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Eddie Murphy Biography and Filmography:

As one of the most able and significant talents to materialize from the 1980’s, comedian and actor Eddie Murphy laid the groundwork for an entire generation of young African American comics to follow. Just as Murphy was motivated by the comedy skills of the legendary Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx in the 1970’s, Murphy influenced an entire new group of comedians who came into focus during the 1980’s, among them: Martin Lawrence, Chris Rock, Jamie Foxx, and Dave Chappelle. Yet, it was as a true celebrity and movie star that Eddie Murphy made his greatest impact. 

Murphy can be proud of a collective career box office cash intake of over $5 billion dollars, making him, by definition, the most successful comedy star of all time. With a flair for re-inventing himself, Murphy’s career also managed to revive itself several times. From stand-up comic to movie star to animation voice talent to family man, Murphy’s icon was in continual change. In 2006, the 45 year old comedian achieved his most drastic change to date by inventing a new Eddie Murphy – dramatic actor – in the smash hit movie variation of the stage musical, “Dreamgirls” with Beyonce (2006).

Born Edward Regan Murphy on April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, NY, the hopeful comedian was the second born child of New York City police officer, Charles Murphy, and his wife, Lillian. Even though Murphy’s parents divorced in 1964, Murphy and his older brother, Charles, Jr., stayed in contact with their father until his unfortunate passing four years later. In 1970, Lillian Murphy remarried and relocated the family to Roosevelt, Long Island, where her new husband, Vernon Lynch, worked as a manager at the Breyer’s ice cream factory. 

A talented child growing up, young Eddie Murphy spent numerous hours in front of the television set, hungrily watching old movies and cartoons. Not surprisingly, the young man became a exceptional mimic. Showing an early skill for entertaining, Murphy liked putting on shows for his family and friends. A large preponderance of his collection in those days consisted of celebrity impersonations, silly songs raps, and simulated religious sermons.

Murphy would get his first taste of celebrity while attending Roosevelt Junior High School. An very smart, but academically uninterested learner, Murphy spent more time telling jokes than studying. Adored by his friend and teachers equally Murphy’s charisma and quick cleverness made a long-lasting impact and won him the untouchable “Most Popular Student.” At the age of 16, Murphy started writing and performing his own comedy skits for school variety shows, youth centers, and nearby comedy clubs. 

Turning professional at 18, Murphy slowly began to make a name for himself by performing at endless comedy clubs and cheap beer bars in and around New York City. Though Murphy readily admits to stealing a large majority of his early jokes from Richard Pryor, by the late 1970's, Eddie had started to develop his own routines. A fluke job at New York’s famous Comic Strip Live comedy club jump started Murphy’s career into high gear. From there, it was a short trip to the big leagues,  just four years and Murphy would be at the pinnacle of his profession.

Murphy’s stand-up routine continued packing clubs and gained him the esteem of his peers. But it was television where Eddie Murphy became a household name. In the summer of 1980, Murphy’s life was forever altered when he was hired to join the cast of “Saturday Night Live” (NBC, 1975- ). While many young comedians would have viewed this as a golden opportunity, the timing could not have been worse. By the time Murphy joined the ensemble, the six year old “SNL” was already in the first of its numerous down turns. Once thought of as progressive and cutting-edge “Saturday Night Live” had grown rather stale. There was a mass flight of talent from the show at the end of the fifth season. 

Despite the mass exodus, NBC renewed “SNL” for one more season.  Quickly re-worked and glued back together, “SNL” returned in the fall of 1980 with a new executive producer, a new ensemble comedy cast, a new writing staff, and even a new band and band leader.  Amazingly enough, Murphy just barely got the job. 

Collectively thought to be the worst season in “SNL” history, Doumanian’s attempt was pitifully not funny. With ratings dropping faster and faster with each weekly show, NBC finally had enough and decided to cancel the show once and for all. However, the show was saved at the last minute when NBC sports producer Dick Ebersol arranged to take the helm for one last attempt. With this management change came another sweeping set of changes. NBC fired Doumanian and almost everyone else who had worked on the appalling sixth season. The only two cast members saved were the funniest of the cast - Eddie Murphy and Joe Piscopo.

