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Born in Brooklyn
April 3, 1961
Murphy was born in Brooklyn, New York. His mother, Lillian, was a telephone operator, and his father, Charles Edward Murphy, was a transit police officer and amateur comedian.
Father Left
January 1, 1964
Murphy's father left the family when Murphy was three and was stabbed to death when Murphy was eight.
Stand-up Comedy
January 1, 1980
Murphy performed stand-up comedy at the same Bay Area Comedy Club as Robin Williams and Whoopi Goldberg. His early comedy was racy, akin to Richard Pryor, whom Murphy has credited as his inspiration to enter comedy.
Saturday Night Live
January 1, 1980 - January 1, 1984
Saturday Night Live.
48 Hrs.
January 1, 1982
In 1982, Murphy made his big screen debut in the 48 Hrs. alongside Nick Nolte.[4] The movie was perhaps most notable for two scenes: 1) a scene involving Murphy (on a bet with Nolte) terrorizing a redneck bar,[4] and 2) a scene in which Murphy, in a jail cell, sings "Roxanne" by The Police loudly and out of key while listening to the song on headphones.
Delirious
January 1, 1983
At the height of his popularity, Murphy appeared in the concert films Delirious (1983) and Raw (1987).[4] Delirious contained an infamous routine in which he depicted characters Ralph Kramden and Ed Norton from The Honeymooners, as well as other notables such as Mr. T, as homosexuals.
Grammy
January 1, 1983
In 1983, Murphy won a Grammy for his comedy album Comedian.
Trading Places
January 1, 1983
The following year, Murphy co-starred with fellow alumnus Dan Aykroyd in Trading Places.
Beverly Hills Cop
January 1, 1984
In 1984, Murphy starred in the successful action film Beverly Hills Cop. Beverly Hills Cop grossed over $200 million at the box office and is the 38th highest-grossing film of all time as of 2008, and is the third highest grossing "R" rated film of all-time (after The Exorcist and The Godfather), when both figures are adjusted for ticket price inflation
Party All the Time
January 1, 1985
Murphy had two hit singles, "Party All the Time" (which was produced by Rick James) and "Put Your Mouth on Me" in the mid-1980s
The Golden Child
January 1, 1986
In 1986, Murphy starred in the supernatural comedy, The Golden Child.[4] The Golden Child was originally intended to be a serious adventure picture starring Mel Gibson. After Gibson turned the role down, the project was offered to Murphy as it was subsequently rewritten as a partial comedy.
Love's Alright
January 1, 1990
Murphy recorded the album Love's Alright in the early 1990s. He performed in a music video of the single "Whatzupwitu", featuring Michael Jackson.
Married Nicole Mitchell
March 18, 1993
Murphy began a longtime romantic relationship with Nicole Mitchell after meeting her in 1988 at an NAACP Image Awards show. They lived together for a year and a half before getting married at the Grand Ballroom of The Plaza Hotel in New York City on March 18, 1993.
The Nutty Professor
January 1, 1996
Murphy's box office results began to recover in 1996, starting with The Nutty Professor
Dr. Dolittle
January 1, 1998
Dr. Dolittle
Dreamgirls
January 1, 2006
In 2006, he starred in the motion picture version of the Broadway musical Dreamgirls as soul singer James "Thunder" Early. Murphy won a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award and a Broadcast Film Critics Association Award in that category.
Divorced
April 17, 2006
In August 2005, Mitchell filed for divorce, citing "irreconcilable differences." The divorce was finalized on April 17, 2006.
Dated Spice Girl Melanie
June 1, 2006
Following his divorce from Mitchell, he dated Spice Girl Melanie B or Melanie Brown, who stated that her child is Murphy's. When questioned about the pregnancy in December 2006, Murphy told a reporter, "I don't know whose child that is until it comes out and has a blood test. You shouldn't jump to conclusions, sir".[16] Brown gave birth to a baby girl, Angel Iris Murphy Brown, on Murphy's 46th birthday, April 3, 2007. On June 22, 2007, representatives for Brown announced in People that a DNA test had confirmed that Murphy was the father.
Golden Globe
January 1, 2007
Actor in a Supporting Role - Dreamgirls
Kids Choice Awards
January 1, 2008
Best Voice in an Animated Movie - Shrek the Third
Married Tracey Edmonds
January 1, 2008
Murphy exchanged marriage vows with film producer Tracey Edmonds, former wife of Kenny "Babyface" Edmonds, on January 1, 2008 in a private ceremony on an island off Bora Bora.[18] It was announced on January 16, 2008 that they never legally wed, had decided to forgo legalizing their union and had instead chosen to remain friends.
