Actor Eddie Murphy, born Edward Regan Murphy on April 3, 1961, shot to fame from his time on 'Saturday Night Live' in the '80s. Since then, he was been an iconic face and voice in countless movies, including 'Coming to America,' 'The Nutty Professor,' 'Shrek' and so much more. Look back at the actor, comedian, writer and singer’s life and career in photos.
Eddie Murphy photographed during season 6 of “Saturday Night Live.”
Eddie Murphy as Buckwheat, left, Tim Curry as Mick Jagger during the “Saturday Night Live” Season 7 “Mick!” skit on Dec. 5, 1981.
Eddie Murphy, left, and Chevy Chase during the Saturday Night Live “Weekend Update” on April 11, 1981.
The cast of the TV show “Saturday Night Live” pose on the set for a group photo: Eddie Murphy, left, Robin Duke, Joe Piscopo, Christine Ebersole, Mary Gross, Tim Kazurinsky, Tony Rosato.
Robin Duke, left and Eddie Murphy photographed for “Saturday Night Live” – Season 7.
Eddie Murphy as Little Richard Simmons during the “Saturday Night Live” – Season 7 “Little Richard Simmons Show” skit on Oct. 3, 1981.
Eddie Murphy as Velvet Jones during the “Saturday Night Live” – Season 7, “Velvet Jones School of Technology” skit on Nov. 7, 1981.
Joe Piscopo as guard, left, Eddie Murphy as Frankie, Brian Doyle-Murray as warden, Johnny Cash during the “Saturday Night Live” – Season 7 “Last Request” skit on April 17, 1982.
Comedian Eddie Murphy relaxes in his hotel room prior to an evening performance at the Bayou club that night on Nov. 27, 1982.
Eddie Murphy as Mr. Robinson during “Saturday Night Live” – Season 7 “Mister Robinson’s Neighborhood” skit on Feb. 6, 1982.
Rick James with Eddie Murphy in 1983.
Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy was photographed in 1983.
Stevie Wonder and Eddie Murphy celebrate at a party at the Red Parrot after Wonder’s Radio City concert in 1983.
Comedian Eddie Murphy appeared at the Crazy Eddie E. 57th Street store on Nov. 15, 1983, to sign autographs for fans.
Stevie Wonder as Alan, left, Eddie Murphy as Richie during the SNL “Stevie Experience” skit on May 7, 1983.
Eddie Murphy as Det. Axel Foley in the movie “Beverly Hills Cop.”
John Ashton as Det. Sgt. John Taggart, left, Eddie Murphy as Det. Axel Foley and Judge Reinhold as Det. William “Billy” Rosewood in the movie “Beverly Hills Cop.”
Eddie Murphy, left, and Gregory Hines attend “The Cotton Club” Premiere on Dec. 10, 1984, at Loew’s State Theater in New York.
Christopher Guest as Morty Schmegman, left, Eddie Murphy as Gumby, Martin Short as Irving Cohen, and Billy Crystal as Lew Goldman during Saturday Night Live “Lishman’s Deli” skit on Feb. 18, 1984.
Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy with a policeman photographed in London on January 1985. Murphy is in town for the premiere of the movie “Beverly Hills Cop.”
Eddie Murphy, left, and Charles Dance in a scene from the film “The Golden Child,” in 1986.
Eddie Murphy during the Hand and Footprint Ceremony at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre in Hollywood, Calif. on May 14, 1987.
Actor/comedian Eddie Murphy, left, during an interview with host Johnny Carson on “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson” in 1987.
Comedian Eddie Murphy, center, with lawyer Leonard Marks, left, leave state Supreme Court in Mineola, Long Island on March 19, 1987.
Eddie Murphy, left, and Arsenio Hall during “The Arsenio Hall Show” on July 13, 1987, at Fox TV Studios in Hollywood, Calif.
American actor Eddie Murphy on the set of “Beverly Hills Cop II.”
The Fat Boys with Sugar Ray Leonard and Eddie Murphy at the premiere of the Fat Boys’ “Disorderlies” movie in New York on Aug. 13, 1987.
Comedian Eddie Murphy at the premiere of “The Untouchables” at the Loew’s Astor Plaza theater in New York on June 2, 1987.
Comedian Eddie Murphy, center, and Arsenio Hall on set of filming “Coming to America” at JFK airport in 1988.
Comedian Eddie Murphy, center, on set of filming “Coming to America” at JFK airport in 1988.
Jasmine Guy has her hand kissed by Eddie Murphy in a scene from the film “Harlem Nights,” 1989.
Actor and comedian Eddie Murphy, left, poses with his People’s Choice Award and fellow comedian Arsenio Hall in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Actor Eddie Murphy, left, raises Mike Tyson’s hand before the fight against Henry Tillman, as Don King looks on at Caesars Palace, on June 16, 1990, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Tyson won by a KO 1.
Nick Nolte, left, and Eddie Murphy in a scene from the film “Another 48 Hrs.”, 1990.
Comedian Eddie Murphy attends the Planet Hollywood opening night in New York in 1991.
Eddie Murphy and Robin Givens in a scene from the film “Boomerang,” 1992.
Eddie Murphy arrives at The Plaza Hotel in New York for his wedding on March 18, 1993.
Eddie Murphy in a scene from the film “The Nutty Professor,” 1996.
Eddie Murphy in a scene from the film “Doctor Dolittle,” 1998.
Eddie Murphy and Steve Martin in a scene from the film “Bowfinger” in 1999.
Janet Jackson and Eddie Murphy in a scene from the film “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps,” 2000.
Eddie Murphy and his family at the “I Spy” premiere in Los Angeles in 2002.
Bria Murphy, center, pictured with her mother Nicole Murphy and father Eddie Murphy in 2011.
Musician Stevie Wonder and honoree Eddie Murphy perform onstage at Spike TV’s “Eddie Murphy: One Night Only” at the Saban Theatre on Nov. 3, 2012, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Eddie Murphy (R) and Paige Butcher pose on the red carpet for the 87th Oscars on Feb. 22, 2015, in Hollywood, Calif.
Jerry Seinfeld and Eddie Murphy speak onstage during the LA Tastemaker event for “Comedians in Cars” at The Paley Center for Media on July 17, 2019, in Beverly Hills City.
Paige Butcher (L) and Eddie Murphy attend the 77th Annual Golden Globe Awards Cocktail Reception at The Beverly Hilton Hotel on Jan. 5, 2020, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
Tracy Morgan poses with Eddie Murphy, winner of the Cecil B. Demille Award, in the press room during the 80th Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on Jan. 10, 2023, in Beverly Hills, Calif.
(L-R) Nia Long, Lauren London, Eddie Murphy, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and David Duchovny attend the premiere of Netflix’s “You People” at Regency Village Theatre on Jan. 17, 2023, in Los Angeles, Calif.
