In 1982, Murphy made his film debut in 48 HRS. as the scene-stealing Reggie Hammond alongside Nick Nolte’s Jack Cates. A highly stylistic action-thriller showcasing Murphy’s acting skills, the film became one of the highest-grossing releases of the year, popularizing the buddy cop genre, and landed Murphy his first Golden Globe nomination.

Murphy quickly followed up with another box-office hit, TRADING PLACES, playing Billy Ray Valentine who teams up with Dan Aykroyd’s Louis Winthorpe to turn the tables on the conniving millionaire Duke brothers.

His next big release, BEVERLY HILLS COP, marked an important milestone – Murphy’s first film as a solo lead and the creation of one of his most popular characters, Axel Foley, a fish-out-of-water Detroit detective tracking down his best friend’s killer in Beverly Hills. The action-comedy debuted at #1 and was the highest-grossing film of 1984.

While breaking records and breaking down barriers in Hollywood, Murphy also released his first comedy album titled “Eddie Murphy,” received Grammy^® nominations for Best Comedy Recording for his debut record and Best R&B Instrumental Performance for “Boogie In Your Butt,” premiered his groundbreaking HBO special DELIRIOUS, won a Grammy^® for his second comedy album titled “Eddie Murphy: Comedian” and released the hit single “Party All the Time.”

In 1987, Murphy debuted EDDIE MURPHY RAW, a 90-minute stand-up comedy special filmed live at the Felt Forum in Madison Square Garden. The extravaganza shot to #1 at the box office in its opening weekend and holds the distinction as the highest-grossing stand-up comedy concert film ever.

The next year, Murphy took to the streets of New York as Prince Akeem, a pampered prince trading his riches for a regular life in hopes of finding true love, in COMING TO AMERICA. He teamed up with Oscar^®-winning makeup artist Rick Baker – in what would become a decades-long creative partnership – to transform into the Crown Prince of Zamunda, Randy Watson of Sexual Chocolate, Saul and barbershop owner Clarence.

Capping a prolific decade, Murphy stepped behind the camera and made his directorial debut with HARLEM NIGHTS, a period comedy he also wrote and starred in, opposite his idols Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx.

Murphy continued to champion projects as a producer, including executive producing the television movie THE KID WHO LOVED CHRISTMAS starring Cicely Tyson and Sammy Davis Jr., and creating and executive producing THE ROYAL FAMILY starring Redd Foxx and Della Reese. He also led star-studded casts in the romantic comedy BOOMERANG and the cult classic VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN.

In 1996, Murphy showcased his one-of-a-kind genius in THE NUTTY PROFESSOR, bringing to life the unforgettable Klump family, alongside his dazzling transformation from Professor Sherman Klump into Buddy Love. The comedic juggernaut took the #1 spot at the box office and won an Academy Award^® for Best Makeup.

Over the course of a few short years, Murphy played a hostage negotiator in METRO, was the voice of Mushu the Dragon in the successful animated epic MULAN, communicated with animals in the blockbuster hit DOCTOR DOLITTLE, spent time behind bars with Martin Lawrence in LIFE, starred as Kit Ramsey and Jiff Ramsey in BOWFINGER and received his fourth Emmy^® nomination for his work on the animated television show THE PJs.

In 2001, Murphy gifted the world one of the most iconic animated characters in the history of animation – the wise-cracking, singing Donkey in the Oscar^®-winning animated film SHREK. For his remarkable performance that perfectly balanced comedic timing and emotional vulnerability, he won an Annie Award and earned a BAFTA nomination. Murphy traveled to Far Far Away as Donkey for SHREK 2, which became the highest-grossing film of 2004, joined Shrek and Puss in Boots in a quest to find an heir in SHREK THE THIRD, and helped Shrek defeat the evil Rumpelstiltskin in SHREK FOREVER AFTER.

His impressive slate of family films grew with his leading roles in DR. DOLITTLE 2, DADDY DAY CARE and THE HAUNTED MANSION, all of which became major hits with audiences of all ages.

In 2006, Murphy’s breadth and depth of talent was on full display in his dynamic performance as James “Thunder” Early in DREAMGIRLS, a film adaptation of the Tony Award^®-winning Broadway play. Murphy won the Golden Globe Award, Screen Actors Guild Award and Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture, and earned his first Academy Award^® nomination in the same category.

Murphy went on to collaborate with his brother Charlie to write and produce the slapstick comedy NORBIT. He continued to defy expectations by playing an alien in the science fiction film MEET DAVE, a workaholic father in the fantasy comedy IMAGINE THAT, a thief in the star-studded comedy TOWER HEIST and a literary agent in the dramedy A THOUSAND WORDS. Murphy then released several singles, including the reggae-inspired songs “Red Light” and “Oh Jah Jah.”

