Eddie Murphy

Murphy made his debut in the second episode of the 1980-1981 season, hosted by Malcolm McDowell, as an extra in a skit called "In Search of the Negro Republican". Two weeks later, Murphy had his first speaking role as Raheem Abdul Muhummad on "Weekend Update". He was then called on for more work in later episodes, and was soon raised to the status of full cast member.

Despite Murphy's participation, the 1980-1981 season was considered such a disaster that NBC fired Doumanian and everybody in the cast, with the exception of Murphy and Joe Piscopo. Whereas Murphy had rarely been featured during Doumanian's tenure, he became a break-out star under Doumanian's replacement, Dick Ebersol. His well-known character creations include the former child movie star Buckwheat, a life-size version of the Gumby toy character and an inner-city black version of Mr. Rogers known as "Mr. Robinson". Murphy also performed celebrity impressions, such as Stevie Wonder and James Brown. Murphy left the show midway through the 1983–1984 season, appearing in filmed sketches for the remainder of that season.

Early acting career

In 1982, Murphy made his big screen debut in the "48 Hrs." alongside Nick Nolte. The movie was perhaps most notable for two scenes: 1) a scene involving Murphy (on a bet with Nolte) terrorizing a redneck bar, and 2) a scene in which Murphy, in a jail cell, sings "Roxanne" by The Police loudly and out of key while listening to the song on headphones. "48 Hrs." proved to be a smash hit when it was released in the Christmas season of 1982. Nolte was scheduled to host the December 11, 1982 Christmas episode of "Saturday Night Live", but became too ill to host, so Murphy took over. He became the only cast member to host while still a regular. Murphy opened the show with the phrase, "Live from New York, It's the Eddie Murphy Show!"

The following year, Murphy starred in "Trading Places" alongside fellow SNL alumnus Dan Akyroyd. The movie marked the first of Murphy's collaborations with director John Landis (who also directed Murphy in "Coming to America" and "Beverly Hills Cop III") and proved to be an even greater box office success than "48 Hrs". In 1984, Murphy starred in the successful action film "Beverly Hills Cop". The film was Murphy's first full-fledged starring vehicle, originally intended to star Sylvester Stallone. "Beverly Hills Cop" grossed over $200 million at the box office and is the 38th highest-grossing film of all time as of 2008, and is the third highest grossing "R" rated film of all-time (after "The Exorcist" and "The Godfather"), when both figures are adjusted for ticket price inflation. [ [http://www.boxofficemojo.com/alltime/adjusted.htm All Time Box Office Adjusted for Ticket Price Inflation ] ]

Also in 1984, Murphy appeared in "Best Defense", co-starring Dudley Moore. Murphy, who was credited as a "Strategic Guest Star", was added to the film after an original version was completed but tested poorly with audiences. "Best Defense" was a major financial and critical disappointment. When he hosted "SNL", Murphy joined the chorus of those bashing "Best Defense", calling it "the worst movie in the history of everything". Murphy has also been rumored to be initially a part of hits such as "Ghostbusters" (featuring his "Trading Places" co-star Dan Aykroyd and fellow "SNL" alumnus Bill Murray). The part that was originally written with Murphy in mind ultimately went to Ernie Hudson. Murphy was also offered a part in 1986's "", a role that, after being heavily re-written from comic relief to love interest, ultimately went to future "7th Heaven" star Catherine Hicks. By this point [according to the autobiography of the film's director and co-star, Leonard Nimoy] Murphy's near-exclusive contract with Paramount Pictures rivaled "Star Trek" as Paramount's most lucrative franchise.

Also in 1986, Murphy starred in the supernatural comedy, "The Golden Child". "The Golden Child" was originally intended to be a serious adventure picture starring Mel Gibson. After Gibson turned the role down, the project was offered to Murphy as it was subsequently rewritten as a partial comedy. Although "The Golden Child" (featuring Murphy's "I want the knife!" routine) performed well at the box office, the movie was not as critically acclaimed as "48 Hrs.", "Trading Places", and "Beverly Hills Cop". "The Golden Child" was considered a change of pace for Murphy because of the supernatural setting as opposed to the more "street smart" settings of Murphy's previous efforts. A year later, Murphy reprised his role of Axel Foley in the Tony Scott-directed "Beverly Hills Cop II". Although the film was panned by critics, it was still a box office smash, grossing over $150 million. Producers reportedly wanted to turn the "Beverly Hills Cop" franchise into a weekly television series. Murphy declined the television offer, but was willing to do a film sequel instead.

