Edward Regan Murphy was born in the New York neighborhood of Brooklyn on April 3rd,1961. He is the son of a police officer Charles Murphy, and the telephone operator Lillian Murphy. His father died when the little Eddie was only eight years old. At the time of his death, Murphy’s parents were divorced. After the break, his mother married Vernon Lynch, foreman of a factory that became Eddie Murphy’s stepfather, who had two brothers named Charlie (son of Charles Murphy) and Vernon (son of Vernon Lynch). He currently has a net worth of $85 million.
His beginnings.
Eddie began to become comedian from his childhood, time where mimicked his cartoons idols. Thanks to his constant jokes and comic performances, he turned into one of the most popular students of the Roosevelt Institute.
In his adolescence, he began his professional performances by acting successfully in various sites in New York, including the Comic Strip. Richard Tienken and Robert D. Wachs, the owners of the local became his representatives, and they got him a contract to appear in the television comedy show Saturday Night Live in 1980, when Eddie was only 19.
Filmography.
With his appearances in the Saturday Night Live, the comedian from Brooklyn achieved fame in the United States.
His first film role was in “48 Hours” (1982), a title directed by Walter Hill that was co-starring Nick Nolte. The success of the film, which mixed comedy and action (done in their movies), put a triumphant film career throughout the 1980s. With titles such as “Trading Places” (1983) by John Landis, “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984) by Martin Brest or “The Prince of Zamunda” (1988), also directed by Landis.
By “48 Hours” Eddie was nominated for a Golden Globe as actor. Later he was a candidate to this award for “Trading Places” and “Beverly Hills Cop”.
Career as a filmmaker.
In 1989 he directed his first film, “Harlem Nights”, a film in which he shared the spotlight with one of his main models on the big screen, Richard Pryor.
Throughout the 90s, Eddie continued to participate in the commercial successful films such as the remakes of “The Nutty Professor” (1996), a film directed by Tom Shadyac thanks to which he was nominated for the Golden Globe, and “Dr. Dolittle” (1998), comedy performed by Betty Thomas.
Other Films.
Along with Steve Martin, he appeared in one of his best comedies, “BOWFINGER. The Rogue” (1999).
He was also the voice of the character of Donkey in the animated film “Shrek” (2000). Other titles in his filmography are “the Haunted Mansion” (2003), “Daddy Day Care” (2003), and “Dreamgirls” (2006), film based on the music trio the Supremes thanks to which won the Golden Globe for best supporting actor and “Norbit” (2007), a comedy in which he played various characters.
