Murphy poses for a photo with fellow "Saturday Night Live" cast members in 1981. From left are Murphy, Robin Duke, Joe Piscopo, Christine Ebersole, Mary Gross, Tim Kazurinsky and Tony Rosato.
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Murphy and Chevy Chase appear in a "Weekend Update" segment of "SNL" in 1981.
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Murphy's first feature film was "48 Hrs." in 1982. Here, he appears in a scene with Nick Nolte and Annette O'Toole.
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Murphy plays guitar in one of his trademark leather jumpsuits in 1983. Murphy has had Billboard Hot 100 singles: "Party All the Time" in 1985 and "Put Your Mouth on Me" in 1989.
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Dan Aykroyd and Murphy star in the the 1983 film "Trading Places."
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Lionel Richie reacts as Murphy, who earlier vowed "I ain't leavin' without a Grammy," runs away with Richie's top male vocalist Grammy during the 1983 ceremony.
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Murphy appears as his recurring "SNL" character Gumby alongside Joe Piscopo, playing David Letterman, in 1983.
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John Ashton, Murphy and Judge Reinhold star in "Beverly Hills Cop" in 1984.
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Murphy started making a name for himself on the comedy circuit in the early 1980s with his Richard Pryor-inspired stand-up and often polarizing shows. His 1987 film "Eddie Murphy Raw" — recorded at New York's Madison Square Garden — received a wide release and remains the top-grossing stand-up comedy movie of all time, earning more than $50 million.
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Murphy signs his name in concrete outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood in 1987.
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Murphy stars in the movie "Coming to America" in 1988.
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Murphy presents Michael Jackson with a Special Achievement Award at the 1989 American Music Awards. The pair later recorded the duet "Whatzupwitu" in 1993.
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Murphy and Nolte reunite for "Another 48 Hrs." in 1990.
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Murphy raises the hand of boxer Mike Tyson before a 1990 bout in Las Vegas.
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Murphy married Nicole Mitchell in 1993. The couple had five children together and eventually separated in 2006.
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Murphy released his third musical album in 1993.
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Murphy is joined by his mother, Lillian; his wife, Nicole; and his stepfather, Vernon, at his Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony in 1996.
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Murphy poses for a portrait in 1996.
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Murphy plays the titular role in 1998's "Dr. Dolittle."
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Murphy appears in "The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" in 2000. He used prosthetics, wigs and costumes to play multiple characters in the series of films.
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Murphy arrives at "The Nutty Professor II" premiere with his wife, Nicole, and children Miles, Shayne and Bria in 2000.
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Murphy records lines for "Shrek 2" in 2004. He voiced Donkey in the popular animated films.
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Murphy earned an Oscar nomination for his dramatic turn as James "Thunder" Early in 2006's "Dreamgirls."
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Murphy won a Golden Globe for his performance in "Dreamgirls."
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Murphy and musician Stevie Wonder perform at the "Eddie Murphy: One Night Only" event in 2012. Murphy often did impressions of Wonder on "Saturday Night Live" and in his standup routines.
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Murphy accepts the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center in 2015.
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Murphy portrays real-life comedian, singer and actor Rudy Ray Moore in "Dolemite Is My Name" in 2019.
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In 2019, Murphy returned to "Saturday Night Live" after 35 years and brought back many of his most popular characters. The episode was the highest rated in more than two years, and his hosting appearance earned him an Emmy for outstanding guest actor in a comedy series.
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Arsenio Hall and Murphy star in "Coming 2 America" in 2021, a sequel to their 1988 film.
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Murphy accepts the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2023 Golden Globe Awards.
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