Murphy was one of the last movie actors to sign an exclusive contract with a studio. In this case, it was Paramount Pictures, which released all of his early films.

inging career

Murphy is also a singer and musician, having frequently provided background vocals to songs released by the The Bus Boys. As a solo artist, Murphy had two hit singles, "Party All the Time" (which was produced by Rick James) and "Put Your Mouth on Me" in the mid-1980s (although he actually started singing earlier in his career, with the songs "Boogie In Your Butt" and "Enough Is Enough", the latter being a parody of Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's 1979 song, "No More Tears (Enough Is Enough)". They both appear on his 1982 self-titled comedy album.) "Party All the Time" was featured on Murphy's 1985 debut album "How Could It Be", which also included a minor follow-up R&B hit in the title track, a duet with vocalist Crystal Blake. This track was written by Rusty Hamilton and was produced by Stevie Wonder's cousin Aquil Fudge after a brief falling out and bet with Rick James. In 2004, VH-1 and "Blender" voted "Party All the Time" number seven among the "50 Worst Songs of All-Time." Sharam used a sample of the song for the UK #8 hit "PATT (Party All The Time)" in 2006.

Murphy recorded the album "Love's Alright" in the early 1990s. He performed in a music video of the single "Whatzupwitu", featuring Michael Jackson. In 1999, the "Whatzupwitu" video, which featured Murphy and Jackson in a technicolor-like dream world, was voted as number three among the 25 worst music videos in the MTV era.Fact|date=June 2008 He also recorded a duet with Shabba Ranks called "I Was a King", which was similarly panned. In 1992, Murphy also appeared in Michael Jackson's "Remember the Time" video alongside Magic Johnson and Iman.

Although uncredited, Murphy provided vocal work on "SNL" castmate Joe Piscopo's comedy single, "The Honeymooners Rap." Piscopo impersonated Jackie Gleason on the single, while Murphy provided an imitation of Art Carney.

In "Coming to America", Murphy imitated Jackie Wilson when he sang "To Be Loved," but because the character he was playing had a thick accent, he had to sing it in character. In later years, Murphy performed several songs in the "Shrek" film franchise. In the first film, he performed a version of "I'm a Believer" in the film's final scene; in "Shrek 2" he performed Ricky Martin's hit "Livin' La Vida Loca" along with co-star Antonio Banderas.

Legal woes

In 1985, King Broder claimed Murphy had signed an "indefinite contract" with him when Murphy was 19 and sued him for $30 million for breach of contract when Murphy was worth an estimated $50 million. Broder even claimed Murphy got his 'Buckwheat' character from an idea he had for 'The Identical Triplets.' In court papers filed in State Supreme Court in Mineola, New York, Murphy said he and Broder had verbally agreed to dissolve the relationship before the end of 1980. Murphy stated, at the time, " [He] was working as a shoe salesman and had very limited professional experience when [he] signed the agreement." He also charged that Broder misrepresented himself as the agent for singers Tina Turner, Neil Sedaka and comedian Andy Kaufman. As Murphy was in the process of filming "Beverly Hills Cop II" at the time of the suit, Paramount Pictures ended up settling the case out of court and paying Broder an undisclosed amount so that they would not lose any more money in production costs. [Associated Press; The Daily Intelligencer, Doylestown, Pa., May 12, 1985 "Murphy Challenges Former Agent's Suit"] [The Capital, Annapolis, Md. Saturday March 14, 1987 pg. 1.]

