Murphy, Eddie

Source:

 Africana: The Encyclopedia of the African and African American Experience, Second Edition

Murphy, Eddie

1961–
African American comedian and actor.

Born in Brooklyn, New York, Eddie Murphy first attracted attention in 1980, as a featured performer on the popular television show Saturday Night Live (SNL), at the age of nineteen. Already a veteran of comedy clubs, where he had been performing since age fifteen, SNL's sketch comedy format proved the perfect vehicle for Murphy's hard-edged comedic characterizations and, at times, unflattering celebrity impersonations. Murphy became SNL's biggest star.

In 1982 Murphy released Eddie Murphy, an album of his stand-up material, which earned a Grammy nomination. Murphy capitalized on his popularity, taking his first film role later that year in 48 Hours, which was well received, both critically and commercially. The success of 48 Hours led to a costarring role with former SNL cast member Dan Ackroyd in Trading Places, which was among the top ten earning films of 1983. Eddie Murphy: Comedian, another comedy album, won a Grammy. By 1984, when he left SNL to pursue a film career full-time, Murphy was considered one of Hollywood's leading box-office attractions.

Murphy's films had uneven success—he sometimes achieved box-office triumph at the expense of critical acclaim. Beverly Hills Cop (1984) broke box-office records, which prompted Paramount Pictures to sign him to a $25 million contract for six-films. Sequels to 48 Hours and Beverly Hills Cop, on the other hand, were poorly received critically and enjoyed only modest commercial success. Critics panned Murphy's first attempt at writing and directing, Harlem Nights (1989). In addition, the success of Coming to America (1988) was diminished when, in 1990, writer Art Buchwald successfully sued Murphy and Paramount Pictures for stealing his idea for the screenplay. Murphy's career rebounded in the 1990s, with the success of such films as Boomerang (1992), a remake of The Nutty Professor (1996), and Doctor Dolittle (1998), all of which earned Murphy critical and popular acclaim.

In 1998 Murphy branched out into animation by providing the voice of Mushu for the Disney animated film, Mulan. The next year he originated and produced the first stop-animation series to appear on prime-time television. The series, entitled The PJ's, chronicled life in a community of blacks living in a low-income housing project, with Murphy providing the voice of the lead character, Superintendent Thurgoode Orenthal Stubbs. In 2001 Murphy provided the voice for the mischievous, but charming, donkey in the animated blockbuster Shrek.

Murphy was in front of the camera again for the comedy films Showtime (2002) and Daddy Day Care (2003). His popularity and success has translated into some hefty paychecks. He received $20 million for each of the films Nutty Professor II (2000), Dr. Dolittle 2 (2002), and The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) and picked up another $10 million to again be the voice of the donkey in Shrek 2 (2004). Despite the occasional bomb, Murphy remains one of Hollywood's top stars.

See also Film, Blacks in American; Television and African Americans.

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