Eddie Murphy Biography Quotes 12 Report mistakes

Early Life and Influences
Edward Regan Murphy was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York, and raised first in the borough and later in Roosevelt on Long Island. His mother, Lillian, worked as a telephone operator, and his father, Charles Edward Murphy, was a transit police officer and amateur performer. After his father died, Murphy and his brother, Charlie Murphy, spent time in foster care before reuniting with their mother and stepfather, Vernon Lynch Sr. Growing up in a household that prized humor and resilience, he absorbed the timing and audacity of comedic heroes like Richard Pryor, Redd Foxx, and Bill Cosby. By his teens he was performing stand-up in local clubs, sharpening a gift for impressions and character work that would soon carry him to national prominence.

Breakthrough on Saturday Night Live
Murphy joined Saturday Night Live in 1980 during a turbulent period for the show. Initially hired as a featured player, he quickly became indispensable under producers Jean Doumanian and later Dick Ebersol. His characters, Buckwheat, Mr. Robinson, Gumby, James Brown parodies, and Velvet Jones, blended fierce intelligence with gleeful irreverence, and helped revive the series during a slump. Collaborations with castmates such as Joe Piscopo showcased his musical mimicry and sketch versatility. By the time he left in 1984, Murphy was the show's breakout star, a rare performer who could open a sketch, anchor it, and end with a memorable flourish.

From Stand-Up Phenomenon to Box-Office Star
Murphy's stand-up ascended in parallel with his TV success. His concert films Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983) and Eddie Murphy Raw (1987) became cultural touchstones, capturing the swagger, physicality, and storytelling that defined his early voice. Hollywood seized on his momentum. He debuted on the big screen in 48 Hrs. (1982) opposite Nick Nolte, directed by Walter Hill. Trading Places (1983), opposite Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis and directed by John Landis, confirmed his star power. Beverly Hills Cop (1984), produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and the late Don Simpson and directed by Martin Brest, made him a global phenomenon as the streetwise Axel Foley; sequels followed under Tony Scott and John Landis. These films earned him multiple Golden Globe nominations and established a template for action-comedy led by a Black superstar.

Murphy also ventured behind the camera. Harlem Nights (1989), which he wrote, directed, and starred in, paired him with legends Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. Throughout the late 1980s and early 1990s, he toggled between high-concept comedies and romantic vehicles, including Coming to America (1988), again with John Landis and longtime friend Arsenio Hall, and Boomerang (1992), directed by Reginald Hudlin with Halle Berry and Robin Givens. His musical ambitions yielded the hit single Party All the Time (1985), produced by Rick James, which climbed the pop charts and broadened his pop-cultural footprint.

Expanding Range: Dramas, Voice Work, and Family Films
In the mid-1990s, Murphy pivoted toward broader family audiences without losing his performer's edge. The Nutty Professor (1996), directed by Tom Shadyac, showcased his virtuosity through multiple characters via groundbreaking makeup effects, and Dr. Dolittle (1998) further extended his family-friendly run. Bowfinger (1999), opposite Steve Martin and directed by Frank Oz, reminded critics of his deftness with satire and industry in-jokes.

Voice acting revealed another dimension. As Donkey in DreamWorks' Shrek (2001) and its sequels, Murphy injected warmth, rhythm, and a musical spark that turned the character into a modern animated icon alongside Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz. In Dreamgirls (2006), directed by Bill Condon, he cut against type with a soulful, tragic turn as James "Thunder" Early, winning a Golden Globe and earning an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor.

Return to Form and Later Projects
After a period of mixed critical reception, Murphy rebounded with acclaimed work. Mr. Church (2016) showcased a restrained, dramatic register. Dolemite Is My Name (2019), directed by Craig Brewer and produced with collaborators including John Davis, cast him as trailblazing comedian and filmmaker Rudy Ray Moore; the performance drew some of the strongest reviews of his career and renewed awards attention. He returned triumphantly to Saturday Night Live as host in 2019, earning an Emmy Award. Reuniting with Arsenio Hall, he headlined Coming 2 America (2021), directed by Craig Brewer. The Beverly Hills Cop saga continued with Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), produced by Jerry Bruckheimer and directed by Mark Molloy, which brought back franchise stalwarts such as Judge Reinhold while introducing new co-stars including Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Taylour Paige.

Personal Life
Murphy's family has remained central to his story. He was married to Nicole Mitchell Murphy from 1993 to 2006; they share five children, including Bria and Miles. He has a daughter, Angel Iris, with Melanie Brown (Mel B) of the Spice Girls. His longtime partner Paige Butcher, with whom he has two children, has been a steady presence in his later years. He also has children Eric and Christian from earlier relationships. The death of his older brother, comedian and writer Charlie Murphy, in 2017 was a profound personal loss; Charlie had collaborated with him on projects including Vampire in Brooklyn and Norbit and was celebrated for his storytelling on Chappelle's Show. Throughout his career, Eddie Murphy has maintained ties with creative partners such as Arsenio Hall and worked with industry figures including Lorne Michaels, Dick Ebersol, John Landis, Walter Hill, Martin Brest, Tony Scott, Wes Craven, Frank Oz, Bill Condon, and Craig Brewer.

Legacy and Influence
Eddie Murphy's impact bridges stand-up, television, music, and film. He is frequently cited as the performer who revitalized Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s, then redefined the action-comedy blockbuster with Beverly Hills Cop. His shapeshifting character work in The Nutty Professor, freewheeling musicality in Shrek, and dramatic depth in Dreamgirls and Dolemite Is My Name reflect a career of reinvention. Honors include the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor and the Cecil B. DeMille Award, alongside an Emmy win and multiple Golden Globe recognitions. He has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and his influence can be traced in generations of comedians and actors who followed. Through decades of shifting tastes, Murphy's blend of audacity, speed, and heart has kept him a singular figure in American entertainment, rooted in family, sharpened by collaboration, and sustained by a relentless instinct for performance.

Our collection contains 12 quotes who is written by Eddie, under the main topics: Witty One-Liners - Parenting - Success - Optimism - Movie.

Other people realated to Eddie: Mike Myers (Comedian), Brion James (Actor), Hector Elizondo (Actor), Jerry Bruckheimer (Producer), Gedde Watanabe (Actor), Jamie Kennedy (Actor), Tea Leoni (Actress), Nia Long (Actress), Paul Reiser (Comedian), Judge Reinhold (Actor)

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