Actor of the Week - Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy

April 3, 1961 -

Eddie Murphy is, arguably, the most successful Saturday Night Live alumni to move onto the big screen. He absolutely ruled the 80's with hit movie after hit movie.

Murphy was only 19 years old, in 1980, when he landed a spot on Saturday Night Live and he took major advantage of his good fortune. His characters on SNL are legendary and are still as hilarious today as they were back then.

It didn't take Hollywood long to come knocking on Murphy's door, knowing full well he would be box office gold. Murphy's debut movie co-starred Nick Nolte and was called 48hrs. It was a huge hit and his career exploded into the stratosphere afterwards.

Murphy left SNL in 1982 to focus on his big screen career, and as much as everyone hated to see him leave, it was the right move for him.Murphy starred in some of the best comedies of the 80's or any other decade, for that matter. He pretty much couldn't miss throughout the decade, save for possibly The Golden Child, which was panned by critics.

After having one of the most successful decades in the movie business an actor could ever wish for, Eddie moved on into the 90's looking to keep up the success. Right off the bat he hit it big with a 2nd installment of the movie that got the whole ball rolling for him. Eddie returned to the role that made him famous in Another 48hrs.

After this, though, Eddie unfortunately began moving away from his hilariousness and tried to be the romantic lead in films like Boomerang. You won't hear me pan Boomerang too much, though, because it was most peoples first exposure to future mega-star Halle Berry. She looks as good, or better, today as she did way back then in 1992.

The decade of the 90's were hit and miss for Eddie. He'd mix in his usual thigh slapping funny movies, like The Nutty Professor, with clunkers, such as Vampire in Brooklyn.

The new millennium has not slowed Eddie down, although he's not automatic gold like he was in the 80's, he still mixes in plenty of the old type of roles that endeared us to him.

News of a 4th installment of Beverly Hills Cop in 2010 has got me pretty excited. I'll be glad to see Eddie starting his 4th decade of making us laugh.

Eddie Murphy's 80's acting credits:

48hrs (1982)

Trading Places (1983)

Best Defense (1984)

Beverly Hills Cop (1984)

The Golden Child (1986)

Beverly Hills Cop II (1987)

Coming to America (1988)

Harlem Nights (1989)

Also the two stand-up comedy tour shows, Delirious in 1983 and Raw in 1987. I'd say that makes a pretty good decade for Mr. Murphy.

I'll be typin' at ya later,

Bob the Blogger