LOS ANGELES – Actor/comedian Eddie Murphy, who shot to fame on “Saturday Night Live” and became a major cinematic draw with films such as “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Trading Places,” “Dreamgirls” and “Coming to America,” was named Friday the recipient of the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.
Considered one of the highest honors in film, the award will be presented to Murphy by the American Film Institute during a gala event at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on April 18.
“Eddie Murphy is an American icon,” Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, said in a statement. “A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television and stand-up comedy, his versatility knows no bounds. Across five decades, his enduring impact on our culture has inspired artists and audiences alike, and AFI is proud to honor him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.”
The list of past recipients of the AFI honor includes a host of Hollywood greats, including Orson Welles, Bette Davis, Henry Fonda, James Stewart, Frank Capra, Gene Kelly, Gregory Peck, Jack Lemmon, Kirk Douglas, Sidney Poitier, Elizabeth Taylor, Clint Eastwood, Meryl Streep, Barbra Streisand, Steven Spielberg, Michael Douglas, Diane Keaton, Denzel Washington, Julie Andrews and, most recently, Francis Ford Coppola.
Murphy was nominated for a supporting-actor Oscar and won Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild awards for his role in “Dreamgirls.” His voice is also known to millions of animation fans for his work as Donkey in the “Shrek” movie series.
His other film credits include “Dolemite is My Name,” “48 Hrs.,” “Harlem Nights,” “The Nutty Professor,” “Bowfinger,” “Life,” “Daddy Day Care,” “Tower Heist” and “Dr. Doolittle.”