According to Murphy's childhood friend Harris Haith in his book, "Growing Up Laughing With Eddie", cquote|Long before Murphy did any writing for "Coming to America", Art Buchwald had approached Paramount Pictures with the idea for a similar film. His material was rejected, but the information was retained by Paramount. They liked Buchwald's idea but did not see fit to pay him and saved it for use later down the road. Some years later, Paramount presented the idea of "Coming to America" to Eddie and gave him the contract. Murphy wrote a screenplay that came to light exactly as it aired on the silver screen. In 1988, Buchwald sued Murphy and Paramount Pictures, but Murphy was not found liable because Paramount had received the material and plagiarized it before giving it to Eddie. He did not know the origins of the piece, he just took the idea and expounded on it to bring about the final version of the movie. However, Buchwald and his partner Alain Bernheim did win the suit against Paramount Pictures, were awarded damages, and then accepted a settlement from Paramount. The case was the subject of a 1992 book, "Fatal Subtraction: The Inside Story of Buchwald v. Paramount" by Pierce O'Donnell and Dennis McDougal.

Career slump

From 1989 until the mid-1990s and again in the mid '00s, box office results for Murphy's films dropped, hitting a low point with the critically- panned "Beverly Hills Cop III" (a movie Murphy would ultimately denounce during an appearance on "Inside the Actors Studio"), although he did find minor box office success with "The Distinguished Gentleman", ""Boomerang"", "Another 48 Hrs." and "Vampire In Brooklyn". His directorial effort, "Harlem Nights", is widely seen as a vanity project and the first step in Murphy's career slump. "Harlem Nights" featured Murphy (who had previously been known only as a performer) as director, producer, star, and co-writer (with his brother, Charlie Murphy), as well as supporting roles for Murphy's comic idols Redd Foxx and Richard Pryor.

During this period Murphy was also criticized by filmmaker Spike Lee for not using his show business stature to help black actors break into film, despite Murphy's often populating his films (especially those he produces) with predominately black casts ("Coming To America, Harlem Nights, Boomerang, Vampire In Brooklyn, Life, Norbit"). Many black actors who would later gain wider recognition make early appearances in Murphy films such as Damon Wayans in "Beverly Hills Cop", Halle Berry and Martin Lawrence in "Boomerang", Samuel L. Jackson and Cuba Gooding Jr in "Coming to America" and "Raw", Dave Chappelle in "The Nutty Professor" and Chris Rock in "Beverly Hills Cop II" and "Boomerang".

Although Murphy has enjoyed commercial success since "Saturday Night Live", he has never attended cast reunions, anniversary specials, or participated in the making of the "Live From New York: An Uncensored History of Saturday Night Live" retrospective book by Tom Shales and James Andrew Miller (2002).

Comeback and image makeover

Murphy's box office results began to recover in 1996, starting with "The Nutty Professor". He followed with a series of very successful family-friendly movies like "Mulan", "Dr. Dolittle" and its sequel, the "Shrek" series, "Daddy Day Care", and "The Haunted Mansion", along with "Nutty Professor II". However, most of his movies meant for more adult audiences performed moderately; "Metro", "I Spy", and "Showtime" all ended to gross less than $40 million domestically, "Holy Man" performed badly, grossing less than $13 million, and "The Adventures of Pluto Nash" is on record as one of the biggest theatrical money-losers of all time, grossing just $7 million worldwide on a reported $110 million budget. A notable exception to this run of poorly received adult -themed films was the Frank Oz comedy "Bowfinger", also starring Steve Martin. The film garnered generally positive critical reviews, and grossed a respectable $66 million at the box office.

In 2006, he starred in the motion picture version of the Broadway musical "Dreamgirls" as soul singer James "Thunder" Early. Murphy won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award in that category. Several reviews for the film highlighted Murphy's performance while he received some pre-release Academy Awards buzz. [cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/12/03/movies/03modd.html?_r=1&ref%3Dmovies&oref=slogin|title=Eddie Murphy Inspires Oscar Buzz. Seriously.|author=Modderno, Craig|date=2006-12-03|publisher=New York Times] Murphy was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor on January 23, 2007, but lost to Alan Arkin for his performance in "Little Miss Sunshine". "Dreamgirls" was the first film distributed by Paramount Pictures to star Murphy (who once was on an exclusive contract with the studio) since "Vampire in Brooklyn" in 1995. As a result of Viacom's acquisition of Dreamworks SKG, Paramount distributed his other 2007 releases: "Norbit" and "Shrek the Third". He is currently filming "NowhereLand" for Paramount Pictures.

