Eddie Murphy is an American actor and comedian whose films have grossed nearly $7 billion worldwide, making him one of the highest-grossing actors of all time. Born April 3, 1961, he is 65 years old. He married Australian model Paige Butcher in 2024 and is a father of ten children. His net worth is estimated at around $200 million.
Quick Facts
| Category | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Edward Regan Murphy |
| Date of Birth | April 3, 1961 |
| Age | 65 |
| Birthplace | Brooklyn, New York |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in |
| Profession | Actor, Comedian, Producer |
| Known For | Saturday Night Live; Beverly Hills Cop; Coming to America; Shrek (voice of Donkey) |
| Wife | Paige Butcher (married 2024) |
| Children | 10 |
| Estimated Net Worth | ~$200 million (estimate) |
Early Life
Edward Regan Murphy was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York. His father, Charles Murphy, was a transit police officer and amateur comedian, and his mother, Lillian, worked as a telephone operator. After his parents separated and his father passed away, Eddie and his older brother Charlie Murphy spent time in foster care before reuniting with their mother.
The family settled in Roosevelt, Long Island, where Eddie grew up. He began doing stand-up comedy at just 15 years old in local clubs, quickly developing the impersonations and characters that would define his career.
Acting Career
Saturday Night Live (1980–1984)
At only 19, Murphy joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1980, right out of high school. He became the show's breakout star almost overnight, creating memorable characters including Buckwheat, an inner-city version of Mister Rogers known as "Mister Robinson," and a grumpy take on the clay character Gumby. Many credit Murphy with reviving the show during a difficult period. He left SNL in 1984 to focus on films.
1980s Box Office Dominance
Murphy's film debut, 48 Hrs. (1982), was a major hit. He followed it with an extraordinary run of blockbusters: Trading Places (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984) — in which he originated the iconic role of Detroit detective Axel Foley — and Coming to America (1988), in which he played four different roles. He also released the legendary stand-up specials Eddie Murphy: Delirious and Eddie Murphy Raw, and scored a pop hit with the single "Party All the Time" in 1985.
The 1990s Comeback and Family Films
After a string of early-1990s disappointments, Murphy triumphed again with The Nutty Professor (1996), playing multiple members of the Klump family, and Dr. Dolittle (1998). He also found enormous success in animation, voicing Mushu in Disney's Mulan (1998) and Donkey in the Shrek franchise (2001–2010), reportedly earning close to $30 million for the Shrek films.
Dramatic Recognition and Later Career
Murphy earned his first Academy Award nomination — Best Supporting Actor — for Dreamgirls (2006), winning the Golden Globe for the role. He received the Cecil B. DeMille lifetime achievement award at the Golden Globes in 2023.
His late-career renaissance included the critically acclaimed Dolemite Is My Name (2019), Coming 2 America (2021), and Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), which dominated Netflix's streaming charts. Netflix released the documentary Being Eddie on November 12, 2025, chronicling his nearly 50-year career. Directed by Angus Wall, the film mixes archival footage with new interviews from fellow comedians including Dave Chappelle, Jamie Foxx, Pete Davidson, Chris Rock, Tracy Morgan, and Kevin Hart.
Murphy also starred in the Amazon Prime Video action-comedy The Pickup, released August 6, 2025, playing armored-truck driver Russell Pierce opposite Pete Davidson and Keke Palmer in a film directed by Tim Story.
In November 2025, the American Film Institute announced Murphy as the recipient of the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, and the gala tribute took place on April 18, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles, with his wife Paige Butcher at his side. The honor — among the highest in American cinema — capped a remarkable year that had already included the Being Eddie premiere. Netflix announced it would stream the edited tribute gala on its platform.
Murphy's trophy case also includes a different Kennedy Center distinction: in 2015 he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, the nation's top humor award. He was not, however, among the 2025 Kennedy Center Honors class — that year's honorees were George Strait, Gloria Gaynor, Michael Crawford, Sylvester Stallone, and KISS.
Upcoming Projects: Shrek 5, Donkey, and the Pink Panther
Murphy's voice work is far from over. Shrek 5, reuniting him with Mike Myers and Cameron Diaz, is scheduled to arrive in theaters on June 30, 2027, after two delays (it was originally dated for July 2026, then December 2026). The film introduces Shrek and Fiona's now-teenage children, with Zendaya voicing daughter Felicia, Saturday Night Live star Marcello Hernández as Fergus, and Skyler Gisondo as Farkle. A first teaser released in 2026 drew strong reactions to the film's updated animation style.
Universal has also announced a Donkey spin-off — an origin story in which Murphy will voice a younger Donkey — set for June 30, 2028, to be directed by Charlie Bean and Matt Flynn. Murphy first teased the project during press for The Pickup in 2025.
On the live-action side, Murphy confirmed in a July 2025 interview on NBC's Today that he will play Inspector Jacques Clouseau in a new Pink Panther reboot, conceived as a buddy-cop story pairing the detective with a CGI Pink Panther. As of late 2025, he said he was still waiting on the finished script. He has also discussed a long-developing biopic of funk legend George Clinton.
And Axel Foley may yet return: Murphy and producer Jerry Bruckheimer confirmed at the Axel F premiere that a fifth Beverly Hills Cop film is in development, with Bruckheimer saying they had "a couple of stories in mind." Netflix has not yet greenlit the sequel, and no production date has been announced.
Wife and Family
Murphy was previously married to model Nicole Mitchell Murphy from 1993 to 2006; they share five children.
In 2012, Murphy began dating Australian model and actress Paige Butcher, born in Perth, Australia, who appeared in films including Something's Gotta Give and Big Momma's House 2. The couple got engaged in 2018 and married on July 9, 2024, in a small private ceremony in Anguilla. They share two children: daughter Izzy Oona (born 2016) and son Max Charles (born 2018). The couple appeared together on the red carpet at the AFI Life Achievement Award gala in April 2026, where Murphy spoke warmly about how much his family means to him. Coverage of the event also noted his pride in becoming a grandfather, per Parade's April 2026 report.
Murphy is a father of ten children in total. In addition to the five with Nicole Mitchell and two with Paige Butcher, he has a son, Eric, with Paulette McNeely; a son, Christian, with Tamara Hood; and a daughter, Angel, with Melanie Brown (Mel B). He has spoken often about fatherhood, calling his children his greatest accomplishment.
Net Worth
Murphy's net worth is estimated at approximately $200 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth and Parade, with some outlets publishing estimates up to $250 million. No confirmed figure exists.
He was one of the first actors to consistently earn $20 million per film, and his wealth comes from four decades of film salaries, Shrek voice-acting royalties, backend deals, and a reported $70 million Netflix stand-up deal. His films have collectively grossed nearly $7 billion worldwide, making him the sixth highest-grossing American actor at the domestic box office.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Eddie Murphy's wife?
Paige Butcher, an Australian model and actress. They began dating in 2012, got engaged in 2018, and married on July 9, 2024, in Anguilla.
How old is Eddie Murphy?
Born April 3, 1961, he is 65 years old.
What is Eddie Murphy's net worth?
Estimated at around $200 million, per Celebrity Net Worth, with some outlets estimating up to $250 million. His films have grossed nearly $7 billion worldwide.
How many children does Eddie Murphy have?
Ten children from several relationships, including five with ex-wife Nicole Mitchell Murphy and two with current wife Paige Butcher.
What are Eddie Murphy's most famous movies?
Beverly Hills Cop (and its sequels), Trading Places, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle, Dreamgirls, and the Shrek franchise (voice of Donkey).