Under Ebersol’s three season management, “SNL” got back some of its earlier sparkle. While not as sassy as it had been in its high point, the show was at least funny and allowed Murphy to flower into the star he was intended to become. Between 1981 and 1985, the cast of “SNL” also integrated Jim Belushi, Brad Hall, Julia Louis-Dreyfuss and Mary Gross. But for all purposes, the show had largely become the Eddie Murphy Show. Natural, bold, and regularly dazzling, Murphy was a hit with sketches that showed off his impersonation talents. Among Murphy’s most well known skits were “Mister Robinson's Neighborhood”, “James Brown Celebrity Hot Tub,” and the funny “Ebony & Ivory” sketch starring Murphy as Stevie Wonder opposite Joe Piscopo’s Frank Sinatra. Murphy’s other brilliant characters included the pimp, Velvet Jones, and the angry children's television show icon, Gumby. 

But Murphy’s most well-known “SNL” character had to be the adored ” Buckwheat”, a parody of the fictional black character from the “Our Gang” series. Jump started by Murphy’s trademark appeal and wistful voice characterization Buckwheat became a national wonder. After several appearances, however, Murphy decided to retire the character. Murphy would leave the show halfway through the 1983-1984 season, but through his short “SNL” run, managed to secure his spot as one of the most talented comics to play the sound stage of Studio 8-H.

Clearly, it was only a matter of time before Hollywood came looking for Eddie Murphy. In 1982, Eddie transitioned to feature sexy celebrity status as a smart mouth prisoner teamed with a police officer (Nick Nolte) in Walter Hill's "48 Hrs." The following year, Murphy partnered with former “SNL” friend Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis in director John Landis’s comedy drama, “Trading Places” (1983). The film was a smash hit when released that summer . Developed on a budget of $27 million, it went on to make over $91 million in the United States alone. “Trading Places” legitimately secured Murphy’s status as a major movie star and sexy celebrity. The next year, Murphy hit the jackpot with the release of his first starring role in “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984). Conceived as a vehicle for Sylvester Stallone, the script went through a major re-write once Murphy joined the project. Another colossal smash hit, the $16 million comedy grossed a whopping $244 million in the United States.

Murphy was next hired in his first live comedy special “Eddie Murphy, Delirious." Taped before a live studio audience in Washington, D.C., “Delirious” became a run away success and ushered Murphy’s arrival as the new king of comedy and sexy celebrity. His routine was not without its critics. Some thought the young comic’s relentless usage of sexual suggestive situations and profanity was highly distasteful. Murphy was also chided for being sexist and homophobic, speaking of gays as “faggots” and telling jokes about AIDS. This early flood of political incorrectness, added to Murphy’s unapologetic viewpoint afterwards, finally ended in a boycott from the gay and lesbian community. 

Because of his unparalleled box office success, Murphy received a money-spinning multiple movie deal with Paramount Pictures. His first project, "The Golden Child" (1986) did well at the box office, but was missing some shine. Murphy also hit it big with his next project, the live concert special "Eddie Murphy Raw" (1987), and showed his charm as a wife seeking African prince in "Coming to America" (1988). At this stage some were beginning to think that Murphy’s ego was starting to surpass his comedic senses. Murphy only proved these critics right with his next project – “Harlem Nights” (1989). Making a dreadful introduction as a screenwriter and director, “Harlem Nights” was the beginning of the end for chapter one of Eddie Murphy’s career. 

Murphy also tested the waters with a singing career. This bad idea attempt as a recording star led to one hit single,  the addicting but tacky "Party All the Time", but Murphy’s shortcomings as a musician and songwriter shut down any dreams for a lasting career. Wanting to expand, Murphy turned to television and developed a number of sitcom pilots with his production company, Eddie Murphy Productions. His only success was a comedy series he created and produced as an outlet for Redd Foxx and Della Reese called "The Royal Family" (CBS, 1991-92). A humble ratings success, the sitcom was finally axed halfway through the first season when Foxx died of a sudden heart attack.

