Last Updated on September 13, 2024
Who Is Eddie Murphy?
Edward Regan Murphy, popularly known as Eddie Murphy, needs no introduction as far as acting and comedy goes. Eddie Murphy enjoys one of the longest stints as an actor, comedian, and singer, having been active for more than three decades.
Like many acclaimed comedians that have come out of Hollywood, Eddie was once a regular cast member of the late-night TV sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. He featured in the SNL from 1980 to 1984 and used the platform as his springboard to the film industry.
Due to his long and illustrious career as a comedian, Eddie Murphy has frequently featured among the greatest stand-ups of all time. And he has been just as excellent in acting as he has been in comedy.
Murphy is famous for his roles in films like 48 Hours, Trading Places, Dolemite Is My Name, The Nutty Professor, etc. Not forgetting his stellar performance in the Beverly Hills Cop series.
Quick Facts
| Full Name: | Edward Regan Murphy |
| Popular Name: | Eddie Murphy |
| Gender: | Male |
| Birth Date: | April 3, 1961 |
| Age: | 61 years |
| Parents: | Charles Edward Murphy and Lillian Murphy |
| Siblings: | Charlie Murphy |
| Birth Place: | Brooklyn, New York City |
| Nationality: | American |
| Ethnicity: | African-American, Christian |
| Education: | Roosevelt High School and Nassau Community College |
| Marital Status: | Formerly married to Nicole Mitchell Murphy, divorced in 2006. He has since dated Melanie Brown alias Mel B from 2006 to 2007, Tracey Edmonds in 2008, and Paige Butcher from 2012 to date. Eddy Murphy’s love history also includes Whitney Houston, Paulette McNeely, and Tamara Hood Johnson |
| Sexual Orientation: | Straight |
| Children: | 10 children in total. 5 with Nicole Mitchell Murphy (Brya Murphy, Shayne Murphy, Zola Murphy, Bella Murphy, and Myles Murphy), 1 with Mel B (Angel Murphy), 2 with Paige Butcher (Izzy Oona Murphy and Max Charles Murphy), 1 with Paulette McNeely (Eric Murphy), and 1 with Tamara Hood (Christian Murphy) |
| Net Worth: | 201 million |
| Source of Wealth: | Acting, Comedy, Endorsement Deals, and Personal Investments |
| Height: | 5′ 74″ (1.75 m) |
| Weight: | 170 lbs.(77 kg) |
Early Life and Career Information
Eddie Murphy was born Edward Regan Murphy on April 3, 1961 in Brooklyn, New York. His father was a transit police officer as well as an amateur actor and comedian, while his mother was a telephone operator.
Eddie Murphy’s dad passed on in 1969 and his mother became ill soon after. These tragic events forced Eddie, along with his older brother, Charlie, to live in foster care for a year. It was a blessing in disguise, as Eddie Murphy discovered his talent for comedy while living in foster care.
In 1981, Eddie kicked off his career by landing a role in Saturday Night Live. He stayed in the show till 1984, before branching to full-time acting.
The following are some of the films that the star has featured in:
Coming to America (1988)
• 48 Hrs. (1982)
• Another 48 Hrs. (1990)
• Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
• Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)
• Beverly Hills Cop III (1994)
• Boomerang (1992)
• Bowfinger (1999)
• Dreamgirls (2006)
• I Spy (2002)
• Life (I) (1999)
• Metro (1997)
• Showtime (2002)
• Shrek (2001)
• Shrek 2 (2004)
• The Golden Child (1986)
• The Nutty Professor (1996)
• Tower Heist (2011)
• Trading Places (1983)
• Vampire in Brooklyn (1995)
Eddie Murphy Net Worth
As of 2023, Eddie Murphy had a net worth of around $201 million. He has made much of his money from acting and comedy.
In 1981, during his first appearance in Saturday Night Live, Eddie Murphy was earning a paltry $4,500 per episode. But due to his outstanding performance in the show, his salary was raised to a whopping $30, 000 per episode the following year.
However, Eddie got his first major paycheck in 1984 for his role in the film Best Defense, where the actor took home $1 million. From then, his earnings kept rising with each movie he featured in. In 1987, Murphy took home a cool $8 million for his role in Beverly Hills Cop II. The following year, he earned another $8 million for the film Coming to America.
Here is a rundown of some of Eddie Murphy’s most commercially successful films, along with what the actor earned from each of the movies:
• Beverly Hills Cop III (1994) – $15 million
• The Nutty Professor (1996) – $16 million
• Doctor Dolittle (1998) – $17.5 million
• The Nutty Professor II (2000) – $60 million. That included $20 million in upfront salary plus another 20% of the movie’s gross receipts
• Shrek (2001) – $3 million
• Doctor Dolittle II (2001) – $20 million
• The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002) – $20 million
• Shrek 2 (2004) – $10 million
• Shrek Forever (2010) – $12 million. That included $4 million in upfront salary and $8 million in backend points.
• Tower Heist (2011) – $7.5 million
Besides earning from acting and comedy, Eddie Murphy has also owned several lavish homes, some of which he has sold for huge profits. For instance, one of his previously-owned Beverly Homes was listed for sale in 2016 by its later owner at a cost of $85 million. In 2007, Eddie Murphy acquired Rooster Cay, a 15-acre island in the Bahamas at a cost of $15 million.
Life Lessons from Eddie Murphy
1. Everything in life happens for a reason
Indeed, nothing happens by chance. The death of Eddie Murphy’s father, which was immediately followed by his mom’s sickness, may have come as a big blow to Eddie and his brother. But the tragic events came with a silver lining, as the one year the two boys spent in foster care saw Eddie discover his acting talent.
2. Pursue your full measure of happiness
Eddie Murphy has been in countless relationships, most of which have resulted in children. But the actor doesn’t stay in relationships that he considers devoid of happiness. And his two-week marriage with Tracey Edmonds is proof of that.
3. Passion and consistency equals success
This is one unmissable lesson from Eddie Murphy’s life and career. It takes love for your job and consistency in what you do to be able to last more than three decades in the industry.
Here are some of the best Eddie Murphy quotes:
“Anything you have to acquire a taste for was not meant to be eaten.”
“Every bad decision I’ve made has been based on money. I grew up in the projects and you don’t turn down money there. You take it, because you never know when it’s all going to end. I made Cop III because they offered me $15 million. That $15 million was worth having Roger Ebert’s thumb up my ass.”
“If you’re an artist like a really, really long time, it stops being a performance. I’m not performing anymore. I reveal myself to the audience. I show you some of me. It’s not a show no more.”
“The advice I would give to someone is to not take anyone’s advice.”
“When I go back to the stage, I want to be able to do everything. I want to be able to do music and comedy and all that stuff and have a show like nobody ever had before.”
Final Word
Eddie Murphy hasn’t only made a name for himself as an actor and comedian. He has also been a true inspiration to aspiring comedians all over the world.
