Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York City. Raised in the Bushwick neighborhood by his mother after his parents separated, Murphy discovered his comedic talent at a young age, performing impressions of celebrities and cartoon characters for friends and family. By age 15, he was performing stand-up comedy at local clubs and youth centers. His raw talent was undeniable, and at just 19 years old, he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1980, quickly becoming the show’s breakout star and is widely credited with saving the program during a critical period in its history.

Murphy’s transition from television to film was meteoric. He starred in “48 Hrs.” (1982), making him one of the first African American actors to lead a major buddy-cop film, followed by “Trading Places” (1983) and “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984), which grossed over $316 million worldwide and cemented his status as the biggest comedy star in the world. Throughout the 1980s and 1990s, he dominated the box office with hits including “Coming to America” (1988), “The Nutty Professor” (1996), “Doctor Dolittle” (1998), and the “Shrek” franchise (2001-2010), where he voiced Donkey across four films. His ability to play multiple characters in a single film, as demonstrated in “The Nutty Professor” and “Norbit” (2007), showcased his extraordinary range.

After a period of commercially disappointing films in the 2000s and 2010s, Murphy experienced a triumphant career resurgence. His performance in “Dolemite Is My Name” (2019) earned him some of the best reviews of his career and renewed Oscar buzz. He returned to host Saturday Night Live in December 2019, earning an Emmy Award. He reprised his iconic role of Prince Akeem in “Coming 2 America” (2021) for Amazon Studios and returned to the Beverly Hills Cop franchise with “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” (2024) for Netflix, proving his enduring box office appeal.

With a net worth estimated at $200 million in 2026, Murphy is one of the wealthiest actors in Hollywood history. His earnings over four decades of work are staggering, with some of his peak film deals in the late 1990s and early 2000s paying him $20 million or more per picture. His stand-up comedy specials “Delirious” (1983) and “Raw” (1987) remain among the highest-grossing and most influential comedy specials ever. Murphy has 10 children from various relationships and married actress Paige Butcher in 2018. He was honored with the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes in 2023 and continues to be one of the most beloved figures in entertainment.