Eddie Murphy Turns 50

Eddie Murphy Turns 50

Happy 50th Birthday Eddie Murphy!Murphy has a lot to celebrate, one thing; his Kids Choice Award for Favorite Voice in an Animated Movie for his role Donkey in the latest Shrek installment, “Forever After,” that he took home last night.

Believe it or not, the “Nutty Professor,” star was born and raised right here in New York and he even attended New York’s Roosevelt Junior-Senior High School. So how did this star get started? Murphy began acting at an early age, writing his own stand ups and performing them in his teens. People began to notice and by no time he had scored his first major role on “Saturday Night Live.” Today, he has even been ranked #10 on Comedy Central’s list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time.

Murphy made his big screen debut and took his first step to stardom with the film “48 Hrs” in 1982 and since, has conquered the world of comedy with roles in “The Nutty Professor,” “Dr.Dolittle,” “Shrek,” “Daddy Day Care,” “The Nutty Professor II,” “Bowfinger” and more.

There wasn’t anything Murphy didn’t try. Singing was no exception, Murphy is best known, musically, for two hit singles, “Party All the Time,” which was produced by Rick James and “Put Your Mouth on Me.” (He also collaborated with music great, Michael Jackson on a song. His music career didn’t last long.)

Murphy steered clear of funny for a little while and took a more serious role in the film “Dreamgirls,” starring along with Beyonce in the film about a successful female music group. This earned him a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor among other awards.

Today, Murphy’s films have made him the second highest grossing actor in the United States and is currently working on a new project, Tower Heist.

(Some information pulled from Wikipedia.)