Exploring The Incredible Journey Of Eddie Murphy: From Stand-Up To Stardom

Eddie Murphy is a name that resonates with laughter, talent, and a remarkable journey through the entertainment industry. From his humble beginnings in Brooklyn to becoming a global superstar, Murphy's story is one of resilience and passion. He is not just a comedian; he is a multifaceted actor, singer, and producer who has left an indelible mark on Hollywood.

Who Is Eddie Murphy?

Eddie Murphy began doing stand-up comedy as a teenager and later joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. At age 21, Murphy co-starred with Nick Nolte in 48 Hours, and he went on to further box-office success with Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, and Shrek. He continues to star in many movies, including comedies, dramas, and family films.

Early Life

Eddie Regan Murphy was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York. He spent his early years in the projects of Bushwick with his father, Charles, a New York City police officer and amateur comedian, his mother, Lillian, a telephone operator, and his brother Charles. His parents divorced when he was three; five years later, his father died, and his mother went into the hospital for an extended period.

When Murphy was nine years old, his mother married Vernon Lynch, a foreman at a Breyer's ice cream factory, and the family moved to the primarily African American suburb of Roosevelt, Long Island. Murphy watched a lot of television growing up and developed a great skill for impressions, doing such characters as Bugs Bunny, Bullwinkle, and Sylvester the Cat. "My mother says I never talked in my own voice," Murphy later said.

Although he was never a dedicated student, Murphy found a great forum for his verbal agility in grade school, excelling in the popular game of "ranking" — trading witty insults with classmates. Hosting a talent show at the Roosevelt Youth Center at age 15, Murphy delighted his young audience with an impersonation of Al Green. This early success ignited a passion for showbiz, and Murphy began working on his comedy routines after school and performing stand-up at local bars, clubs, and "gong shows." His schoolwork suffered, however, and Murphy had to repeat the 10th grade as a result.

By doubling up on classes and attending summer and night school, he graduated only a couple of months late. Murphy was voted the "most popular" boy in his graduating class. His declared career plan: comedian.

Mainstream Success, 'SNL' Cast Member

Responding to the pleas of his mother, Murphy enrolled at Nassau Community College after high school and worked part-time as a shoe store clerk. He continued to perform in local clubs and eventually worked his way into such New York City venues as the Comic Strip, billing himself as a disciple of the great comedian Richard Pryor.

Although his raunchy, profanity-ridden routines resembled his idol's, Murphy stayed away from drinking, smoking, and drugs, and would later declare to Barbara Walters, "I don't have to sniff cocaine to make me funny."

When Murphy learned that the producers of the popular late-night comedy show, Saturday Night Live, were seeking a Black cast member for the 1980-81 season, he jumped on the opportunity. He auditioned for the part six times and finally earned a place as an extra on the show.

Murphy appeared sporadically throughout the season, until one fateful night when producers realized they had four minutes of airtime remaining and no material. They pushed Murphy before the camera and told him to do his stand-up routine. His improvised performance was called "masterful" by Rolling Stone, and Murphy became one of only two cast members (along with Joe Piscopo) asked to return for the next season.

Movies

'48 Hours'

In 1982, Murphy received a Grammy nomination for a live album of fresh stand-up material called Eddie Murphy: Comedian. The album eventually went gold. That same year, at the age of 21, he also landed his first major motion picture role alongside Nick Nolte in 48 Hours. He approached the role with confidence and ingenuity, convincing director Walter Hill to adjust some of the dialogue to more genuinely depict a Black speaker. His charming and inspired performance as the fast-talking convict stole the film, and 48 Hours grossed over $5 million in its first week.

'Trading Places'

Murphy followed this success with the 1930s style farce Trading Places (1983). Playing alongside fellow SNL alumnus Dan Aykroyd, Murphy's street-wise Billy Ray Valentine becomes the victim, then the victor, of two Wall Street moguls' short-sighted bet. Paramount Pictures proceeded to sign the 23-year-old to a $25 million contract for six pictures.

'Beverly Hills Cop' Franchise

Murphy's next film, Beverly Hills Cop (1984), hit No. 9 on the list of all-time box-office hits. He played bad boy/good cop Axel Foley, a role originally slated for Sylvester Stallone. His performance was a hit with fans and earned the actor a Golden Globe nomination. Murphy went on to make Beverly Hills Cop II in 1987, which received mixed reviews from critics, but major rewards from the box office. His other efforts of this period — including The Golden Child (1986) and his directorial debut, Harlem Nights (1989) — were deemed failures by critics and audiences alike.

'Coming to America'

A highlight of his career during this time was the romantic comedy Coming to America (1988), co-starring Arsenio Hall. In the film, both Murphy and Hall were able to demonstrate their comedic versatility by playing multiple characters. Audiences loved Murphy's performances and the movie became a box-office smash, grossing more than $128 million in the United States alone.

In 1990, Murphy starred in a sequel to 48 Hours, titled Another 48 Hours. The second film did not perform to the same standards as the first, and Murphy decided to take a break from the Hollywood scene.

'Boomerang'

He returned in 1992 as a smooth, impeccably dressed bachelor in Boomerang, co-starring Halle Berry. The film met mixed reviews, but many critics found Murphy's performance as a romantic lead a step in the right direction. He followed the success of the film with Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) and Vampire in Brooklyn (1995), both low performers at the box office.

'The Nutty Professor'

In 1996, Murphy rediscovered his love for over-the-top comedic invention in a hit remake of the Jerry Lewis film The Nutty Professor. Murphy earned a Golden Globe nomination and an Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films Award for his role in the film.

In May 1997, Murphy earned some unfortunate publicity when he was discovered by L.A. police with a transsexual prostitute. He claimed he was merely trying to give the prostitute a ride. The incident made him the target of jokes nonetheless.

Music

Taking advantage of his status as a hot commodity, Murphy in 1985 released his first musical album, How Could it Be? which was produced by industry legend Rick James. The first single off the album, "Party All the Time," peaked at No. 2 on the Billboard Hot 100. Murphy followed with the albums So Happy (1989) and Love's Alright (1993), the latter featuring a collaboration with Michael Jackson on the single "Whatzupwitu," though neither album fared as well as his debut.

Wife, Children and Relationships

Murphy married Nicole Mitchell on March 18, 1993. They have five children together: Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola, and Bella. The couple divorced on April 17, 2006. That year, Murphy began dating singer Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls. On April 3, 2007, Brown gave birth to a daughter, Angel, whom she said was Murphy’s child. Murphy questioned paternity, but a DNA test confirmed he was Angel's father.

On New Year’s Day in 2008, Murphy married Tracey Edmonds, the former wife of Kenneth "Babyface" Edmonds, in Bora Bora. The private ceremony was not legally binding, and Murphy and Edmonds planned to repeat their vows