Eddie Murphy Opens Up About Family Life and Career
Comedy legend Eddie Murphy offers an uncommon insight into his private life in the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, where he discusses his children and more than four decades in show business.
At 64, Murphy is celebrated for iconic roles such as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop, Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor, and the voice of Donkey in Shrek. Despite his long career, he has seldom shared his personal side on camera, making this documentary especially compelling.
Director's Perspective on Eddie's Authenticity
“There’s a great clip of Eddie on a talk show early on in his career, talking about how he’s always been able to do impersonations and different voices. He talks about how his mom used to ask him, ‘Who’s Eddie? What voice is Eddie’s voice?’ This movie answers that question,” said Angus Wall, director of Being Eddie.
“Eddie has played many characters over the last 40-plus years, but he has never played himself onscreen before. He opens up his world and his heart and I think people are going to really enjoy spending time with him.”
From Inspiration to Comedy Star
The documentary follows Murphy’s journey from his youth, when hearing a Richard Pryor comedy album inspired him to become a stand-up comedian. By age 15, he had set a goal to be a comic by 18.
“I remember when I turned 18, comics saying, ‘Hey, man, I thought you were going to get famous when you’re 18.’”
Family Life
The film also touches on Murphy’s role as a father, referencing his ten children, including one with Mel B, highlighting the less public side of his life.
Author’s summary: This documentary reveals Eddie Murphy’s rarely seen personal side, blending his lifelong passion for comedy with intimate moments as a father and individual behind the roles.