Eddie Murphy Receives AFI Life Achievement Award In Star-Studded Ceremony With Laughs And Heart

With 65 being the standard retirement age, it only seemed appropriate that in the month Eddie Murphy turned 65, he would be honored with a life achievement award. At last night’s 51st Annual AFI Life Achievement Award Ceremony, the four-time grandfather made a point in his acceptance speech to tell the star-studded crowd that this was a very significant year featuring a significant birthday earlier in April.

However, it’s almost impossible to believe that Murphy, the premiere comedy movie star of his generation, is any kind of retiring grandfather, so when this award was announced a few months ago I was a bit surprised. Not that he didn’t deserve it — he does — but that he has already had a lifetime of achievement to have earned it. He still looks ageless, he is still working all the time, and he is still as funny as ever. The impressive turnout Saturday night at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood confirmed his status as a titan of comedy, an all-timer. Kevin Hart, Tracy Morgan, Kenan Thompson, Robert Townsend, Bill Burr, Arsenio Hall, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Mike Myers, Martin Lawrence, Da’Vine Joy Randolph, and Spike Lee were among those who spoke, either on stage or from the audience, and Murphy genuinely seemed to be having the best time of just about anyone in that crowd.

A couple of weeks ago AFI President and CEO Bob Gazzale told me the thinking behind the American Film Institute Board’s selection process this year, noting that with the world being in such a dark place, it would be a good time to honor a person who provides some much needed laughter, and who better than Murphy? For one of Hollywood’s most prestigious honors — which has gone to the likes of greats including James Cagney, Orson Welles, Alfred Hitchcock, Billy Wilder, Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck, Elizabeth Taylor, Sidney Poitier, Martin Scorsese, Steven Spielberg, Barbra Streisand, Robert De Niro, Meryl Streep, Warren Beatty, Al Pacino, and last year, Francis Ford Coppola, to name just a few over the decades since director John Ford received the first in 1973 — but true comedy giants have been few and far between recognized. In fact, only Mel Brooks in 2013 and Steve Martin in 2015 turned the tide toward funny. Watching Murphy’s remarkable work, from his screen acting debut in 1982’s 48 Hours to his countless classic comedies, standup concert movies, SNL, and more, it was clear that his life achievement honor belonged on the list of greats. As Thompson said in his remarks, “You aren’t just a legend, you are the blueprint, bro.”

The tribute began with a pre-recorded video of 99-year-old Brooks detailing the history of comedy greats in film, including Charlie Chaplin, Harold Lloyd, Buster Keaton — all the way from silents to now — to introduce Murphy as a newer member in that esteemed club. Murphy then appeared on stage to a rollicking standing ovation and made his way to his place at the dais toward the back of the room.

Throughout the evening Murphy narrated his own story through a recently filmed interview starting at the beginning of his love for movies (1968’s Planet Of The Apes was an early moviegoing experience that got him hooked) and his love for Chaplin, whom he clearly idolizes. In between that interview and some expertly chosen clips, a parade of who’s who of comedy sang his praises and told some hilarious stories. In terms of AFI evenings I have attended (Frank Capra’s was my first), this was, anecdote-for-anecdote one of the most purely entertaining.

Hart, dissecting the meaning of Murphy’s full name — Edward Regan Murphy — was first up, followed by Morgan who, noting outfits Murphy wore doing standup sets, said, “Eddie did more for red leather than any Black man in history. Eddie made the world laugh and right now the world really needs that.” He also spoke about how honored he was to work with Murphy on the SNL 50th Special where Murphy impersonated Morgan opposite the real deal, worrying if he was actually better.

The origin of Murphy’s immortal Gumby was also detailed, as well as his classic SNL characters like Buckwheat, James Brown, Mr. Robinson, and more. Highlighting his second film hit, Trading Places, co-star Dan Aykroyd was planning to attend but sent daughter Belle instead who said her dad wanted to be there but “life got in the way,” proceeding to read a long tribute “word for word” from him.

The night’s second standing ovation came when none other than Stevie Wonder appeared and also hilariously noted the famous impression Murphy does of him. “Eddie is more than a comedian, actor, and entertainer … Eddie finds our common funny-bone. He and I found each other because he would imitate me on SNL. Yes, he made fun of a blind man, and it started a lifelong friendship.”