Murphy is expected to begin work on "Beverly Hills Cop IV" sometime in the near future, and it is expected that producer Jerry Bruckheimer will not participate in the fourth installment of the series. Murphy recently told "The Sun Online" that “the new script is looking good.” [cite web|url=http://www.thesun.co.uk/article/0,,2-2006200093,00.html|title=Eddie cops film No4|publisher=Sun Online]

In 2007, Murphy was invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences. [ [http://abclocal.go.com/kabc/story?section=entertainment&id=5400194 abc7.com: Film Academy Invites 115 New Members 6/19/07 ] ] [ [http://www.oscars.org/press/pressreleases/2007/07.06.18.html Academy Invites 115 to Become Members ] ]

In July 2008, Murphy announced that he was considering retiring from movies and returning to his stand up career after completing the long-awaited "Beverly Hills Cop IV". [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000552/news]

As reported, Murphy will star in the new verison of The Incredible Shrinking Man which will be released in the future.

Personal life

In 1988, Murphy had a brief relationship with singer Lorraine Pearson of the pop group Five Star. He was also romantically linked to singer Whitney Houston, whom he dated.

Murphy began a longtime romantic relationship with Nicole Mitchell after meeting her in 1988 at an NAACP Image Awards show. They lived together for a year and a half before getting married at the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza Hotel in New York City on March 18, 1993. [ cite web|url=http://www.hellomagazine.com/film/2005/08/08/eddiemurphy/|title=Eddie Murphy and wife divorce after 12 years|publisher=Hello!Magazine|date=2005-08-08] In August 2005, Mitchell filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." The divorce was finalized on April 17, 2006. [cite web|url=http://marriage.about.com/od/entertainmen1/p/eddiemurphy.htm|title=Eddie Murphy and Nicole Mitchell Marriage|publisher=About.com]

Arrest

In May of 1997, Murphy was stopped by police with a transvestite prostitute in his car shortly before the release of "Holy Man", a situation which subsequently caused public relations problems for the star. He was arrested and spent a day in jail. [ cite web|url=http://www.nytimes.com/2006/08/09/movies/09cris.html?_r=1&n=Top/Reference/Times%20Topics/People/G/Gibson,%20Mel&oref=slogin|title=The Mavens Speak|publisher=The New York Times|date=2006-08-09] [ cite web|url=http://articles.latimes.com/2008/mar/20/entertainment/et-word20|title=Owen Wilson Sits Out 'Drillbit Taylor' Promotion|publisher=The Los Angeles Times|date=2008-03-20]

Relationships

Following his divorce from Mitchell, he dated Spice Girl Melanie B or Melanie Brown, who became pregnant and stated that the child was Murphy's. When questioned about the pregnancy in December 2006, Murphy told a reporter, "I don't know whose child that is until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, sir". [cite web|url=http://www.cnn.com/2006/SHOWBIZ/Music/12/07/people.melaniebrown.ap/index.html|title=Mel B: 'No question' Murphy is baby's father|publisher=CNN.com|date=2006-12-07|author=Associated Press] Brown gave birth to a baby girl, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, on Murphy's 46th birthday, April 3, 2007. On June 22, 2007, representatives for Brown announced in "People" that a DNA test had confirmed that Murphy was the father. [cite web|url=http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20043487,00.html|title=Mel B Says DNA Proves Eddie Murphy Fathered Her Baby|publisher=People Magazine] . Brown has revealed in an interview that Murphy will have nothing to do with Angel [http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/music/a101281/mel-b-writes-song-about-eddie-murphy.html?imdb] Brown's daughter is Murphy's eighth child; he has four daughters, Bria, Shane Audra, Zola Ivy, and Bella Zahra and one son, Miles Mitchell from his previous marriage to Nicole Mitchell, and two more sons, Eric Murphy and Christian Murphy from two other previous relationships.

