Top 10 Moments From The Eddie Murphy Documentary

#10: Inspiring Young Comics

The press labeled Murphy as “the new Richard Pryor,” as if there could only be one successful Black comedian. Obviously, this was disproven with the rise of comedians like Kevin Hart and Chris Rock, both of whom grew up idolizing Murphy. Rock even recalled how Murphy went out of his way to bring him on stage one night when he was still getting his foot in the door. It wasn’t just Black men who Murphy inspired. As a kid, Pete Davidson knew Murphy best from family-friendly comedies. After picking up a copy of “Eddie Murphy Delirious,” it opened Davidson’s eyes to a whole new world of stand-up. Davidson’s mother didn’t find the language appropriate, but she could see her son needed to laugh.

#9: Making Some Stinkers

While there’s no denying that Murphy has starred in some of cinema’s funniest movies, he acknowledges that not all of them were classics. This is addressed early on when he references playing a spaceship in “Meet Dave.” While he doesn’t mention that 2008 comedy by name, he advises others against ever starring as a rocket ship. “Meet Dave” was just one of several bad movies that Murphy made in succession, often being cited at the Razzies. In fact, the Razzies named him Worst Actor of the Decade as the 2010s wrapped. It’s not a coincidence that Murphy took an acting hiatus after 2011. He knew that some of his recent projects were just plain bad, and now was the time for a break.

#8: Yul Brynner’s Offer

After “48 Hrs.,” Murphy’s star skyrocketed, becoming one of the most bankable actors in Hollywood. As such, many actors from Hollywood’s golden age were interested in grabbing lunch with him. Marlon Brando, Charlton Heston, and Frank Sinatra are just a few late legends that Murphy had the chance to meet. The standout was Yul Brynner, who’s best known for his Oscar-winning work in “The King and I.” Brynner invited Murphy to come back to his apartment and “party” with his wife. Murphy turned him down, not thinking much of it. The more Murphy thought about it, though, he began to wonder exactly what Brynner meant by “party.” In retrospect, Murphy wishes he had gone with him, if only to give this story a better ending.

#7: Staying Away From Substances

Becoming famous in the 80s, on the comedy scene no less, Murphy was naturally surrounded by illegal substances. During his first season on “SNL,” Murphy went to a blues bar where John Belushi and Robin Williams had blow. It would’ve been easy for someone in Murphy’s position to fall into the habits that have ruined so many lives, especially in celebrity circles. Even at a young age, though, Murphy simply wasn’t interested in drugs. To this date, he claims to have never done cocaine. Murphy would eventually smoke a joint, but not until he was in his 30s. Murphy credits his healthy lifestyle to the power of loving oneself. He wouldn’t do coke even if Shrek offered it to him.

#6: Fun with Dummies

Murphy had a knack for performance since childhood. His mother encouraged this, purchasing him a ventriloquist dummy that he wanted. Though the dummy, Murphy experimented with different voices, foreshadowing how he’d sometimes play multiple characters in the same movie. Although Willie Talk didn’t become a staple of his act, Murphy still has a soft spot for puppets. Toward the end of the documentary, Murphy breaks out some dummies modeled after famous people. Among them is Bill Cosby, and Murphy doesn’t hesitate to go there. Murphy also has puppets of Richard Pryor, Paul Mooney, and singer Val Young. We feel like it’s only a matter of time until Netflix greenlights an Eddie Murphy puppet movie. We’ll take it over a “Cosby Show” reboot!

#5: Remembering Charlie Murphy

Sadly passing away in 2017, Charlie Murphy might not have been as famous as his younger brother. Honestly, how many comedians are? The elder Murphy was still an underrated talent, and arguably one of his generation’s funniest storytellers. As Eddie’s brother, not to mention his head of security for a period, Charlie had plenty of stories to tell. This would even inspire a recurring segment on “Chappelle’s Show.” Watching the archival footage, we remember how naturally Charlie Murphy could recount even the most insane tales with a straight face. Charlie was always proud and protective of his little brother, who still misses him to this day. We all do, but Charlie’s memory lives on through his stories about Prince, Rick James, and, of course, Eddie.

#4: Eddie’s Upbringing

Murphy’s parents split when he was young, which he blames on an expensive photo of himself and Charlie. His parents’ constant fighting and breakup wasn’t the most traumatic experience of Murphy’s childhood. That would be his father’s murder, which apparently stemmed from an altercation with another woman. Murphy’s mother remarried, with her new husband, Vernon Lynch, raising his stepsons as his own. Murphy credits his stepfather for helping him become a well-adjusted adult. Yet, Murphy’s upbringing wasn’t without some unaddressed mental health issues. As a kid, Murphy made multiple trips to the stove every night to ensure the gas was off. This was chalked up to a quirk, but it wasn’t until years later that Murphy realized that he had exhibited signs of obsessive–compulsive disorder.

#3: The Man Behind the Makeup

In “Coming to America,” Murphy didn’t just star as Prince Akeem Joffer. He played three regulars at a New York barbershop. While everyone knew that Murphy could carry a movie, it was unclear if he could convincingly juggle roles. Between Murphy’s comedic range and Rick Baker’s makeup effects, though, many didn’t realize that he had played more than one character. This included Jesse Jackson, who was flabbergasted to learn that it was Murphy under all those prosthetics. This wasn’t the last time that Murphy’s makeup fooled somebody. Dave Chappelle met Murphy on “The Nutty Professor” set. Chappelle didn’t recognize Murphy, who was in his Sherman Klump getup. After hearing him speak, Chappelle suddenly realized it was Murphy, who called him funny.

#2: Losing the Oscar

After throwing shade at the Academy while presenting Best Picture during the 1988 telecast, Murphy figured that he had torched his chances of ever winning an Oscar. Nevertheless, Murphy was deemed the Oscar favorite years later after he won a Golden Globe and SAG Award for his performance in “Dreamgirls.” While Murphy was nominated for Best Supporting Actor, the Oscar ultimately went to another comedy legend, Alan Arkin. Maybe it was because of his comments in 1988. Maybe it was because “Norbit” came out around the same time. In any case, Murphy isn’t that sore about losing. Awards are nice, but he doesn’t need statues to find gratification. Murphy just thinks it’s annoying when he gets dressed up in a tuxedo for nothing.

#1: His Complicated History with “SNL”

Although Murphy wanted to do standup, “SNL” didn’t cross his mind until he had a chance to audition. Murphy became an MVP when the sketch series desperately needed a breakout star. One might say that Murphy single-handedly saved “SNL,” ensuring its longevity even after he left. Murphy thus took it personally when cast member David Spade called him a “falling star” during an “SNL” sketch. Murphy didn’t hold a grudge against Spade, but he was upset with “SNL” as a whole. “SNL” had been his home, and Murphy saw this as a backstab. In response, Murphy avoided returning to “SNL” for years. In December 2019, though, Murphy would finally host “SNL,” reminding everyone of where this comedy genius got his biggest break.

Who you have any interesting stories about Eddie Murphy’s career? Let us know in the comments.