‘Being Eddie’ lifts the veil on one of America’s top comedians: 9 takeaways from the documentary

Eddie Murphy is a true Hollywood legend, having starred in iconic roles for decades, from his start on “Saturday Night Live” through hits like “The Nutty Professor” and “Dreamgirls,” and continuing to this day.

Murphy is known for creating a large and memorable cast of unusual characters. These include a sharply dressed prisoner, a bumbling professor, a witty donkey, an older Jewish man, and even a difficult, overweight wife.

The new Netflix documentary, “Being Eddie,” offers a personal look at Eddie Murphy, revealing the side of himself he feels most connected to.

Directed by Angus Wall, who also produced “The Greatest Night in Pop,” this documentary follows the incredible career of Eddie Murphy. Known for being very private and rarely giving interviews, Murphy doesn’t often share details about how he creates his work or his personal life.

Known for his funny and thoughtful observations, the comedian openly shares his life story – from starting out as a young stand-up performer in New Jersey to quickly landing a spot on “Saturday Night Live” after high school. He also reflects on his successful movies like “48 Hrs.,” “Trading Places,” and “Eddie Murphy Raw,” and how he evolved from a controversial, edgy performer to a star in family-friendly films.

He also talks about some of his less successful films, like “Vampire in Brooklyn,” and playfully criticizes “Saturday Night Live” and the Oscars, jokingly pointing out that he hasn’t won an Academy Award despite a long and varied career.

Much of the film takes place at Eddie Murphy’s impressive home, where he spends time with his ten children and his wife, Paige Butcher. He emphasizes that his children are his most important achievement, stating, “My kids are the center of my life, and if you prioritize family, you won’t go wrong.” The film also features commentary from many famous comedians, including Jerry Seinfeld, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, and Pete Davidson, all discussing Murphy’s impact on comedy and culture.

The following are some of the more fascinating takeaways from “Being Eddie.”

Murphy says actor Yul Brynner propositioned him to engage in a threesome

At his 21st birthday party at New York’s Studio 54, Murphy recalls that Yul Brynner – the famous star of films like “The Magnificent Seven” and “The King and I” – invited him and his wife back to Brynner’s apartment to continue the celebration.

He turned down the offer, but afterward wondered if Yul Brynner had intended it as a setup to have him sleep with Brynner’s wife. “Looking back, I should have said yes – it would have made for a much better story,” he joked.

Though he was friends with hard-partying celebrities, Murphy has never touched drugs

Murphy remembered being 19 and at a blues bar with comedians John Belushi and Robin Williams when someone brought out cocaine. He also recalled spending time with Rick James in the 1980s and leaving quickly whenever certain people arrived.

He admits he’s never had any interest in drugs. He’s never used cocaine and doesn’t drink alcohol or smoke cigarettes. He didn’t even try marijuana until he was thirty.

People who know him say Eddie Murphy is quite reserved when he’s not performing. Jamie Foxx describes him as introverted, noting that at parties, Murphy often prefers to sit quietly with a Coke.

A joke by David Spade on ‘SNL’ upset him so much he stayed away from the show for decades

During a 1995 sketch on “Saturday Night Live,” David Spade jokingly referenced Eddie Murphy’s unsuccessful film, “Vampire in Brooklyn,” saying it was like watching a star fall. Murphy was deeply hurt by the comment, feeling it was a personal attack on his career, not just his comedy. He was upset that the joke had been approved by multiple people before being aired and subsequently distanced himself from the show. Years later, after making some movies he wasn’t proud of, Murphy decided he wanted to prove he still had comedic talent. In 2019, he returned to host “Saturday Night Live” to reconnect with the show that launched his career, stating it was an important part of his history.

He believes he had obsessive-compulsive disorder

When he was young, Murphy developed a habit of constantly checking the kitchen stove at night to make sure it was turned off. He also often found himself humming a strange, silly tune. Later, he realized these were likely symptoms of obsessive-compulsive disorder after seeing a specialist discuss it on television, and he tried to stop. Although he mostly overcame the behavior, he admits to still doing it occasionally as an adult, but not as often.

The pain displayed by his character in ’Dreamgirls’ was real

Eddie Murphy’s performance as James “Thunder” Early in the 2006 film “Dreamgirls” is often considered his best, demonstrating his ability to portray complex emotions. The movie also featured Beyoncé, Jennifer Hudson, and Jamie Foxx. This role came during a difficult time for Murphy, as he was going through a divorce from his wife of 12 years, Nicole Mitchell, with whom he shares five children.

“It was emotional,” Murphy says. “A lot of the pain was real.”

Murphy has a rocky relationship with the Oscars

During the 1988 Academy Awards, Eddie Murphy made an unscripted statement while presenting the final award. He said, “I’m giving this award, but Black people won’t be left behind anymore.” According to Murphy, the media completely ignored his comments and there are no photos of him from that night’s ceremony, making it seem as if he wasn’t even there.

The last time he attended the Oscars was in 2007, where he was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role in “Dreamgirls.” Many predicted he would win, as he’d already received awards from both the Screen Actors Guild and the Golden Globes. However, Alan Arkin won for “Little Miss Sunshine,” despite his character having limited screen time – less than 15 minutes.

In his account, Murphy says he wasn’t bothered by losing the Oscar. He explains that the frustrating part was even bothering to attend the ceremony, since he typically avoids awards shows. He felt it was a waste of time to dress up and go, only to lose anyway – he could have just stayed home!

Eddie Murphy believes the marketing for his film “Norbit,” released during Oscar season, likely caused him to lose the Best Actor award for “Dreamgirls.” The film’s promotional billboards featured Murphy in a deliberately exaggerated and unflattering portrayal of an overweight woman, and many in the industry felt this alienated Oscar voters. Additionally, the imagery sparked criticism from Black activists who argued it reinforced harmful stereotypes. Murphy himself felt the campaign damaged his chances (“It really messed things up.”)

His favorite TV shows are ’Ridiculousness’ and ’Seinfeld’

Murphy calls “Ridiculousness,” the MTV clip show that just ended after 46 seasons, the best show on TV. Surprisingly, he even compares it to the films of avant-garde director Alejandro Jodorowsky. He also shared that he and his wife have a nightly routine of watching two episodes of “Seinfeld” before bed.

Murphy ditched his trademark laugh

Eddie Murphy’s famous, infectious laugh, often heard in his movies and stand-up routines, has changed. He now laughs with a deeper, more throaty sound, explaining that his old laugh felt forced and predictable.

He has ventriloquist dummies of Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor, two major figures in his career

The movie concludes with Eddie Murphy playfully interacting with puppets of Richard Pryor and Bill Cosby. Murphy greatly admired Pryor early in his career and aspired to follow in his footsteps. However, as Murphy’s fame grew, Hollywood created a rivalry between them, fueled by Pryor’s public discomfort with Murphy’s success. While Cosby was also an inspiration, he took offense to Murphy’s use of profanity. Hurt by Cosby’s disapproval, Murphy retaliated with a cutting impression of him during his stand-up special, “Eddie Murphy Raw.”

2025-11-12 11:32