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Actor Eddie Murphy receives AFI award
2026-04-20 19:12:23 / SHOWBIZ
Previous winners of the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award include John Ford, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep.
Eddie Murphy accepted the American Film Institute's (AFI) Lifetime Achievement Award on Saturday night in Los Angeles. It's a tribute to his career that has shaped comedy and film for more than five decades. Once again, Murphy didn't miss the opportunity to make the audience laugh, joking about his size, reports Index.hr.
"Have they always been like this? I think this one might be smaller," he said, drawing laughter from the audience.
"Sometimes they make you wait"
Murphy, who turned 65 on April 3, said he is grateful to receive this honor while he is still young enough to enjoy it.
“Sometimes they make you wait until you’re really old to get this award,” he joked, noting that Mel Brooks and Francis Ford Coppola were honored in the 1980s, while Lillian Gish received the honor in the 1990s. Murphy joked that if he had to wait that long, he would swear on stage and have to “release” himself on the floor. And then, taking a more reflective tone, Murphy told the audience that he wished they could feel what he feels when he’s on stage.
"I almost cried," he said, adding, "Now I'm going to go backstage and cry." The ceremony featured tributes from across the entertainment industry, including a high-energy performance of songs from the musical "Dreamgirls" by Jennifer Hudson, who starred in the film alongside Murphy.
Speeches from other comedians, including Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle and Kenan Thompson, highlighted Murphy's influence on comedy and his role as a pioneer for generations of black performers.
He became famous in the eighties.
Murphy first rose to fame on "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) from 1980 to 1984, where characters like Buckwit and Gambia catapulted him to fame.
He went on to define iconic roles in the films "Beverly Hills Cop," "The Prince Discovers America," "The Crazy Professor" and "Norbit," and received critical acclaim for the film "Dreamgirls."
He is also known for voicing the animated characters Donkey in "Shrek" and Mushu in "Mulan," which introduced him to younger generations. The AFI was founded in 1967 to preserve the history and culture of film, honor artists, and educate future filmmakers.
Previous winners of the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award include John Ford, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep.
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