Hollywood legends gathered at the Dolby Theater on Saturday night to celebrate Eddie Murphy receiving the AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Film Institute.
Spike Lee presented Murphy with the 51st AFI Lifetime Achievement Award, praising the comedian and actor for being true to himself, prioritizing his family, and being a “great artist” throughout his esteemed career.
In addition to Lee, A-list star players gathered to celebrate Murphy’s accomplishments. Tracy Morgan, Dave Chappelle, Bill Burr, Chris Rock, Arsenio Hall, Judge Reinhold, Kenan Thompson, Robert Townsend, Eva Longoria, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph spoke throughout the night, sharing anecdotes about Murphy and what his work and legacy mean to them.
Chappelle, who co-starred with Murphy in “The Nutty Professor,” recalled that Murphy was one of his “heroes” as a child. “When I was 14 years old, ‘Raw’ came out and I watched it every day after school like I was in class,” Chappelle said. “Somehow I knew this was something really important in my life.”
The comedian also co-starred with Murphy’s late brother Charlie on “Chappell’s Show.”
“A few weeks ago, on a whim, I reached out to Eddie and asked if I could come see him…and Eddie and I talked about Charlie for the first time since he passed away,” Chappelle said. “During our conversation, Eddie said, “Hey, you should do a movie like “Chappelle’s Show” or something like that.” And I said, “Hey, it’s going to be tough without your brother.” So Eddie, if I’m going to do it, please play Charlie. And let’s go. ”
Stevie Wonder made a surprise appearance and surprised the audience. Stevie Wonder has said how he became aware of Murphy after imitating him on Saturday Night Live early in his career. As the artist joked, “He made fun of blind people!” It’s clear there’s no animosity there, but “It’s not easy to smile to get people to look on the bright side, but Eddie has a way of grabbing our heads and hearts and creating a belly laugh. That eases pain, that builds bridges, that diffuses situations, that brings about real change. That’s power, that’s bravery, that’s what makes a funny man, my friend.”
The surprise didn’t stop at Wonder. Mike Myers took to the stage wearing green “Shrek” makeup, an homage to the hit 2001 film in which he co-starred with Murphy, who provided the voice of his demon sidekick Donkey. “Eddie was one of the greatest,” Myers said. “I didn’t get to work with Charlie Chaplin, I didn’t get to work with Alec Guinness, I didn’t get to work with Peter Sellers, but I got to work with Eddie Murphy, and it’s a real honor to be able to say that and to be able to tell them that.”
Jennifer Hudson also delighted audiences with the “Dreamgirls” musical medley, an homage to the 2006 film in which she co-starred with Murphy, winning her a Golden Globe and SAG Award for Best Supporting Actor.
When Murphy took the stage to accept the honor, he said it couldn’t come at a better time. Murphy welcomed his first grandchild and third granddaughter and just celebrated his 65th birthday earlier this month. “I feel like blessings are raining down on me,” he said.
In classic Murphy fashion, things quickly turned humorous when the comedian joked about what would have happened if AFI had waited until he was in his 90s to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. “If I had waited until I was 92, I would have come out here and said f**k you all…and then I would have gotten down on the floor and pooped,” the comedian said, to bursts of laughter. “Winning this award tonight prevented that from happening.”
“I hope you all feel what I feel and see what I see…I want to thank you all for giving me a night that I will remember forever and always,” an emotional Murphy concluded. “I almost burst into tears. I’m going to go backstage and cry.”
Throughout his career, Murphy has appeared in hit films such as “48 Hours,” “Trading Places,” “Doctor Dolittle,” “Coming to America,” and the “Beverly Hills Cop” series. Murphy began his career as a stand-up actor in the 1980s, joining the cast of “Saturday Night Live” at the age of 19 and introducing viewers to many unforgettable characters, including Velvet Jones, Buckwheat and Gumby.
Earlier in the evening, Oscar-winning cinematographer Autumn Durard Arkapaw received the Franklin J. Schaffner Alumni Medal, an honor she described as “absolutely beautiful.” “The last time I was here was for the Oscars, and I was able to accept this honor alongside someone I grew up watching on TV, before I got into the film industry, before I wanted to be a cinematographer,” Arkapaw told Variety on the red carpet. “He was so important in my trajectory of enjoying movies on the big screen and feeling like the theater was an escape for me. So to be here with him now is just amazing.”
Most recently, AFI honored Francis Ford Coppola with the 50th AFI Lifetime Achievement Award in 2025. Previous winners include Julie Andrews, George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Martin Scorsese, and Steven Spielberg.
As previously announced, “51st Annual AFI Life Achievement Awards: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy” will premiere on Netflix on May 31, marking the first year that AFI specials have been available to stream on the platform.