In 2015, Murphy was awarded the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. In announcing the honor, the Kennedy Center said, “Through his appearances on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, groundbreaking stand-up comedy, and work as a movie star, Eddie Murphy has shown that like Mark Twain, he was years ahead of his time.”

For his next project, Murphy starred in his first character-driven indie drama, MR. CHURCH, about a powerful friendship between a young girl and a talented cook. The inspirational drama, which premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival, showcased Murphy’s dramatic acting, and Indiewire called it one of Murphy’s best performances.

Murphy captivated audiences once more when he donned a polyester leisure suit and brought Rudy Ray Moore to life for DOLEMITE IS MY NAME. For his masterful portrayal of the legendary underground comic personality, Murphy earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy and a Critics Choice Association nomination for Best Actor.

That same year, Murphy brought his signature style back to SNL, hosting for the first time since 1984. The episode featured some of Murphy’s iconic characters – Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat, Gumby and Velvet Jones – and boasted the highest ratings in years for the late-night comedy show. For his critically acclaimed performance, Murphy won the Emmy^® Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.

Continuing his domination of franchises, Murphy summoned the royal family for COMING 2 AMERICA, the long-awaited sequel to his 1988 box-office hit, and recruited his partners in blue for an action-packed reunion in BEVERLY HILLS COP: AXEL F, which debuted on Netflix in the #1 spot. Between the celebrated films, Murphy was presented with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association’s highest honor, The Cecil B. DeMille Award, for his contributions to film.

Most recently, Murphy graced Studio 8H once again for SNL50: THE ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL, partnered with fellow SNL alum Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer for the action-comedy THE PICKUP, and welcomed audiences into his home in BEING EDDIE, a Netflix documentary helmed by two-time Oscar^® winner Angus Wall. In 2027, Murphy will reprise his role as Donkey in the next installment of the hugely successful SHREK franchise.

And we can’t wait to see what’s next.

—————————————————————————————————————

Note: The following letter is taken from the foreword of the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute Book.

The pages that follow contain messages from Eddie Murphy’s admirers – fellow artists, cinephiles, those who make films and those who merely worship them, and peers who have watched this man perform his alchemy. He turns the profane into poetry. The absurd becomes art.

He burst onto Saturday Night Live with raw energy and a wit sharp enough to draw blood from a carefully constructed pomposity. He didn’t tell jokes so much as inhabit them.

What distinguishes Eddie’s talent has been the gag-writer’s instinct that apparently cannot be switched off. Solemn moments are not safe from it. The comedy muscles, once developed to this degree, will flex whether one invites them to or not.

Just a few of the films that cemented his legacy: Beverly Hills Cop turned an entire genre on its ear. The banana-in-the-tailpipe business has entered the culture in ways that no banana, and few tailpipes, could have anticipated. That voice delivered zingers you still hear on the street. Don’t get me started on The Nutty Professor. Sherman Klump alone would represent a career highlight for most. That Eddie also gave us the oily Buddy Love in the same film suggests a remarkable range worthy of Brando. In Dolemite Is My Name, he resurrected Rudy Ray Moore with a reverence and a riot that reminded us that comedy is, in fact, timeless. A bridge in time from vaudeville to viral meme.

He has also navigated Hollywood’s peculiar obstacle course with a grace that speaks to something deeper than professionalism. In an era that frequently mistakes snark for wit, he offers the genuine article: a humorist’s brain, capable of holding high intellect and low comedy at the same time without dropping either.

And so, as the AFI bestows this much-deserved Life Achievement Award, we are celebrating not merely the laughs – billions, I should think – but the particular combination of gifts that produced them. The eye and ear for human comedy; he has reflected our collective madness with wit and something that looks, on close inspection, a lot like wisdom.

Full disclosure: I know this man. I have been to his house.

This still surprises me slightly. I said something very like it, once before, about a friend of mine named Groucho Marx – introducing him at Carnegie Hall. One does not entirely accustom oneself to the company of genuine originals.

It has been suggested that the evening Eddie Murphy and I appeared together on the David Letterman program in 1985 produced what a fair-minded observer might describe as eight minutes of television where, mostly, we had fun together, as we did later on my show. I am proud to report that I was present. I am prouder still to call Eddie my friend.

This book enshrines a legacy. We hope he savors it, as we have savored his work.

With profound admiration,

Dick Cavett