Murphy, Eddie
1961- · Contribution: 1980-present
Comedian & Actor
Comedian, actor, and singer who became one of the defining box-office draws of the 1980s and one of the highest-grossing actors in film history; rose to fame as a cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' (1980-1984) and headlined blockbuster comedies including '48 Hrs.,' 'Trading Places,' 'Beverly Hills Cop,' and 'Coming to America,' opening doors for a generation of Black comedians and actors.
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Quick facts
- Born
- 1961
- Active since
- 1980
- Category
- Arts, Music & Entertainment Tech
- Best known for
- "SNL" breakout"Beverly Hills Cop" & "Coming to America"1980s box-office titan
Impact on the world
Murphy became the dominant comedic movie star of the 1980s, a Black lead opening the biggest films in a white-dominated industry. He redefined the box-office power of Black stars.
An alternative history
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Sources
- Book or scholarly workFind
Britannica (Eddie Murphy)
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Related visionaries
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1940-2005
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Lawrence, Martin Fitzgerald
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Co-created and starred in 'Martin,' a Fox sitcom that became Black television's flagship Thursday-night program in the 1990s; hosted HBO's groundbreaking 'Def Comedy Jam,' launching the mainstream careers of Chris Tucker, Dave Chappelle, and Bernie Mac
Wayans, Keenen Ivory Desuma
1958-
Co-wrote and co-starred in 'Hollywood Shuffle' alongside Robert Townsend, already profiled in this collection; created 'In Living Color,' the first major Black-led network sketch comedy show, launching the careers of Jim Carrey, Jamie Foxx, and Jennifer Lopez
Smith, Willard Carroll Jr.
1968-
Starred in 'The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,' widely regarded as a watershed moment for hip-hop's entry into mainstream television; became the fifth Black actor to win the Academy Award for Best Actor