Some careers have a slow buildup Eddie Murphy’s started like fireworks. From MC at a high school talent show to box-office superstar, his rise was faster and more lasting than anyone could have imagined. But behind the comedy and the big-budget films are the stories that shed light on how unique his career really was.
If you’re a student of 1980s comedy and Hollywood lore, then Murphy’s odyssey is a treasure trove of plot twists, A-list cameos, and life-defining moments that changed the direction of his life. This wasn’t just about the jokes it was about hustle, risk-taking, and the people who kept bringing him back into the spotlight.
Take a look at seven moments: some laughable, some unforgettable, that shot Eddie Murphy from class clown to Hollywood legend.
1. This Cartoon That Wasn’t
Much before Eddie Murphy was a fixture in the house, he was a child with eyes glued to the TV on Saturdays, impersonating from Bullwinkle to Bugs Bunny. His mother even claimed that he “never spoke in his own voice.” In 1987, Murphy was close to turning that enthusiasm into a Saturday morning cartoon with Hanna-Barbera. That script never materialized, and years later, an intended remake of Hong Kong Phooey could not get off the ground either. But the early impressions refined the voice acting that later made those cartoon characters of his so iconic like Donkey in Shrek.
2. From Cafeteria Comedian to NYC Stages
Murphy’s humor goes back a long way to Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School, where lunch was his platform and popularity was determined by peers Most Popular. At age 15, he was working downtown New York clubs, rendering belly laughs with swift-fire celeb impersonations and an offbeat take on ordinary life. Those gigs fed confidence but also linked him in with the East Coast comedy circuit, where up-and-comers like Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg also honed their talents.
3. Barack Obama’s Stand-Up Challenge
Back on the mike after a years-long layoff, in 2015, Murphy was welcomed to the airport by then-President Barack Obama to accept the Mark Twain Prize. Obama’s first question? “When are you gonna do stand-up again?” Murphy laughed to USA Today, “When you get into the Oval Office and the President looks at you it’s time to make some jokes.” His layoff had afforded him more than sufficient fresh material, being a father of ten children, marriage and divorce and life in Hollywood over the years and so his return was richer than ever.
4. While Being Part of the Cast Hosting ‘SNL’
In December 1982, Eddie Murphy made SNL history. Due to Nick Nolte’s last-minute cancellation, producer Dick Ebersol passed the hosting to Murphy, something no other still-active cast member had ever done. It started off with a brassy proclamation: “Live, from New York, it’s the Eddie Murphy Show” His installation reinforced his status as the program’s saviour of its volatile period, even while backstage resentment circulated regarding his increased fame.
5. Animal Phobia while Shooting ‘Doctor Dolittle’
Ironically, the man who played a character able to talk to animals was actually afraid of his on-set co-stars. On Doctor Dolittle, Murphy asked to have scenes filmed in front of no live animals, editors inserting them in during post-production. Whenever close contact was unavoidable, it often ended with him shouting. In the sequel, even more protection had to be in place, testimony that even film megastars have quirks that characterise their output.
6. A Beverly Hills Cop: A Role Suited Only for Stallone
Murphy’s solo lead in Beverly Hills Cop had almost failed to materialise until Sylvester Stallone was contracted. After Stallone dropped out several weeks before filming was to begin, Murphy took over and rewrote the script in comic improv. What was the end result? A $230 million box-office hit, the top-grossing R-rated movie at the time, and Murphy’s third consecutive Golden Globe nomination. It also illustrated how he could carry a film on personality alone.
7. The Paramount Deal That Shaped an Era
Exclusive studio arrangements in the 1980s were on the decline, but Murphy signed two with PARAMOUNT PICTURES. His 1984 five-movie and concert feature contract was bolstered in 1987 with an extension that also allowed creative control for his production company. His movies 48 Hrs., Trading Places, and Beverly Hills Cop thus far had gathered some $600 million domestically. No longer such a financial issue, in a 1987 news conference, Murphy declared: “It’s what you, yourself, enjoy doing, it’s not about money anymore.”
Eddie Murphy’s career is more than a succession of hits; it’s a continuum of aggressive pushes, coincidental opportunities, and personal individual traits that fashioned him into a Hollywood legend. From interpreting cafeteria humor into successful tours to leveraging roles that’ve become cultural reference points, he’s navigated fame with intuition and temerity. For traditional comedy fans, these moments remind us that every laugh carries a story, and Murphy’s among the best.
