Quick Read
- Netflix’s ‘Being Eddie’ documentary offers a rare, intimate look at Eddie Murphy’s life and career.
- Murphy has survived 50 years in Hollywood, prioritizing self-love and family over fame.
- He is the father of 10 children with five women, and credits his upbringing for their character.
- Murphy’s versatility includes playing multiple roles in films like ‘Coming to America’ and ‘The Nutty Professor’.
- Despite setbacks and criticism, Murphy’s legacy as a trailblazer for Black entertainers remains strong.
Eddie Murphy’s Self-Knowledge in the Spotlight: ‘Being Eddie’ Hits Netflix
For nearly fifty years, Eddie Murphy has been a force of nature in American comedy and film. Now, Netflix’s new documentary ‘Being Eddie’ opens the doors to Murphy’s personal and professional life, offering audiences an unusually candid glimpse into the mind of a man who has managed to remain both ubiquitous and enigmatic for decades. Directed by Angus Wall, the film is as much about Murphy’s self-awareness as it is about his storied career, and in true Murphy fashion, it’s clear he’s calling the shots on what we see—and what we don’t.
The documentary sets itself apart from the wave of sanitized, authorized celebrity profiles that have flooded streaming platforms in recent years. Instead of simply painting a flattering portrait, Being Eddie chooses to wrestle with the idea that Murphy’s greatest gift may be his acute sense of self. John Landis, who directed Murphy in Trading Places and Coming to America, puts it succinctly in the film: “Eddie has solid middle-class values, and he’s too vain to destroy himself.” Murphy agrees, stating, “My biggest blessing is that I love myself, and that I knew what I wanted to do really, really early.”
From Brooklyn to Hollywood: Comedy, Trauma, and Transformation
Murphy’s journey began in Brooklyn, where he faced tragedy early on—his father was murdered when Eddie was just a child. “There was a lot of trauma, and we’re shaped by that stuff,” Murphy reflects in a recent PEOPLE interview. His mother’s remarriage to Vernon Lynch Sr. provided stability, and Murphy credits Lynch with instilling the right values that helped him steer clear of Hollywood’s darker temptations.
By his teens, Murphy was already a master of impersonations, convinced he was destined for stardom. Success in New York’s stand-up circuit led to his breakthrough on Saturday Night Live in the early ’80s, followed by a string of box office hits: 48 HRS., Trading Places, and the iconic Beverly Hills Cop. Murphy’s comedy wasn’t just about laughs—it was a way to challenge and reflect on culture. His ability to see Hollywood’s blind spots allowed him to shake up the industry, especially as a young Black comic unafraid to confront uncomfortable truths.
But Murphy’s sensitivity has cut both ways. The biting criticism he received for flops like Vampire in Brooklyn stung deeply, especially when his own comedy alma mater, SNL, poked fun at him. The infamous David Spade joke—“Look, children, it’s a falling star”—kept Murphy away from the show for 25 years, a testament to the pain that public scrutiny can inflict even on icons.
Comedy’s Chameleon: Playing Multiple Roles and Defying Expectations
Murphy’s versatility is legendary. In Coming to America, he played not just Prince Akeem but also Clarence the barber, Saul, and Randy Watson, thanks to Oscar-nominated makeup and his own ability to disappear into character. As noted by Biography.com, this was the first time Murphy tackled multiple roles in a single film—a feat he would repeat in later hits like The Nutty Professor and Norbit. Arsenio Hall, Murphy’s longtime friend and co-star, recalls, “Very intimidating. Murphy was him. The ‘new sheriff’! It made me prepare and work harder. Raise my game and try not to get blown off the screen when the director calls action.”
Murphy’s creative control extended beyond the screen. Studio executives insisted on casting a white actor in Coming to America to appease concerns about the all-Black cast. Murphy’s response was to handpick comedian Louie Anderson, demonstrating both his influence and his desire to shape his films’ narratives from the inside out.
Despite his reputation for being difficult at times—director John Landis described the “superstar” Murphy of Coming to America as “the pig of the world”—the two would reconcile and collaborate again, underscoring Murphy’s capacity for growth and forgiveness.
Family, Fatherhood, and Resilience: The Man Behind the Comedy
While Murphy’s public persona has long been associated with high-energy comedy and box office success, Being Eddie gives audiences a rare look at his life as a father and husband. Murphy is the proud dad of ten children, ranging from age 36 to 6, with five different women. “I never knew I would have 10 kids, but now it’s the best thing ever,” he says. “If you can afford that many kids, you should have as many kids as you can afford. That is fun.” He adds, “My children are all decent people. I don’t have one rotten one, and I would like to think that they got some of that from me.”
Murphy’s commitment to family extends to his support for fellow comedians in need. In the documentary, he reveals that he helped fund the burials of heroes like Redd Foxx and Rick James. The deepest loss, however, was that of his older brother Charlie Murphy, who died in 2017 after battling leukemia. Murphy’s emotion is palpable, and it’s one of the few moments in the film where the mask slips to reveal raw vulnerability.
His current life with wife Paige Butcher and their two children is described as happy and grounded. The sprawling Los Angeles mansion featured in the documentary is less a testament to Hollywood excess and more a sanctuary for Murphy’s family and his love of simple pleasures—like binge-watching Ridiculousness and playing arcade games.
Legacy and Longevity: Impact on Comedy and Beyond
Murphy’s influence stretches far beyond his own filmography. He’s credited with paving the way for generations of Black entertainers, from Morgan Freeman to Jamie Foxx and beyond. The reunion with SNL in 2019—his first hosting gig since 1984—was a full-circle moment, made possible with the support of Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Tracy Morgan. Murphy relishes seeing his impact on the comedy world, describing a sense of kinship and responsibility to those who followed in his footsteps.
Yet, for all his accomplishments, Murphy maintains a disarming humility. When film critic Elvis Mitchell attempts to dissect the symbolism of a scene from Beverly Hills Cop, Murphy laughs it off, explaining he was simply reacting to a friend’s funny face off-camera. It’s a reminder that, for Murphy, authenticity trumps analysis.
The documentary doesn’t delve deeply into Murphy’s more controversial or painful chapters—his wife and children remain mostly off-screen, and difficult episodes from his personal life are glossed over. But that’s the point. Being Eddie isn’t about satisfying viewers’ curiosity; it’s about Murphy’s own journey of self-knowledge and self-love.
As he flips through a tabloid magazine about himself, Murphy laughs, “What a life I’ve had.” It’s a sentiment that resonates with anyone who’s watched him transform, survive, and thrive in an industry known for chewing up its brightest stars.
Netflix’s ‘Being Eddie’ doesn’t just profile Eddie Murphy—it reframes celebrity storytelling by letting its subject own his narrative. The documentary’s greatest strength lies in its refusal to chase tabloid drama, instead trusting Murphy’s lifelong self-awareness to guide the story. It’s not the full truth, but it’s the truth Eddie Murphy wants to share—and in an era of relentless exposure, that’s a rare kind of honesty.