Townsend, Burr (“I am the reverse diversity hire of the evening”), and Beverly Hills Cop co-star Judge Reinhold all followed with Reinhold explaining Murphy’s penchant for playing multiple characters in one movie. “To our great benefit, you have never stopped. Who else could play the lead and the whole supporting cast?” he asked.

Pal and Coming To America co-star Arsenio Hall brought the house down with similar sentiments, explaining how in that film Eddie convinced him to play not just Semmi, but also Preacher Brown, the Woman in Red, and Morris the Barber. “Eddie makes a family movie and plays the whole damn family! That’s range,” Hall praised before saluting him in the voice of Preacher Brown.

Chris Rock made some brief remarks from his table comparing him to Marlon Brando. “You’re the first Black man to be cool, to just be yourself,” he said. One time co-star Eva Longoria appeared to talk about Murphy’s many philanthropic contributions. And then Chappelle turned up and noted the starry room. “I saw all my heroes here to honor the sole survivor of the 80’s!” He also paid tribute to Murphy’s late brother Charlie, who had suggested that Chappelle would be perfect for a role opposite Eddie in Norbit, but later told him: Never mind, “Eddie is playing both parts!”

Murphy’s scene-stealing voice work as Donkey in Shrek was honored by title star Myers, turning up in full green makeup as Shrek, comparing Murphy to greats like Peter Sellers and Alec Guinness, who so memorably also played multiple roles in their movies, real inspirations to Murphy, as he himself has said. This was followed by his Oscar winning co-star in Dreamgirls, Jennifer Hudson, delivering a knockout set of three songs. Murphy was up for his one and only Oscar nomination for that film and most predicted a win, but it went to long overdue veteran star Alan Arkin instead. In my opinion, Eddie should have been nominated for his incredible comic achievement in The Nutty Professor remake, though comedy is rarely recognized by Academy voters, as with Jerry Lewis’ different kind of brilliance in the original movie. That is what makes this AFI honor even more significant, I think.

Bowfinger co-star Martin was on tape setting up the LOL scene where Eddie’s character had to cross an entire freeway during rush hour to get to the other side. I would put that scene up against any of the most classic movie comedy moments from the silents forward. Oscar winner Randolph made heartfelt remarks about the opportunity she got to work with the AFI honoree in Dolemite Is My Name. Meanwhile, Lawrence shared a story about being thrilled to meet Murphy for the first time and asking for a photo together, to which Murphy replied, “No.” “That’s OK because now we are in-laws, and I get all the photos I want,” Lawrence said, referring to the fact that his daughter married Murphy’s son. (Murphy has 10 kids.) “Eddie introduced us to comedy in rock star fashion.”

Lee, missing a key game of his beloved New York Knicks, showed up last to present Murphy with his new trophy: “Anybody else I would have been court-side. I came out for you.” Murphy made his way to the stage, resulting in another standing ovation. He was clearly overwhelmed, saying he woke up Saturday morning with a lot of anxiety over what the evening would bring, but instead had a great time, evident from the many shots of him exercising his famous laugh all night long (and it was indeed one of the longer AFI shows I have been to because so many turned up to toast the star).

Murphy said, “To get this award and still look like myself! Sometimes they let you get to be so old before you get this award; Mel Brooks was 86 when he got it. And last year the great Francis Ford Coppola was 86 as well. I’m 65. The oldest to ever get it was Lillian Gish. She was 92, right? [sic, 90] She was very gracious when she came to accept it. If they waited to give me this when I was 92 I would come out here and say, ‘F–k everybody!’”

And don’t even think Murphy has any plans to rest on this life achievement award and retire anytime soon. Among films he has lined up are his longtime passion project to play funkadelic legend George Clinton in a biopic and Inspector Clouseau (following Sellers and Martin) in a new take on The Pink Panther. He has even said he would like to do a remake of the 1963 comedy classic It’s A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. He could cast it with many who were in the Dolby Saturday.

It was a great night. Hopefully, new streaming partner Netflix plays it all when it airs May 31.

Earlier in the evening, the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal went to recent Oscar-winning Sinners cinematographer and 2009 AFI Conservatory graduate Autumn Durald Arkapaw, who also garnered a well-deserved standing ovation and, as the first woman to win the Cinematography Academy Award, was just as inspirational in her acceptance here, with Gazzale noting just five days after that Oscar triumph she was back on the AFI campus mentoring new students to follow in her footsteps.