Murphy's feature career started another down hill trend during the 1990’s, as he starred in a series of likely but needless sequels, like “Another 48 Hrs” (1990) and “Beverly Hills Cop III” (1994). Anxious to stay on top, Murphy decided to re-invent his onscreen personality for the first time, moving from comedian to more polished leading man roles. The experimentation yielded assorted results with some middle-of-the-road hits, most remarkably the romantic comedy "Boomerang" with Halle Berry (1992) and the Capitol Hill mockery, "The Distinguished Gentleman" (1992); but even more amazing - big failures, including "A Vampire in Brooklyn " (1995) with Angela Basset, a bad terror comedy directed by Wes Craven.

Happily, Murphy returned to what made him famous -  funny comedy - beginning with the 1996 variation of "The Nutty Professor" (1963). Making skillful use of Murphy’s various characterization talents, director Steve Oederkerk had Murphy playing multiple characters as he did in “Coming to America.” The results were brilliantly refreshing. Taking a less hyperactive approach than Jerry Lewis did, Murphy juggled numerous roles, personalities, prosthetics, and even genders, with wonderful self-confidence. Of his many roles, the most striking was that of title character, Professor Sherman Klump. 

Finding the warmth of his character underneath pounds of heavy latex makeup, Murphy both tickled and made audiences laugh, and managed to hit a thoughtful harmony few had anticipated. Even braver was Murphy’s role as Klump’s alter ego, the captivating Buddy Love, a hopeless, egotistical, and utterly horrible egomaniac.  “The Nutty Professor” earned $127 million at the box office and jump started Murphy’s below par career.

Murphy won critical approval for his two part role as a fearful action adventure film star and his dumb brother in the well written Steve Martin comedy "Bowfinger” (1999). Murphy followed up by teaming with "Boomerang" co-star Martin Lawrence in the jailhouse comedy, "Life” (1999), but that film faded with little glory. Murphy continued his box office failures with roles in several bad projects including the lackluster science fiction comedy, "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" (2002), a film that was so bad, it became the butt of jokes about his career with late night comedians and writers. Hollywood next tried to tempt the public by casting Murphy in two comedies released in 2002 - “I Spy” with Owen Wilson, and “Showtime” opposite Robert DeNiro. Both projects were bad and did poorly at the box office and did not set well with Eddie Murphy fans. 

Just as his appeal was starting to shrink with adult moviegoers, Murphy began to gain traction with children and younger viewers. Rebounding as as a voice actor in Disney movies, Murphy recreated himself once again. Murphy started off this new phase in his career with a non-musical variation of the talking with the animals adventure, "Dr. Dolittle” (1998). He then followed up with a great role as a wise guy dragon in Disney's "Mulan" (1998). 

Fond of voice work, Murphy played another animated character - this time an short-tempered donkey - in the enormously popular animated story, "Shrek" (2001) along side Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz. Murphy's funny role as simply "Donkey" proved so admired by young viewers that he was invited back for its two sequels, “Shrek 2” (2004) and “Shrek the Third” (2007). Murphy’s next project, "Daddy Day Care" (2003), was not well liked by critics and was seen as a knock-off of “Mr. Mom”, but ended up a success with a $29 million opening weekend. 

Murphy’s rejuvenated career as America’s beloved family and children friendly movie star was almost ruined in 1997. Murphy became mixed up in a peculiar and spicy sex scandal that became the talk of late night television, and tabloids around the world. On May 13, during the production of “Doctor Dolittle,” Murphy was stopped by West Hollywood police around 5 a.m. for suspicion of soliciting a transsexual prostitute. Murphy was never charged with a sex crime but gossip writers had a feeding frenzy when the story broke. Murphy originally kept silent, but his silence only made things worse. Intensely embarrassed and angry by what he asserted were media fabrications of the truth, a disgraced Murphy finally broke his silence to defend himself on national television, saying the only thing he was guilty of was trying to be a good Samaritan; that all he did was offer a young female, or so he thought, a ride home. 

