Few would argue against Eddie Murphy’s status as one of the greatest comedians in history.
For over twenty years, Murphy held the title of the first Black comedian to sell over $1.1 million in tickets for consecutive live comedy shows. This record was later shattered by Kevin Hart, who grossed $15 million from just two performances during his 2011 “Laugh At My Pain” tour. Hart also joined the exclusive club of comedians who have sold out Madison Square Garden, a milestone Murphy achieved with his legendary “Eddie Murphy: Raw” special in 1987.
Despite these accomplishments, the 63-year-old Murphy remains convinced that no one has elevated the entertainment bar since his rise to fame. In a recent interview with The New York Times, he shared, “There are many people I find funny, but I haven’t witnessed the next level. The pinnacle of stand-up comedy is Richard [Pryor], and for movies, it’s [Charlie] Chaplin. I haven’t seen anyone surpass Chaplin.”
Murphy described his early career as a young star in Hollywood as akin to navigating a minefield. “At any moment, you could step on a mine and undo everything, but I was oblivious to that danger,” he reflected. His talent shone brightly during his four-season tenure on “Saturday Night Live” (1980-1984), and he soon won over Hollywood with hits like the “Beverly Hills Cop” franchise.
Yet, Murphy’s success was far from typical. He faced significant racism and numerous obstacles along his journey. “This industry isn’t designed for a Black artist. It was something new… Black artists were usually the sidekick. I was doing things no one had done before in a business that wasn’t set up for me,” he said. “It’s set up for some white guy to be the star.”
Murphy’s trailblazing opened doors for future Black comedians like Kevin Hart, Dave Chappelle, and Chris Rock. While he hesitates to take full credit for paving their way, Murphy acknowledges his role in changing how studios view Black talent.
“The comic used to be the sidekick, the opener. I changed it to where the comic could be the main attraction,” Murphy stated. “Comics were seen one way, but I showed that a comic could sell out arenas and star in $100 million movies. It didn’t have to be Black exploitation films; it could be accessible to everyone globally. A Black star.”
Check out more of Eddie Murphy’s insightful interview with The New York Times below.
