Eddie Murphy's Rare Insight into Family and Career
Comedy legend Eddie Murphy offers a seldom-seen look into his personal life in the Netflix documentary Being Eddie. The film explores his experiences as a father to 10 children and reflects on his more than 40-year career in Hollywood.
A Hollywood Icon
At 64, Murphy remains beloved for roles like Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop, Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor, and the voice of Donkey in Shrek. Despite his fame, he has kept his private life largely out of the spotlight, making this documentary particularly revealing.
Exploring Identity Through Characters
“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,”
explains director Angus Wall. He adds that although Murphy has portrayed many characters over the years, this film is the first time he truly plays himself on screen, sharing his world and emotions.
Journey to Comedy
The documentary traces Murphy’s beginnings, inspired by hearing Richard Pryor’s comedy at age 15. He aimed to become a stand-up comedian by 18.
“I remember when I turned 18, comics saying, ‘Hey, man, I thought you were going to get famous when you’re 18,’”
Murphy recalls, highlighting his early drive and the challenges he faced breaking into the industry.
Summary
In Being Eddie, Murphy opens up like never before, giving fans a heartfelt look at the man behind the legendary characters and his life as a father of 10.