late 1990s and early 2000s, Murphy had become just as familiar to family audiences. Mulan drew on his skills as a voice actor, while Shrek and Shrek 2 introduced another durable Murphy performance in Donkey. His musical instincts also found a place in the series, including “I’m a Believer” in Shrek and “Livin’ La Vida Loca” with Antonio Banderas in Shrek 2. Across these movies, Murphy’s appeal comes from more than punchlines. He can drive a scene through confidence, rhythm and an alertness to everyone around him—whether playing a streetwise lead, disappearing into several comic personalities or giving an animated character a voice that never seems to run out of momentum.