Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy is an American comedian, actor, writer, producer and director known for his work in stand-up comedy, Saturday Night Live, feature films and voice acting. His career has been recognized by major film, television, music and cultural institutions.

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About Eddie Murphy

Profile information current to 2026-08-22.

United States · Comedian, Actor, Writer

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Also known as: Edward Regan Murphy
Known for: Stand-up comedy; Television comedy; Feature-film comedy; Voice acting
Country: United States

Comedian
Actor
Writer
Producer
Film director

At a glance

Murphy joined the Saturday Night Live cast in 1980 at age 19 after beginning his career as a stand-up comedian in New York.
His screen work includes starring roles in 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor and Dreamgirls, along with voice roles in Shrek and Mulan.
For Dreamgirls, Murphy won a Golden Globe and received an Academy Award nomination for supporting actor.
His career honors include the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, induction into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, the Cecil B. DeMille Award and the AFI Life Achievement Award.

Stand-up comedy and Saturday Night Live

Born Edward Regan Murphy in Brooklyn, New York, in 1961, Murphy began performing stand-up comedy in New York before joining Saturday Night Live in 1980 at age 19. His work on the program brought him national recognition, and he later won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series after returning to host it.

Film, voice acting and directing

Murphy became a leading performer in feature-film comedies including 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America and The Nutty Professor. His work also includes the dramatic musical Dreamgirls and the voice roles of Donkey in Shrek and Mushu in Mulan. In 1989, he made his feature-film directing debut with Harlem Nights, which he also wrote and starred in.

Awards and institutional recognition

Murphy won a Grammy for the comedy album Eddie Murphy: Comedian and received both a Golden Globe and an Academy Award nomination for his performance in Dreamgirls. His broader career recognition includes the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, induction into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, the Cecil B. DeMille Award and the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.

Timeline

1961-04-03 Born in Brooklyn, New York, as Edward Regan Murphy.
1980 Joined the Saturday Night Live cast at age 19.
1984 Won the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for Eddie Murphy: Comedian.
1989 Made his feature-film directing debut with Harlem Nights, which he also wrote and starred in.
2007 Received an Academy Award nomination for supporting actor and won a Golden Globe for Dreamgirls.
2015 Received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
2020 Won an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for hosting Saturday Night Live.
2021 Was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame.
2023 Received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 80th Golden Globe Awards.
2026-04-18 Received the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.

Additional verified details

Current context

The American Film Institute identifies Murphy as the 2026 recipient of its 51st AFI Life Achievement Award and states that its tribute special is available through Netflix. This records an institutional status as of the observation date rather than providing a general current-news update.

Biographical facts

Murphy's full name is Edward Regan Murphy. He was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York.
After beginning as a stand-up comedian in New York, Murphy joined the Saturday Night Live cast in 1980 at age 19.
His acting credits include 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor and Dreamgirls, as well as voice roles including Donkey in Shrek and Mushu in Mulan.
Murphy made his feature-film directing debut with Harlem Nights in 1989 and also wrote and starred in the film.
For Dreamgirls, Murphy received an Academy Award nomination for Actor in a Supporting Role and won a Golden Globe.
Murphy won the 2020 Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for hosting Saturday Night Live.