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Eddie Murphy
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Biography
Actor, director, screenwriter, producer. (b. Apr. 3, 1961, Hempstead, N.Y.) By the time he was 19, this quick-witted, sharp-tongued black comedian had achieved stardom as the standout cast member on "Saturday Night Live" (1981-84). Having distinguished himself in TV and nightclubs (where he'd done stand-up comedy since age 16), Murphy's next step was motion pictures. His first break came when a last-minute change of plans caused producers to offer him a costarring part with Nick Nolte in 48HRS (1982). A hastily rewritten script drew on his already familiar smartass personality from television and proved a perfect showcase. He had more of a chance to act in Trading Places (1983), opposite Dan Aykroyd, which confirmed that the earlier film had been no fluke: Murphy was a bona fide movie star. After an overpromoted cameo in the dismal Best Defense (1984), the comedian hit pay dirt with his first solo starring vehicle, Beverly Hills Cop (1984), which originally had been written for Sylvester Stallone.
Murphy has taken control of his career since then. In the enjoyable Coming to America (1988) he augmented his starring role with some very funny cameos (in heavy makeup and costuming)-as an elderly Jewish man, a loquacious barber, and a lounge lizard entertainer. In Harlem Nights (1989) he managed to billboard his name five times in the opening credits (as presenter, executive producer, director, writer, and star)-but failed to provide a coherent or compelling script for himself and a stellar cast, including his hero Richard Pryor. His sequels have been a mixed blessing: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) was a terrible film, but a huge hit; the equally dismal Another 48HRS (1990) was far from a flop, as well, on the strength of Murphy's potent name. He has pleased both critics and fans most often returning to familiar comic territory, in Boomerang The Distinguished Gentleman (both 1992), and the inevitable Beverly Hills Cop III (1994).
Height
5' 10"
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Spouse
'Nicole Mitchell' (18 March 1993 - present); 4 children
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Trivia
Signed with Saturday Night Live and NBC when he was 19 years old.
(October 1997) Ranked #78 in Empire (UK) magazine's "The Top 100 Movie Stars of All Time" list.
Born at 1:30pm-EST
He also has 1 son each with Tamara Hood and Paulette McNeely.
Brother of Charles Q. Murphy
(June 1999) Reported to be expecting a fourth child.
In a TV commercial never shown in the USA, Eddie Murphy kissed the front bumper of a Toyota sedan.
Zola Ivy born 24 December 1999 Daughters Bria (b. 1989) and Shayne (b. 1994) Son, Miles (b. 1992)
Attended Nassau Community College in Garden City, New York before beginning his acting career.
Did stand-up comedy at the same Bay Area Comedy Club as Robin Williams and Caryn Johnson (who's stage name eventually became Whoopi Goldberg ) before getting into acting.
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