Eddie Murphy
Hired by 'Saturday Night Live' in 1980 at age 19, Murphy is widely credited with saving the struggling show. By 1982 he leapt to film with '48 Hrs.,' and 1984's 'Beverly Hills Cop' became the year's highest-grossing release, making him a global box-office superstar.
Brooklyn Beginnings
Edward Regan Murphy was born in 1961 in Brooklyn and raised in Bushwick. The son of a transit officer who was also an amateur comedian, he began doing stand-up as a teenager after discovering Richard Pryor's albums.
Saving SNL, Conquering Film
Murphy joined 'Saturday Night Live' in 1980 at nineteen and became its breakout star. His film debut in '48 Hrs.' (1982) and the blockbuster 'Beverly Hills Cop' (1984) made him one of the decade's biggest box-office draws.
Reinvention and Honors
Murphy reinvented himself with family hits like 'The Nutty Professor' and 'Shrek,' then earned an Oscar nomination for 'Dreamgirls.' He received the Mark Twain Prize in 2015 and the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2026.
Career Timeline
- 1961Born in Brooklyn, New York City
- 1980Joins 'Saturday Night Live' cast at nineteen
- 1982Film debut in '48 Hrs.' with Nick Nolte
- 1983Stars in hit comedy 'Trading Places'
- 1984'Beverly Hills Cop' tops the box office
- 1988Writes and stars in 'Coming to America'
- 1996'The Nutty Professor' revives his career
- 2001Voices Donkey in DreamWorks' 'Shrek'
- 2007Oscar-nominated for 'Dreamgirls'
- 2015Receives the Mark Twain Prize for humor
Biggest Hits
- Murphy is widely credited with saving 'Saturday Night Live' from cancellation during the early 1980s.
- Hearing Richard Pryor's comedy at age fifteen inspired his decision to become a comedian.
Portrait: David Shankbone · Public domain · via Wikimedia Commons