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.
The quintessential comedy about ’80s-era greed, 1983’s Trading Places is historically significant for a few reasons. Foremost, it cemented Eddie Murphy’s film career.
Murphy had starred in one picture for Paramount, 1982’s 48 Hrs., but the studio was iffy on the Saturday Night Live star’s appeal.
It was only after test-screening audiences went bonkers for him that Paramount’s then president of production, Jeffrey Katzenberg, realized he was sitting on the next superstar.
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