Eddie Murphy Lifestyle, Biography, Age, Height, Marriage, Contact & Information

Eddie Murphy Lifestyle, Biography, Age, Height, Marriage, Contact & Information

Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy started doing stand-up as a teenager. He became a popular cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live’ and starred in several box office hits.

Who is Eddie Murphy?

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

Youth

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

When Murphy was nine, his mother married Vernon Lynch, a foreman at a Breyer ice cream factory, and the family moved to the predominantly African-American suburb of Roosevelt, Long Island. Murphy watched a lot of television growing up and developed a great skill for impressions, playing characters such as Bugs Bunny, Bullwinkle and Sylvester the Cat. “My mom says I never spoke in my own voice,” Murphy later said.

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

By doubling his classes and attending summer and evening school, he only graduated a few months late. Murphy was voted the “most popular” boy in his class. His declared career project: comedian.

Mainstream Success Cast Member ‘SNL’

Responding to his mother’s pleas, Murphy enrolled in Nassau Community College after high school and worked part-time as a shoe store clerk. He continued to perform in local clubs and eventually made his way to New York venues such as comics, portraying himself as a follower of comedian great Richard Pryor.

Although his raunchy, profanity-riddled routines resembled those of his idol, Murphy avoided drinking, smoking, and doing drugs, and later told Barbara Walters, “I don’t have to snort cocaine to make myself funny. »

When Murphy learned that the producers of the popular late-night comedy show, Saturday Night Live, were looking for a black cast member for the 1980-81 season, he jumped at the chance. He auditioned for the part six times, and eventually earned a spot as an extra on the show.

Murphy appeared sporadically throughout the season, until one fateful night when the producers realized they had four minutes of airtime left and no material. They pushed Murphy in front of 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 following season.

Murphy became Saturday Night Live’s strongest comedic presence, creating such memorable characters as Mister Robinson, an urban television version of Mister Rogers; an older version of the Little Rascals character, Buckwheat; and a convict and illiterate poet named Tyrone Green. He also continued his skillful impersonations, adding Bill Cosby, Muhammad Ali, James Brown, Jerry Lewis and Stevie Wonder to his repertoire. Murphy has been criticized for his satirical characterizations based on black stereotypes. He defended his performances, saying his characters were far too absurd and abstract to be taken seriously.

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 film 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 truly portray a black speaker. His charming and inspired performance as the fast-talking convict stole the movie, and 48 Hours grossed over $5 million in its first week.

‘Stock exchanges’

Murphy followed this success with the 1930s-style farce Trading Places (1983). Playing alongside former SNL student Dan Aykroyd, Murphy’s street sage Billy Ray Valentine becomes the victim, then the victor, of the short-sighted gamble of two Wall Street moguls. Paramount Pictures has signed the 23-year-old a six-picture deal for $25 million.

‘Beverly Hills Cop’ Franchise

Murphy’s next film, Beverly Hills Cop (1984), reached 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 box office accolades. His other efforts from this period – including The Golden Child (1986) and his directorial debut, Harlem Nights (1989) – were considered failures by critics and audiences.

‘Coming to America’

A highlight of his career at this time was the romantic comedy Coming to America (1988), starring Arsenio Hall. In the film, Murphy and Hall were able to demonstrate their comedic versatility by playing multiple characters. Audiences loved Murphy’s performances, and the film became a box office success, grossing over $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, starring Halle Berry. The film was met with mixed reviews, but many critics thought Murphy’s performance as the romantic lead was a step in the right direction. He followed film success with Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) and Vampire in Brooklyn (1995), both of which did poorly at the box office.

“The Nutty Professor”

In 1996, Murphy rediscovered his love for over-the-top comic 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 gained unfortunate publicity when he was discovered by Los Angeles police with a transsexual prostitute. He claimed he was simply trying to drive the prostitute. The incident nonetheless made him the butt of jokes.

‘Mulan’, ‘Doctor Doolittle’ and ‘Bowfinger’

Despite the scandal in her personal life, Murphy continued to act in a variety of family films. He provided the voice of Mushu the Lizard in Disney’s animated picture Mulan (1998) to huge critical acclaim, and also starred alongside several animals in Doctor Doolittle (1998). In 1999 he headlined the comedy Bowfinger with Steve Martin, who also wrote the screenplay, and the following year Murphy played all six main characters in Nutty Professor II: The Klumps. During this time, he also voiced Superintendent Thurgood Stubbs on the animated show The PJs, for which he served as an executive producer.

‘Shrek’ and ‘Daddy Day Care’

In the summer of 2001, Murphy had two more box office hits, starring in Dr. Doolittle 2 and lending his voice to the character Donkey in the animated feature Shrek, also featuring the voices of Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz. In 2003, Murphy starred in another family comedy, this time as the overworked babysitter in Daddy Day Care. The following year, he revived Donkey for the hit sequel Shrek 2.

‘Dreamgirls’, ‘Norbit’ and ‘Tower Heist’

In 2006, Murphy signed on for what was arguably his most demanding film to date, a screen adaptation of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls, starring Jennifer Hudson. His performance as soul singer James “Thunder” Early earned him a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination. The actor then quickly returned to comedic roles for Norbit and Shrek the Third in 2007. In 2011, Murphy appeared in the comedy Tower Heist with Ben Stiller and Casey Affleck, and two years later starred in Evil received A Thousand Words.

‘M. Church’ and ‘Dolemite Is My Name’

Seemingly choosing his roles more carefully, Murphy returned to the big screen in 2016 as the mysterious titular Mr. Church character. This drama also drew mostly negative reviews, although Murphy was praised for his performance. Three years later, he resurfaced for Dolemite Is My Name, based on the life of comedian Rudy Ray Moore.

Music

Taking advantage of its flagship status, in 1985 Murphy released his first musical album, How Could it Be? which was produced by industry legend Rick James. The album’s lead single, “Party All the Time”, peaked at number two 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”, although no album has 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 Spice Girls singer Melanie Brown. 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 Years Day 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 on American soil. However, the couple released a statement that they had jointly spoken out against a legal ceremony.

In 2012, Murphy began dating Paige Butcher, and four years later the couple welcomed a daughter, Izzy. Shortly after news of another pregnancy was announced, Murphy and Butcher got engaged in September 2018. They had son Max in late November, giving Murphy a total of 10 children from his relationship.

In 2015, Murphy received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which “recognizes people who have impacted American society in a way similar to that of the 19th-century novelist and essayist better known as Mark Twain,” according to the John F. Kennedy. Center for the Performing Arts, which presents the award.

Brother

Murphy’s only sibling and older brother, writer and Chappelle’s Show star Charlie Murphy, died of leukemia in April 2017. Upon Charlie’s death, Murphy released a statement: ‘Our hearts are heavy with the loss today. today of our son, brother, father, uncle and friend Charlie. Charlie has filled our family with love and laughter and not a day will pass where his presence will not be missed.