Eddie Murphy

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April 3, 1961

Edward Regan Murphy

Spouses:

Nicole Mitchell (1993–2006) (divorced) 5 children

Tracey Edmonds (2008) (annulled)

Domestic partner:

Melanie Brown (2006–07) 1 child

Actor:

Tower Heist (post-production) (2011)

A Thousand Words (2011)

Shrek Forever After (2010)

Donkey's Caroling Christmas-tacular (short) (2010)

Imagine That (2009)

Meet Dave (2008)

Shrek the Halls (TV short) (2007)

Shrek the Third (2007)

Norbit (2007)

Shrek: Smash n' Crash Racing (Video Game) (2006)

Dreamgirls (2006)

Far Far Away Idol (video short) (2004)

Father of the Pride (TV series) (voice) (2004)

Shrek2 (voice) (2004)

The Haunted Mansion (2003)

Shrek 4-D (short) (voice) (2003)

Daddy Day Care (2003)

I Spy (2002)

The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)

Showtime (2002)

Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)

Shrek (voice) (2001)

Shrek in the Swamp Karaoke Dance Party (video short) (voice) (2001)

The PJs (TV series) (voice) (29 episodes, 1999-2001)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

Bowfinger (1999)

Life (1999)

Holy Man (1998)

Doctor Dolittle (1998)

Mulan (voice) (1998)

Metro (1997)

The Nutty Professor (1996)

Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)

Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)

Dangerous: The Short Films (video short) (1993)

The Distinguished Gentleman (1992)

Boomerang (1992)

Another 48 Hrs. (1990)

Harlem Nights (1989)

Coming To America (1988)

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

The Golden Child (1986)

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

Best Defense (1984)

Saturday Night Live (TV series) (67 episodes, 1980-1984)

The Joe Piscopo Special (TV movie) (1984)

Trading-Places (1983)

48 Hrs. (1982)

Writer:

Norbit (screenplay / story) (2007)

The PJs (TV series) (41 episodes, 1999-2001)

Saturday Night Live: The Best of Eddie Murphy (video documentary) (uncredited) (1998)

Vampire in Brooklyn (story) (1995)

Boomerang (story) (1992)

The Royal Family (TV series) (15 episodes, 1991-1992)

A Party for Richard Pryor (TV special) (1991)

Another 48 Hrs. (story) (1990)

Harlem Nights (writer) (1989)

CBS Summer Playhouse (TV series) (1989)

Coming To America (story) (1988)

Eddie Murphy Raw (documentary) (1987)

Beverly Hills Cop II (story) (1987)

Saturday Night Live (TV series) (39 episodes, 1982-1984)

Eddie Murphy Delirious (TV documentary) (1983)

Producer:

Tower Heist (producer) (post-production) (2011)

Norbit (producer) (2007)

The PJs (TV series) (executive producer) (41 episodes, 1999-2001)

Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (executive producer) (2000)

Life (producer) (1999)

Vampire in Brooklyn (producer) (1995)

Move the Crowd (TV movie) (executive producer) (1992)

The Royal Family (TV series) (15 episodes, 1991-1992)

Clippers (TV short) (executive producer) (1991)

The Kid Who Loved Christmas (TV movie) (executive producer) (1990)

Harlem Nights (executive producer) (1989)

CBS Summer Playhouse (TV series) (executive producer) (1989)

What's Alan Watching? (TV special) (executive producer) (1989)

The Best of Eddie Murphy: Saturday Night Live (video documentary) (executive producer) (1989)

Eddie Murphy Raw (documentary) (executive producer) (1987)

Uptown Comedy Express (TV special) (executive producer) (1987)

Eddie Murphy Delirious (TV documentary) (producer) (1983)

Director:

Harlem Nights (1989)

As Himself:

The Comedy Awards (TV movie) (2011)

Nickelodeon's Kids Choice Awards 2011 (TV movie) (2011)

Mark at the Movies (TV series) (1 episode, 2010)

The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (TV series) (3 episodes, 1992 - 2010)

EntertainmentTonight (TV series) (9 episodes, 2007-2010)

Late Show with David Letterman (TV series) (4 episodes, 1995-2010)

America's Next Top Model (TV series) (1 episode, 2009)

The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (TV series) (1 episode, 2009)

The 81st Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (2009)

Make 'Em Laugh: The Funny Business of America (TV series documentary) (2009)

Three Days in Cannes (video short) (2009)

Biography (TV series documentary) (2 episodes, 1996-2008)

Hollywood Singing and Dancing: A Musical History (video documentary) (2008)

Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards (TV special) (2008)

HypaSpace (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2007)

HBO First Look (TV series documentary) (8 episodes, 2001-2007)

The World Awaits: De La Hoya vs. Mayweather (TV movie) (2007)

Building the Dream (video documentary) (2007)

The 79th Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (2007)

Live from the Red Carpet: The 2007 Golden Globe Awards (TV movie) (2007)

The 64th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special) (2007)

Inside the Actors Studio (TV series) (1 episode, 2006)

Corazón de... (TV series) (1 episode, 2006)

Inside Edition (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2006)

The Oprah Winfrey Show (TV series) (2 episodes, 2004-2006)

The Contender (TV series) (1 episode, 2005)

Meet the Cast of Shrek 2 (video documentary short) (2004)

Film '72 (TV series) (1 episode, 2004)

Tinseltown TV (TV series) (1 episode, 2003)

I Spy: The Slugafest (video documentary short) (2003)

One-Hit Wonders (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2003)

Comedy Central Canned Ham (TV series) (1 episode, 2002)

The Nick Cannon Show (TV series) (1 episode, 2002)

Inside TV Land: African Americans in Television (TV documentary) (2002)

Journeys in Black (TV series documentary) (1 episode, 2002)

Lux (TV series) (1 episode, 2000)

Nyhetsmorgon (TV series) (1 episode, 2001)

Planet of the Apes: Rule the Planet (TV documentary short) (2001)

Creating a Fairy Tale World: The Making of 'Shrek' (TV documentary) (2001)

2000 Blockbuster Entertainment Awards (TV special) (2000)

Celebrities Caught on Camera: Volume 1 (video documentary) (1999)

The 54th Annual Golden Globe Awards (TV special) (1997)

The Rosie O'Donnell Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1997)

The 23rd Annual People’s Choice Awards (TV special) (1997)

Cinema 3 (TV series) (1 episode, 1996)

27th NAACP Image Awards (TV special) (1996)

A Century of Science Fiction (video documentary) (1996)

Clive Anderson All Talk (TV series) (1 episode, 1996)

Michael Jackson: Video Greatest Hits - HIStory (video documentary) (1995)

Who Makes You Laugh? (TV special) (1995)

The Essence Awards (TV special) (1994)

When Stars Were Kids (TV movie) (1994)

1993 Essence Awards (TV special) (1993)

The 7th Annual Soul Train Music Awards (TV special) (1993)

1993 MTV Movie Awards (TV special) (1993)

The Road to Hollywood (TV documentary) (1993)

The 1992 Billboard Music Awards (TV special) (1992)

Late Night with David Letterman (TV series) (4 episodes, 1984-1992)

Ebony/Jet Showcase (TV series) (2 episodes, 1992)

MTV Video Music Awards 1992 (TV special) (2 episodes, 1992)

1992 MTV Movie Awards (TV special) (1992)

A Party for Richard Pryor (TV special) (1991)

Walt Disney World's 20th Anniversary Celebration (TV special) (1991)

The Howard Stern Show (TV series) (1 episode, 1990)

Sammy Davis, Jr. 60th Anniversary Celebration (TV special) (1990)

Lou Rawls Parade of Stars (TV series) (1 episode, 1989)

The Arsenio Hall Show (TV series) (4 episodes, 1989)

The 15th Annual People’s Choice Awards (TV special) (1989)

The 3rd Annual Soul Train Music Awards (TV special) (1989)

What's Alan Watching? (TV special) (1989)

The 16th Annual American Music Awards (TV special) (1989)

21st NAACP Image Awards (TV special) (1989)

The 60th Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (1988)

Eddie Murphy Raw (documentary) (1987)

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (TV series) (5 episodes, 1982-1987)

Uptown Comedy Express (TV special) (1987)

The 1st Annual American Comedy Awards (TV movie) (1987)

The Joe Piscopo New Jersey Special (TV special) (1986)

An All-Star Celebration Honoring Martin Luther King Jr. (TV documentary) (1986)

1985 MTV Video Music Awards (TV special) (1985)

B.B. King: Into the Night (video documentary short) (1985)

Saturday Night Live (TV series) (1982-1984)

MTV 1st Annual Video Music Awards (TV special) (1984)

The 35th Annual Emmy Awards (TV special) (1983)

