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Eddie Murphy is one of the greatest stand-up comedians of all time who became an international star. Murphy rose to fame on the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live, where he played iconic roles of Gumby, Buckwheat and Mr. Robinson. Murphy jumped to movies getting his start in 48 Hrs. and Trading Places. It wasn’t he played Axel Foley (with that sweet ass theme song) that he broke out into an international star. Murphy has had many roles throughout his four-decade career from a talking donkey in Shrek, a scientist in the Nutty Professor, a fast-talking dragon and a doctor who can talk to animals. Murphy has done it all and even had a top ten hit in singing. A great career for a man who started out from humble beginnings.
Detective Axel Foley- Beverly Hills Cop film series
In the role that made him an international superstar, Murphy play Detective Axel Foley. Foley is a Detroit detective who comes to Beverly Hills to solve a crime. Murphy is beyond funny and phenomenal in this role. His jokes and the way he carries himself will have you rolling on the ground with laughter. Dude even has one of the best theme songs of all-time.
Donkey- Shrek film series
In the DreamWorks universe, Murphy voices the one and only Donkey in the Sherk series. An animal that becomes best friends with Sherk and has a love affair with a dragon. Donkey can never stop talking and has some of the best lines from, “Sherk! I’m looking down!”, “I Like That Boulder. That Is A Nice Boulder.”, and my personal favorite “We Can Stay Up Late, Swapping Manly Stories, And In The Morning, I’m Making Waffles!”
Himself- Saturday Night Live (1980s)
Let’s go to the start of Murphy’s career when he was a comedian on the sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live. Murphy earned national attention from the show and made many iconic characters. Some of those characters included the grown-up version of the Little Rascals character Buckwheat; a streetwise children’s show host named Mr. Robinson; and the cynical Gumby whose slogan became an SNL catchphrase: “I’m Gumby, dammit!”
Prince Akeem Joffer/Others- Coming to America (1988)
One of the most famous movies of Eddie Murphy’s career is Coming to America. Murphy downs many make up to play many roles in this film and each one of them is hilarious in their own way. His primary role is Price Akeem, a prince who comes to America looking for a wife. The other roles he plays in the barber and the singer and probably a few others. Such a great and entertaining movie.
James “Thunder” Early- Dreamgirls (2006)
Dreamgirls is a Broadway musical that takes strong inspiration from the history of the Motown record label and The Supremes. Eddie Murphy deserves a standing ovation as James (Jimmy) “Thunder” Early. Murphy was heavily impressive in this role. In the beginning, Murphy showed Jimmy as that fun loving person and having a really great time. As his star started to fade, you could see the anger rise and then come a head when he does drug or on stage with the song, “Jimmy Got Soul.”
Party All the Time- Himself (1985)
When Eddie Murphy was at the top of his game, he released a song. Yup, a freakin song Murphy stated that the song was a bet he made between himself and the legendary Richard Pryor on whether he can sing or not. With the help of the one and only I’m Rick James, Bitch, who wrote and produced the song, it was a freakin hit. This song reached number two on the Billboard Hot 100 for three weeks. I don’t know if that is the power of, I’m Rick James, Bitch, Murphy’s star power or both. Either way, the song will go down in Murphy’s legacy.
Himself- Delirious & Raw
How can we not talk about Murphy’s two stand-up specials? Delirious and Raw were funny as hell and will make you laugh. Now, it has a ton of language and also, it’s not suitable for the world today. Many of the jokes are not cool anymore. Murphy struts around is tight ass red and purple outfits. The ice cream joke is a classic.
Mushu- Mulan (1998)
Mulan is an animated film made by Walt Disney Pictures, that is based in the Chinese legend of Hua Mulan, and was Disney’s 36th animated feature. The plot of the film takes place in China during the Han dynasty where Fa Mulan, impersonates a man to take her aging father’s place to fight off a Hun invasion. Murphy voices Mushu, a small red dragon, who is a disgraced former family guardian. Mushu was demoted to the role of awakening the spirits of the ancestors. Murphy is funny and great as the little red dragon as he tells it how it is and sometimes is the voice of reason.
Reggie Hammond- 48 Hrs. (1982)
In his feature film debut, Murphy garnered his first Golden Globe nomination for this role. Murphy plays Hammond as a fast-talking, convict who is freed from prison to bring down two cop killers with the help of Nick Nolte, who plays the cop. In a strange and unique pairing, Murphy was amazing as Hammond as he gave the character edge, street appeal and the complete opposite of stressed out, tight-ass Cates. This role was made for Murphy and he took it and ran with it.
Billy Ray Valentine- Trading Places (1983)
Murphy is HILARIOUS as Billy Ray Valentine. The film tells the story of a stick up their ass, upper-calls commodities broker, played by Dan Aykroyd, and poor street hustler, played by Murphy, whose lives cross when they become subject of a very small-time bet made by two brothers. In Murphy’s second role ever, Murphy proved that he has the stuff to make it as a huge star. He is fast talking, quick-witted and had many hilarious moments. A great start to a long career.
