Eddie Murphy

by Maria Lică

The actor, singer, director, producer, screen writer and stand-up comedian Edward Regan Murphy
was born on the third of April 1961 in Brooklyn, New York.

When he was young, he loved Peter Sellers' work, which really got him into acting. At fifteen years
old, Eddie was inspired by Richard Prior's work to become a stand-up comedian.

In 1976, Murphy attended a talent show, doing a great impersonation of singer Al Green as
Green's song, ”Let’s stay together” played. He started working long nights at clubs, which often
meant skipping school.

In 1982, Murphy made his big screen debut in the action comedy ”48 Hrs.",as Reggie Hammond,
along with Nick Nolte. The film was an absolute succes.

The following year, he starred as Billy Ray Valentine in the comedy ”Trading Places”, which was an
even better box-office than ”48 Hrs.”.

Murphy appeared in the action comedy ”Best Defense”(1984) as Lieutenant T.M.Baldry, co-
starring Dudley Moore. ”Best Defense” was a major financial and critical dissapointment, Murphy
himself calling it ”the worst movie in the history of everything.”
 Murphy starred as Axel Foley in the successful action comedy film ”Beverly Hills Cop”(1984). The
film was Murphy’s first solo leading role. ”Beverly Hills Cop” grossed over $230 million.

In 1986, Murphy was offered the part of an astrophysicist in ”Star Trek IV: The Journey Home”, a
role that, after being heavily re-written from comic relief to love interest, ultimately went to
Catherine Hicks.

Also in 1986, Murphy starred as Chandler Jarell in the supernatural fantasy comedy ”The Golden
Child”. Although ”The Golden Child” performed well at the box-office, the movie was not as well
received as ”48 Hrs”,”Trading Places” and ”Beverly Hills Cop”.

The following year, Murphy reprised his role of Axel Foley in ”Beverly Hills Cop II”. It was a box-
office success, grossing almost $300 million worldwide.

In 1988, Murphy starred in the romantic comedy ”Coming to America” as both Prince Akeem and
Randy Watson.

In 1992, Murphy starred as Marcus Graham in the romantic comedy ”Boomerang”. It was a box-
office success.

In the same year, Eddie Murphy reprised his role of Reggie Hammond in the sequel of ”48 Hrs.”,
”Another 48 Hrs.”.

In 1994, Murphy starred as Axel Foley in the third of the ”Beverly Hills Cop” movies,”Beverly Hills
Cop III”. This time, the box-office wasn't so good, and the film wasn't critically acclaimed.

The following year, Murphy was the star and the co-writer of the horror comedy ”Vampire in
Brooklyn”. He starred as Maximillian, but also had other appearances, as Guido and Preacher Pauly.

In 1996, he starred as Sherman Klump in the science-fiction comedy ”The Nutty Professor”, a film
which got his box-office back on track.

The following year, Murphy starred as Scott Roper in the action comedy ”Metro”, which failed to
bring back the $55 million budget, only retrieving $32 million.

In 1998, Murphy worked as director, producer, star and co-writer of the action comedy ”Harlem
Nights”. He starred as Quick.

Also in 1998, he put the voice of Mushu, the dragon, in the animated Disney movie ”Mulan”.

In the same year , he starred in the fantasy family comedy ”Dr. Dolittle”, as the doctor himself.

Also in 1998, Murphy starred as G in the comedy ”Holy Man”, which was an absolute failure.

The following year, Murphy starred as Rayford Gibson in the drama comedy ”Life”.

In the same year, Murphy starred as both Kit Ramsey and Jifferson ”Jiff” Ramsey in the comedy
”Bowfinger”.

In 2000, he starred as Professor Sherman Klump in the sequel of his 1996 movie. He also has
appearances as Buddy Love, Papa Cletus Klump, Young Papa Cletus Klump, Ernie Klump Sr., Mama
Anna Klump, Grandma Ida Jenson and Lance Perkins.

In 2001, he put the voice of Donkey in the animated Dreamworks movie ”Shrek”.

In the same year, Murphy starred as Dr. Dolittle in the sequel of the 1998 movie.
 The following year, Eddie Murphy starred as Kelly Robinson in the action comedy ”I-SPY”, which
had a very low box-office.

Also in 2002, Murphy starred as Officer Trey Sellars in the action comedy ”Showtime”. It also had
a dissapointing box-office.

In the same year, Eddie Murphy starred as both Pluto Nash and Rex Crater in the science-fiction
action comedy ”The Adventures of Pluto Nash”. The film was one of the absolute so-called ”box-
office bombs”, with a budget of $100 million and a box-office of only $7 million.

In 2003, Murphy starred as Charles ”Charlie” Hinton in the family comedy ”Daddy Day Care”.

In the same year, Eddie Murphy starred as Jim Evers, in the horror comedy ”The Haunted
Mansion”.

The following year ,Murphy put the voice of Donkey in the animated sequel of 2001 Shrek,
”Shrek 2”

In 2006, Murphy starred as James ”Jimmy Thunder” Early in the drama musical ”Dreamgirls”. He
won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Broadcast Film
Critics Association Award for that role.

The following year, Murphy starred as Norbit Albert Rice, Rasputia Latimore and Hangten Wong
in the comedy ”Norbit”. These roles have won him three Golden Raspberry Awards and a nomination
for the Academy Award for Best Makeup.

Also in 2007, Eddie Murphy reprised his role of Donkey in ”Shrek the Third”, the third movie of
the ”Shrek” franchise.

In 2008, he starred as both Dave Ming Chang and the Captain (Number One) in the science-fiction
comedy ”Meet Dave”.

The following year, Murphy starred as Evan Danielson, in the comedy ”Imagine That”.

In 2010, Murphy reprised his role of Donkey in ”Shrek Forever After”,the fourth installment of
the franchise.

In 2011, Murphy co-starred Ben Stiller as Darnell ”Slide” Davis in the comedy ”Tower Heist”.

In 2019, he starred as Rudy Ray Moore in the biographical comedy ”Dolemite is my name”.

I’m a fan of Eddie Murphy’s movies, but until now I haven’t realised how many of them there
really are! Let's go watch one, shall we? ☺