Eddie Murphy is the most commercially successful Black actor in the history of the motion picture business.
Murphy began his career as a stand-up comedian over 45 years ago when he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1980. From “Shrek,” “48 Hours,” “Trading Places,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Dreamgirls,” “Dr. Dolittle,” “The Nutty Professor” to “Daddy Day Care,” his films have been among the highest-grossing comedies in the industry.
He has starred in more than 70 films and will receive the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, America’s highest honor for a career in film from the American Film Institute (AFI).
The award will be presented to Murphy at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026.
Currently seen in the Netflix documentary “Being Eddie,” Murphy’s recent projects include Amazon’s heist comedy “The Pickup,” “Candy Lane” and “You People.” He also starred in “Coming 2 America,” the long-awaited sequel to his 1988 box-office hit; as well as portraying the legendary underground comic personality Rudy Ray Moore in the Netflix biopic “Dolemite Is My Name,” a performance which garnered him several Golden Globes nominations.
“Eddie Murphy is an American icon,” said Kathleen Kennedy, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. “A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television and stand-up comedy, his versatility knows no bounds. Across five decades, his enduring impact on our culture has inspired artists and audiences alike, and AFI is proud to honor him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.”
Previous recipients of AFI’s Life Achievement Award include Robert De Niro, Tom Hanks, Morgan Freeman, Denzel Washington and Sidney Poitier who received the honor in 1992.
Samantha Ofole-Prince is a journalist and movie critic who covers industry-specific news that includes television and film. She serves as the Entertainment Editor for Trendy Africa