Eddie Murphy Shares Insights on Fatherhood
The comedian, aged 64, revealed how becoming a father transformed his life and priorities. Before parenthood, he admitted he "only thought of himself" and sometimes stayed awake for days.
The Central Role of His Children
"My kids are the centre of everything, before kids it's just about you, once you have kids it's all about them."
In his new Netflix documentary Being Eddie, Murphy described how fatherhood refocused his life on his children. He also mentioned adjusting his lifestyle to align more with his second wife Paige Butcher's schedule, saying, "I used to stay up two days sometimes before going to bed. When I met [Paige], I got more on her schedule and now we watch two episodes of Seinfeld and go to bed."
Family and Past Challenges
Eddie experienced a difficult paternity dispute with ex Mel B concerning their trans son Angel, now 18, which caused years of estrangement until they eventually reconnected.
His Children
- Eric, 35, with ex Paulette McNeely
- Bria, 35; Myles, 32; Shayne, 30; Zola, 25; Bella, 23 — all with ex-wife Nicole Murphy
- Christian, 34, with ex Tamara Hood
- Izzy, 9, and Max, 6, with second wife Paige Butcher
Being Eddie offers an intimate view of Murphy's journey into fatherhood and family life.
Author’s summary: Eddie Murphy describes how fatherhood shifted his focus entirely to his ten children, shaping his daily life and bringing renewed purpose.