Putting his personal problems aside, Murphy’s career continued along as planned. After finishing production on his latest project (the foolish Disney movie, "The Haunted Mansion,") in 2003, Murphy announced he was taking a vacation from acting to spend more time with his family. By 2005, Murphy's 12 year marriage to former model Nicole Mitchell Murphy had come to an end. The two divorced in early 2006, but agreed to joint custody of their five young children. 

Murphy wasted no time finding new love interests. Not long after his divorce from Mitchell, Murphy was associated in the tabloids to a throng of stunning women. In late 2006, another of Murphy’s lovers, singer Melanie Brown announced that she was pregnant with Murphy’s child. In early December 2006, just weeks after their relationship went public Murphy broke up with Brown, who was five months pregnant. The fight boiled over in January of 2007, when Murphy publicly questioned the baby’s paternity.

Murphy’s career continued in spite of his personal problems and was hired for what would turn out to possibly be his crowning achievement, the big screen adaptation of the 1981 Tony award winning musical, "Dreamgirls" (2006). In his biggest role to date, Murphy made an extraordinary dramatic presentation as R&B singer James "Thunder" Early, joining Oscar winner Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, and newcomer Jennifer Hudson. Based on the story of the Motown super singing group, the Supremes, the film adaptation of “Dreamgirls” was a smash hit. 

Eddie Murphy was honored for his performance in “Dreamgirls” with a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor. The role also won Murphy an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor. 

Never one to sit around with idle time on his hands, the once again hot celebrity maintained a busy schedule in 2007, beginning with the movie “Norbit,” a comedy in which he played multiple roles, including that of an overweight black woman. Next was "Shrek The Third" (2007) and the television holiday special "Shrek The Halls" (2007) with Antonio Banderas. Eddie also appeared in 29 episodes of the top rated animated television series "The PJs" (1999-2001) before returning to the movies with "Meet Dave" (2008) about a crew of miniature aliens who operate a spaceship that has a human form. While trying to save their planet, the aliens encounter a new problem, as their ship becomes smitten with an Earth woman.

Films in production include the comedy "NowhereLand" (2009) about a financial executive (Eddie Murphy) who can't stop his career downturn is invited into his daughter's imaginary world, where solutions to his problems await. Next up is the comedy drama "A Thousand Words" (2010) about a blasé guy who learns that he has only 1,000 words left to speak before he will die. Eddie follows that with the expected "Shrek Goes Fourth" (1020) sequel starring Antonio Banderas, Mike Myers, and Cameron Diaz about the further adventures of the giant green ogre, Shrek, living in the land of Far, Far Away.  

Finally, Eddie will appear in the comedy action thriller "The Incredible Shrinking Man" (2010), an update version of the best-selling novel and blockbuster movie, it tells the story of Scott Carey who shrinks to an incredible small size and must face the danger that he runs into.

It kind of makes us wonder where Eddie can go from here?

• Also Credited As:
  Edward Regan Murphy
• Born:
  on 04/03/1961 in Brooklyn, New York
• Job Titles:
  Actor, Comedian, Director, Producer, Screenwriter, Singer, Songwriter, Shoe salesman

Significant Others

• Companion: Melanie Brown. began dating June of 2006; rumored to have split sometime in October of that year after reports of her pregnancy surfaced; Murphy is the father of her daughter Angel Iris
• Companion: Shaun Robinson. rumored to have dated briefly in 2006
• Companion: Tracey Edmonds. ex-wife of singer Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds; reportedly dating since October 2006; accompanied Murphy to the New York premiere of "Dreamgirls"; got engaged July 25, 2007.
• Wife: Nicole Mitchell. born c. 1968; together from the late 1980s; married on March 18, 1993; mother of five of Murphy's children
• Companion: Halle Berry.
• Companion: Tamara Moore. mother of Murphy's son Christian

Education

• Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School, Roosevelt, New York, 1979

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