Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American actor, comedian, and singer.
Murphy was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984. He has worked as a stand-up comedian and was ranked No. 10 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.
In films, Murphy has received Golden Globe Award nominations for his performances in 48 Hrs., the Beverly Hills Cop series, Trading Places, The Nutty Professor, and Dolemite Is My Name. In 2007, he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of soul singer James "Thunder" Early in Dreamgirls.
Eddie Murphy has recalled a time early in his career when he declined cocaine from John Belushi and Robin Williams.In a recent interview with The New York Times, the actor reflected on an interaction he had at the Blues Bar, run by Belushi and Dan Aykroyd, when he was 19 years old.“It was me, Belushi, and Robin Williams,” he said. “They start doing coke, and I was like, ‘No, I’m cool.’ I wasn’t taking some moral stance.
I just wasn’t interested in it. To not have the desire or the curiosity, I’d say that’s providence. God was looking over me in that moment.”Murphy, who will soon be reprising his iconic role in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, also touched on the various pressures he felt at the time.“When you get famous really young, especially a Black artist, it’s like living in a minefield,” he explained.“Any moment something could happen that can undo everything.
It was like, all of this stuff is going on, and I’m totally oblivious. Now, at this age, I can look back and be like, ‘Wow, I came through a minefield for 35 years.’”In the same interview, Murphy cited Elvis Presley as an influence but also a tragic figure – saying: “I was totally in my Elvis trip [around the time he filmed Raw and the ‘Delirious’ TV special].
And when I got older, it was like, oh, my God, Elvis wasn’t cool at all.”He holds the likes of Presley, Michael Jackson, and Prince in a similar regard, saying: “Those guys are all cautionary tales for me.
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