1983 The 55th Annual Academy Awards (TV special) (1983)

1983 Eddie Murphy Delirious (TV documentary) (1983)

1978 The Big Laff Off (TV series) (1981)

Academy Awards

2007 Nominated Oscar Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for: Dreamgirls (2006)

Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films, USA

2002 Nominated Saturn Award Best Supporting Actor for: Shrek (2001)

1997 Won Saturn Award Best Actor for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

American Cinematheque Gala Tribute

1987 Won AmericanCinematheque Award

Annie Awards

2008 Nominated Annie Best Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production for: Shrek the Halls (2007) (TV)

2001 Won Annie Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting by a Male Performer in an Animated Feature Production for: Shrek (2001)

1999 Nominated Annie Outstanding Individual Achievement for Voice Acting in an Animated Television Production for: "The PJs" (1999)

BAFTA Awards

2002 Nominated BAFTA Film Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role for: Shrek (2001)

BET Awards

2007 Nominated BET Award Best Actor

2002 Nominated BET Award Best Actor

Black Reel Awards

2007 Nominated Black Reel Best Supporting Actor for: Dreamgirls (2006)

2002 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical - Best Supporting Actor for: Shrek (2001)

2000 Nominated Black Reel Theatrical - Best Actor for: Bowfinger (1999)

Blockbuster Entertainment Awards

2001 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actor – Comedy for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

2000 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Comedy Team for: Bowfinger (1999). Shared with: Steve Martin

2000 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Comedy Team for: Life (1999). Shared with: Martin Lawrence

1999 Nominated Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actor – Comedy for: Doctor Dolittle (1998)

1997 Won Blockbuster Entertainment Award Favorite Actor – Comedy for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards

2007 Won Critics Choice Award Best Supporting Actor for: Dreamgirls (2006)

2007 Nominated Critics Choice Award Best Acting Ensemble for: Dreamgirls (2006). Shared with: Hinton Battle, Jamie Foxx, Anika Noni Rose, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles, Sharon Leal, Danny Glover & Keith Robinson

Central Ohio Film Critics Association

2007 Won COFCA Award Best Supporting Actor for: Dreamgirls (2006)

Chicago Film Critics Association Awards

2006 Nominated CFCA Award Best Supporting Actor for: Dreamgirls (2006)

Emmy Awards

1999 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Animated Program (For Programming One Hour or Less) for: "The PJs" (1999). Shared with: Steve Tompkins, Larry Wilmore, Brian Grazer, Ron Howard, Tony Krantz, Will Vinton & Tom Turpin (executive producers); Bill Freiberger & David Flebotte (supervising producers); Al Jean & Mike Reiss (consulting producers); Les Firestein (consulting producer/writer); Donald R. Beck (co-producer); Mark Gustafson (supervising director); Mary Sandell, David Bleiman, Michael Price, J. Michael Mendel (20th Century Fox Television) for: episode "He's Gotta Have It"

1984 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program for: "Saturday Night Live" (1975) (NBC)

1984 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program for: "Saturday Night Live" (1975). Shared with: Andrew Smith, James Belushi, Andy Breckman, Robin Duke, Adam Green, Mary Gross, Nate Herman, Tim Kazurinsky, Kevin Kelton, Andrew Kurtzman, Michael C. McCarthy, Pamela Norris, Margaret Oberman, Joe Piscopo, Herbert Sargent, Bob Tischler & Eliot Wald (writers) (NBC) for: show #378

1983 Nominated Emmy Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series for: "Saturday Night Live" (1975) (NBC)

Golden Globes, USA

2007 Won Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture for: Dreamgirls (2006)

1997 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

1985 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for: Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

1984 Nominated Golden Globe Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy/Musical for: Trading Places (1983)

1983 Nominated Golden Globe New Star of the Year in a Motion Picture – Male for: 48 Hrs. (1982)

Image Awards

2007 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture for: Dreamgirls (2006)

1997 Nominated Image Award Outstanding Lead Actor in a Motion Picture for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

1990 Won Special Award Entertainer of the Year

Kids Choice Awards

2011 Won Blimp Award Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie for: Shrek Forever After (2010)

2008 Won Blimp Award Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie for: Shrek the Third (2007)

2008 Nominated Blimp Award Favorite Male Movie Star for: Norbit (2007)

2005 Nominated Blimp Award Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie for: Shrek 2 (2004)

2004 Nominated Blimp Award Favorite Movie Actor for: The Haunted Mansion (2003) and Daddy Day Care (2003)

2002 Won Blimp Award Favorite Voice from an Animated Movie for: Shrek (2001)

2002 Nominated Blimp Award Favorite Male Movie Star for: Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001)

2001 Nominated Blimp Award Favorite Movie Actor for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

1999 Nominated Blimp Award Favorite Movie Actor for: Doctor Dolittle (1998)

1988 Won Kids' Choice Award Favorite Movie Actor for: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

Los Angeles Film Critics Association Awards

1996 2nd place LAFCA Award Best Actor for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