Murphy exchanged marriage vows with film producer Tracey Edmonds, former wife of Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, on January 1, 2008 in a private ceremony on an island off Bora Bora. [ [http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20168679,00.html Eddie Murphy and Tracey Edmonds Marry - Weddings, Eddie Murphy : People.com ] ] It was announced on January 16, 2008 that they never legally wed, had decided to forgo legalizing their union and had instead chosen to remain friends. [ [http://www.imdb.com/news/wenn/2008-01-17/ Movie & TV News @ IMDb.com - WENN - 17 January 2008 ] ] He has recently been romantically linked to the sister of "" star Eva LaRue [http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000552/news?start=41]

Charitable work

Murphy has donated money to the AIDS Foundation, the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, various cancer charities and $100,000 to the Screen Actors' Guild's strike relief fund. [ [http://www.looktothestars.org/celebrity/194-eddie-murphy Eddie Murphy's Charity Work ] ]

Filmography

Awards/nominations

*Kids Choice Awards
**2008: Winner - Best Voice in an Animated Movie - " Shrek the Third"
**2008: Nominee - Best Movie Actor - Norbit

*Academy Award
**2007: Nominee - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Dreamgirls"

*Screen Actors Guild
**2007: Winner - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Dreamgirls"

*Razzie Award
**2007: Winner - Worst Actor - "Norbit"
**2007: Winner - Worst Supporting Actor - "Norbit"
**2007: Winner - Worst Supporting Actress - "Norbit"
**2007: Nominee - Worst Screenplay- "Norbit"
**2007: Nominee - Worst Screen Couple - "Norbit"

*NAACP Image Awards
**2007: Nominee - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Dreamgirls"

*Golden Globes
**2007: Winner - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Dreamgirls"
**1997: Nominee - Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy) - "The Nutty Professor"
**1985: Nominee - Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy) - "Beverly Hills Cop"
**1984: Nominee - Actor in a Leading Role (Musical or Comedy) - "Trading Places"
**1983: Nominee - New Star of the Year (Male) - "48 Hrs."

*BAFTA Award
**2002: Nominee - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Shrek"

*Black Reel Awards
**2007: Nominee - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Dreamgirls"
**2002: Nominee - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Shrek"
**2000: Nominee - Actor in a Leading Role - "Bowfinger"

*Broadcast Film Critics Association Awards
**2007: Winner - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Dreamgirls"

*Chicago Film Critics Awards
**2007: Nominee - Actor in a Supporting Role - "Dreamgirls"

*Emmy Awards
**1999: Nominees - Outstanding Animated Programming (One Hour or Less)- "The PJ's"
**1984: Nominee - Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program - "Saturday Night Live"
**1984: Nominee - Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program - "Saturday Night Live"
**1983: Nominee - Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy, Variety or Music Series - "Saturday Night Live"

succession box
title=Broadcast Film Critics Association Award for Best Supporting Actor
before=Paul Giamatti
for "Cinderella Man"
years=2007
for "Dreamgirls"
after= N/Asuccession box
title= Best Supporting Actor - Central Ohio Film Critics Association
before= N/A
years=2007
for "Dreamgirls"
after= N/Asuccession box
title=Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Supporting Role - Motion Picture
before=Paul Giamatti
for "Cinderella Man"
years=2007
for "Dreamgirls"
after=Javier Bardem
for "No Country for Old Men"
###@@@KEYEND@@@###

References

External links

*imdb name|id=0000552|name=Eddie Murphy
*tvtome person|id=55381|name=Eddie Murphy
*amg|id=11:byh9kect7q7q~T0|label=Eddie Murphy
* [http://www.discogs.com/artist/Eddie+Murphy Eddie Murphy] on Discogs
* [http://longtail.vwho.net/comedy/eddie_murphy/index.php?clip=0 Eddie Murphy Media Site]
* [http://maximonline.com/slideshows/index.aspx?slideId=3712&imgCollectId=194&src=jb203 Maxim Rated Top SNL performer]
* [http://www.eddiemurphy.co.uk Eddie Murphy.co.uk]

Persondata
NAME= Murphy, Eddie
ALTERNATIVE NAMES= Murphy, Edward Regan
SHORT DESCRIPTION=Academy Award nominated, Golden Globe Award-winning American actor
FAVORITE ACTORS= Jerry Lewis, Peter Sellers
FAVORITE SINGERS= Elvis Presley
DATE OF BIRTH= April 3, 1961
PLACE OF BIRTH= Brooklyn, New York, U.S.
DATE OF DEATH=
PLACE OF DEATH=