Happy Birthday Eddie Murphy

“The advice I would give to someone is to not take anyone's advice” - Eddie Murphy

(Eddie Murphy)

Eddie Murphy was born as Edward Murphy on April 3rd, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York, USA. Murphy’s father died when he was young and at 8 years old he was put into foster care for a year.

(Murphy as a child)

He and his brother then moved to Roosevelt, NY. At age 15 Murphy was writing and performing his own routines. Murphy’s early comedy was characterized by frequent swearing and sketches lampooning a diverse group of people. Murphy first started to gain attention on the show Saturday Night Live performing in sketches.

(Murphy on Saturday Night Live as Buckwheat)

In 1982 he released his 1st album “Eddie Murphy”. Also in 1982 Murphy starred in the movie 48 Hrs.. In 1983 he filmed his live show “Delirious” in Washington D.C.

(Murphy performing in 1983)

In 1984 Murphy starred in the movie Trading Places with Dan Aykroyd.

(Dan Aykroyd (Left) and Murphy (Right) in Trading Places (1984))

Also in 1984 Murphy starred in the movie Beverly Hills Cop. Murphy also starred in Best Defense that same year. Murphy was supposed to play Winston in Ghostbusters (1984) but due to scheduling issues he couldn't take the role. In 1985 Murphy released his debut album as a musical artist, “How Could it Be” which featured the song “Party All the Time” featuring Rick James.

(Murphy (Left) with Rick James (Right))

In 1986 Murphy starred in the movie The Golden Child. In 1987 Murphy’s concert movie “Raw” grossed $50 million. Also in 1987 Murphy starred in Beverly Hills Cop II. In 1988 Murphy starred in Coming to America with Arsenio Hall.

(Murphy (Left) with Arsenio Hall (Right) in Coming to America (1988))

In 1989 Murphy released his 2nd album as a musical artist, “So Happy”. Also in 1989 Murphy starred in the movie Harlem Nights with Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. In 1990 Murphy married Nicole Mitchell. In 1992 Murphy appeared in Michael Jackson’s music video “Remember the Time”.

(Michael Jackson (Left) Eddie Murphy (Middle) and Iman Abdulmajid (Right) in the music video “Remember the Time”)

In 1993 Murphy released his 3rd album as a musical artist, “Love’s Alright” which featured the song “Whatzupwitu” featuring Michael Jackson. In 1996 Murphy starred in the movie The Nutty Professor.

(Murphy in The Nutty Professor (1996))

In 1998 Murphy starred in Dr. Dolittle. In 2001 Murphy appeared in Shrek.

(Murphy with his character from the movie Shrek (2001), Donkey)

In 2006 Murphy starred in Dreamgirls. Also in 2006 Murphy divorced his wife Nicole Mitchell. In 2007 Murphy appeared in Norbit. In 2008 Murphy married Tracey Edmonds. In 2013 Murphy released the song “Red Light” featuring Snoop Dogg.

(Snoop Dogg (Left) and Murphy (Right))

Today is his 55th birthday and we would all like to say happy birthday Eddie Murphy.

Movies starring Eddie Murphy

• 48 Hrs. (1982) as Reggie Hammond
• Trading Places (1983) as Billy Ray Valentine
• Best Defense (1984) as Lt. T.M. Landry
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984) as Det. Michael Axel Foley
• The Golden Child (1986) as Chandler Jarrell
• Beverly Hills Cop II (1987) as Det. Michael Axel Foley
• Eddie Murphy Raw (1987) as himself
• Coming to America (1988) as Prince Akeem, Clarence, Randy Watson, and Saul
• Harlem Nights (1989) as Vernest Brown “Quick”
• Another 48 Hrs. (1990) as Reggie Hammond
• Boomerang (1992) as Marcus Graham
• The Distinguished Gentleman (1992) as Thomas Jefferson Johnson
• Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) as Det. Michael Axel Foley
• Vampire in Brooklyn (1995) as Maximillian, Preacher Pauly, and Guido
• The Nutty Professor (1996) as Professor Sherman Klump, Buddy Love, Lance Perkins, Cletus “Papa” Klump, Anna Pearl “Mama” Jensen Klump, Ida Mae “Granny” Jensen, and Ernie Klump Sr.
• Metro (1997) as Insp. Scott Roper
• Mulan (1998) as Mushu
• Dr. Dolittle (1998) as Dr. John Dolittle
• Holy Man (1998) as G
• Life (1999) as Rayford Gibson
• Bowfinger (1999) as Kit Ramsey, and Jeffernson “Jiff” Ramsey
• Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) as Professor Sherman Klump, Buddy Love, Lance Perkins, Cletus “Papa” Klump, Anna Pearl “Mama” Jensen Klump, Ida Mae “Granny” Jensen, and Ernie Klump Sr.
• Shrek (2001) as Donkey
• Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) as Dr. John Dolittle
• Showtime (2002) as Off. Trey Sellers
• The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) as Pluto Nash and Rex Crater
• I Spy (2002) as Kelly Robinson
• Daddy Day Care (2003) as Charles Hinton
• The Haunted Mansion (2003) as Kim Evers
• Shrek 2 (2004) as Donkey
• Dreamgirls (2006) as James “Thunder” Early
• Norbit (2007) as Norbit Rice, Rasputia Latimore-Rice, and Mr. Wong
• Shrek the Third (2007) as Donkey
• Meet Dave (2008) as Starship Dave Ming-Chang and Captain
• Imagine That (2009) as Evan Danielson
• Shrek Forever After (2010) as Donkey
• Tower Heist (2011) as Darnell “Slide” Davis
• A Thousand Words (2012) as Jack McCall

TV Shows/appearances starring Eddie Murphy

• Saturday Night Live (1980-1984) as multiple characters
• Eddie Murphy: Delirious (1983) as himself
• What’s Alan Watching? (1989) as himself
• Dangerous: The Short Films (1993) as Ancient Egyptian Pharaoh
• The PJs (1999-2001) as Thurgood Stubbs
• Father of the Pride (2004) as himself
• Shrek the Halls (2007) as Donkey
• Donkey’s Christmas Shrektacular (2010) as Donkey
• Eddie Murphy: One Night Only (2012) as himself

Albums by Eddie Murphy

• “Eddie Murphy” (1982)
• “Comedian” (1983)
• “How Could It Be” (1985)
• “So Happy” (1989)
• “Love’s Alright” (1993)

Videos of Eddie Murphy

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PdXfCrecV2M  “Eddie Murphy Delirious: The Cook-Out”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bTQcREbcyY  “48 Hrs. Trailer”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vPE4OCeKt2k  “Coming To America Theatrical Trailer”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iWa-6g-TbgI  “Eddie Murphy - Party All the Time”
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W37DlG1i61s  “Shrek Trailer”