MTV Movie Awards

2002 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Comedic Performance for: Shrek (2001)

2002 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best On-Screen Team for: Shrek (2001). Shared with: Cameron Diaz & Mike Myers

2001 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Comedic Performance for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

1997 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Comedic Performance for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

1997 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Male Performance for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

1993 Nominated MTV Movie Award Best Comedic Performance for: Boomerang (1992)

National Society of Film Critics Awards, USA

1997 Won NSFC Award Best Actor for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

Online Film Critics Society Awards

2007 Nominated OFCS Award Best Supporting Actor for: Dreamgirls (2006)

People’s Choice Awards

2002 Won People's Choice Award Favorite Motion Picture Star in a Comedy

1989 Won People's Choice Award Favorite Comedy Motion Picture Actor

1985 Won People's Choice Award Favorite All-Around Male Entertainer. Tied with Tom Selleck

Satellite Awards

2001 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Comedy or Musical for: Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000)

1997 Nominated Golden Satellite Award Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Comedy or Musical for: The Nutty Professor (1996)

Screen Actors Guild Awards

2007 Won Actor Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role for: Dreamgirls (2006)

2007 Nominated Actor Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture for: Dreamgirls (2006). Shared with: Hinton Battle, Jamie Foxx, Danny Glover, Jennifer Hudson, Beyoncé Knowles, Sharon Leal, Keith Robinson & Anika Noni Rose

ShoWest Convention, USA

1992 Won Special Award Star of the Decade
1985 Won Special Award Star of the Year

Walk of Fame

1996 Won Star on the Walk of Fame Motion Picture (June 26, 1996). 7000 Hollywood Blvd.

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Eddie Murphy began as a stand-up comic at Manhattan's showcase, the Comic Strip Live, before he played on TV's Saturday Night Live. There he soon established himself as a comic talent in the mold of his idol, Richard Pryor, and went on to become a feature player on the show from 1980 to 1984. Offering observational humor, amplified through a uniquely irritating laugh, the resulting sketches, impersonations, jokes, and overall attitude mainstreamed him as one of the most sought-after performers of the 1980s and early 1990s.

The signal of things to come was Eddie Murphy Delirious (1983), his concert movie, but it was his role as Detroit policeman Detective Axel Foley in the box-office gold Beverly Hills Cop (1984) that connected him with the popular pulse. Following that success with another, Coming to America (1988), he commanded a high salary for his work. With this recognition, he branched out into film production as writer, director, and producer of Harlem Nights (1989), but the film garnered little favor from the critics and public alike.

After another hit, Boomerang (1992), a few commercial flops such as The Distinguished Gentlemen (1992) and Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), some real-life indiscretions, the complications of fatherhood, and eventual divorce, Murphy faces midlife with a sanitized version of his youthful self, along with a series of family-friendly performances. His leading role in the remake of Jerry Lewis's The Nutty Professor (1996) is the new signature, later followed by Doctor Dolittle (1998), and the voice of the irritating but loyal Donkey in Shrek (2001), and its sequels. Although this new chapter is a far cry from the strikingly funny man from 20 years earlier, it does represent a way forward, minus the anger and profanity.

Salaries:

Tower Heist (2011) $7,500,000
Shrek Forever After (2010) $4,000,000 (Back end bonus)
Shrek 2 (2004) $10,000,000
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) $20,000,000
Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) $20,000,000
Shrek (2001) $3,000,000
Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) $20,000,000 (and 20% of the gross)
Doctor Dolittle (1998) $17,500,000
The Nutty Professor (1996) $16,000,000
Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) $15,000,000
Coming to America (1988) $8,000,000
Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) $8,000,000
Beverly Hills Cop (1984) $14,000,000
Best Defense (1984) $1,000,000

Every bad decision I've made has been based on money. I grew up in the projects and you don't turn down money there. You take it, because you never know when it's all going to end. I made Cop III because they offered me $15 million. That $15 million was worth having Roger Ebert's thumb up my ass.

[on Richard Pryor, Charlie Chaplin, Bill Cosby and George Carlin being his greatest influences]: I feel like those are the most brilliant comic minds ever. You can draw a line from them to anyone who's trying to do comedy - or just be funny - today, including me.

Set a new Razzie Award record for most nominations by one person in a single year, with five nominations total.

He doesn't drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and the only drug he takes is caffeine.

He paid for the funeral of comedic inspiration Redd Foxx.