Eddie Murphy is 50
Eddie Murphy, star of ‘The Nutty Professor’ and the voice of the beloved Donkey in the animated film ‘Shrek,’ turns 50 today.
Mr. Murphy (who began his career as a standup comedian) is still recognized for many of his routines, which often featured racy content and observations about race. Mr. Murphy credits comedian Richard Pryor as his inspiration to pursue comedy.
In the early 80s he was a regular cast member on ‘Saturday Night Live,’ where he helped to revitalize the show with characters like a grown of version of the Little Rascals character Buckwheat.
Making his screen debut ion 1982, Murphy played opposite Nick Nolte in the film ’48 Hours.’ Murphy went on to have a highly successful film career, with his ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ movies grossing hundreds of millions. In 2006, he won a Golden Globe and received an Oscar nomination for his role as James ‘Thunder’ Early in ‘Dreamgirls.’
Last night in Los Angeles, Mr. Murphy accepted a Kids Choice Award for Favorite Voice in an Animated Movie for his role Donkey in the latest in the Shrek series, ‘Forever After.’
- Eddie Murphy.
Eddie Murphy is getting old, old, old!
The comedian, actor, writer, singer, director, comedian, and musician (whose box office takes makes him the second highest grossing actor in the United States) turns 50 today, April 3.
Murphy has previously revealed he’s too old to be a rebel.
“I’m such a square, but I’m supposed to be” – he told Parade magazine back in 2009. “I’m 48, and you’re supposed to be the square. I mean being a 48-year-old rebel is not cool.”
“The one thing that’s remained consistent is my sense of humor, which has always been unique. But, I’m older than I was and I could never give off whatever I used to give off when, you know, I had on a red leather suit on stage talking s—. I’ll never be that guy again. But, at the same time, I’ve never stopped being that person. It’s just that I’m an adult now.”
Gabourey Sidibe was ‘so nervous’ about working with Eddie Murphy on “Tower Heist”.
The Oscar-nominated actress stars alongside the comic legend in the new movie (which also stars Ben Stiller and Matthew Broderick) and she admits she couldn’t stop thinking about what a ‘genius’ he is when she started filming with him.
She said – “I was really worried because a lot of the scenes are with Eddie Murphy, and all I could think about is Raw and how genius he is in that with his red leather suit.
“He’s so funny and I was so nervous about what it would be like to film with him.”
However, the 27-year-old star eventually relaxed and enjoyed working on the movie because she got to cut loose and have fun.
She added – “I am actually quite a raunchy and crazy person and on this film I was allowed to be a crazy person.”