Eddie Murphy - Biography

Who is Eddie Murphy?

Eddie Murphy has changed the face of comedy and Television forever! From a young, amateur comedian he has evolved into one of the most respected Hollywood celebrities. Let’s trace his life from his early days!

Eddie Murphy – Age, Parents, Siblings

Eddie Murphy was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York, the U.S. His birth name/full name is Edward Regan Murphy. His mother’s name is Lillian Murphy, a telephone operator and his father is Charles Edward Murphy, a transit police officer, amateur actor, and comedian. He has an older brother named Charlie Murphy and a younger half-brother Vernon Lynch Jr.

When Murphy was 3 years old, his parents separated. And when he was only 8 years old, his father was murdered.

Talking about his childhood, Eddie said,

"My mother and father broke up when I was three, and he died when I was eight, so I have very dim memories… He was a victim of the Murphy charm (laughs). A woman stabbed my father. I never got all the logistics. 

It was supposed to be one of those crimes of passion: 'If I can't have you, no one else will'-kind of deal. Someone said to me one day, 'That's why you don't trust women.' Get the fuck outta here. What are you, a f****** psychiatrist?”

The same year his mother fell ill and Eddie Murphy and his older brother were placed in foster care for a year. He and his siblings were raised by his mother and stepfather Vernon Lynch. 

Charlie Murphy passed away on April 12, 2017, after a long battle with Leukemia.

Source: People (Eddie Murphy with late brother Charlie)

Education, Ethnicity

For his education, Murphy attended Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School in Roosevelt, New York. His ethnicity is African-American.

Eddie Murphy – Wife, Divorce, Children, Girlfriend

Eddie Murphy has a large family. He is already the father of 10 children! He and his then-girlfriend Paulette McNeely welcomed a baby boy named Eric Murphy on 10 July 1989. 

The very next year, Murphy’s son Christian Murphy was born on 29 November 1990, his baby mama being then-girlfriend Tamara Hood.

Eddie Murphy got in a relationship with Nicole Mitchell after meeting in 1988 at an NAACP Image Awards show. The couple lived together for 2 years before finally tying the knot on March 18, 1993, at the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza Hotel in, New York City. 

They have 5 children together- daughters Bria L. Murphy (November 18, 1989), Shayne Audra Murphy (October 10, 1994), Zola Ivy Murphy (born 24 December 1999), Bella Zahra Murphy (born 29 January 2002), and son Myles Mitchell Murphy (born 7 November 1992).

But in August 2005, after 12 years of marriage, Nicole filed for divorce citing "irreconcilable differences". The divorce was finalized on April 17, 2006.

He went on to date dating former Spice Girl Melanie Brown, aka Mel B. Mel B became pregnant and her daughter Angel Iris Murphy Brown was born on April 3, 2007. The DNA test confirmed that Murphy was the father of Angel Brown but did not take the responsibility and role of a father for Angel.

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However, in 2010, it was reported that he was getting to know her.

Eddie Murphy and film producer Tracey Edmonds exchanged wedding vows on January 1, 2008, on an island off Bora Bora. But upon returning to the United States, their marriage was never made official, separating only 2 weeks after exchanging vows.

Currently, he is in a relationship with model Paige Butcher. The two had begun to date in 2012. Their first child together, a daughter named Izzy Oona Murphy was born May 3, 2016. 

In August 2018, they announced their pregnancy followed by the birth of son Max Charles Murphy on November 20, 2018. Two months ago in September 2018, Eddie and Paige announced their engagement.

Eddie Murphy – Career

Early Days

Eddie Murphy was inspired to become a comedian when he was a 15-year-old boy. But his career actually began with his performance in a talent show at the Roosevelt Youth Center on July 9, 1976. He had impersonated the singer Al Green as Green's song "Let's Stay Together" played.

Seeing his performance he was given to perform in nearby places late at night. He skipped school to perform and was eventually discovered by his mother! Murphy was then sent to summer school. With his hard work, he was cast in the show Saturday Night Live (SNL).

Also read: Leslie Jones - Comedian, Actress 

Films, Shows

Eddie Murphy has perfectly portrayed his roles in movies such as 48 Hrs (1982), Trading Places (1983), Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop III, Beverly Hills Cop III (1994), Best Defense (1984), The Golden Child (1986), Another 48 Hrs, Boomerang, The Nutty Professor, Mulan, Dr. Dolittle, Shrek, Daddy Day Care, The Haunted Mansion, Nutty Professor II: The Klumps.

His other movies include Metro, I Spy, Showtime, Holy Man, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Dreamgirls (2006), Little Miss Sunshine, Norbit (February 2007), Meet Dave (2008), Imagine That (2009), Tower Heist, Mr. Church.

His stand-up specials include Eddie Murphy (1982), Delirious (1983). Delirious was so successful that, his concert film Eddie Murphy Raw was released in 1987, which grossed $50 million.

Eddie Murphy is a singer too. His hit singles include (The Boys Are) Back in Town, Party All the Time, Put Your Mouth On Me, Boogie in Your Butt, Enough Is Enough, Red Light (2013). He also released albums Love's Alright (1985), How Could It Be (1985), So Happy (1989). 

Source: Scraps from the loft (Eddie Murphy in 1983 performing Delirious)

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Eddie Murphy – Net Worth, Salary

The net worth of Murphy is estimated at around $200 million while the figure on his annual salary is unclear.

Eddie Murphy – Instagram, Twitter, Facebook

On social media handles such as Facebook, Eddie Murphy is followed by millions of followers but is absent from Instagram, and Twitter.

Also read: List of famous comedians