The American Film Institute has announced that actor and comedian Eddie Murphy will receive their Life Achievement Award at the gala event on April 18.
The American Film Institute’s board of trustees chair Kathleen Kennedy spoke on Murphy saying, “Eddie Murphy is an American icon. A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television and stand-up comedy, his versatility knows no bounds.”
The 64 year old Murphy has spent nearly all of his life in the entertainment business. His career began while he was still in his teens as a stand up comic before moving on to being a member of the “Saturday Night Live” cast, and starring in films. His most successful movies include “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Coming to America,” “The Nutty Professor”, “Dreamgirls”, and the “Shrek” franchise.
His accolades include a Screen Actors Guild, a Golden Globe Award, and is a recipient of the Cecil B DeMille Award.
In his acceptance speech Murphy said, “you take everything for granted when you’re young, how successful I was. Now I take nothing for granted and appreciate everything.”
In a documentary about him, speaking on awards galas Murphy notes, “it’s always wonderful to win stuff, but if I don’t win, I don’t give a (expletive). I’m still Eddie in the morning.”
Murphy will be the 51st recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award. He will join previous winners John Ford, Nicole Kidman, Julie Andrews, Denzel Washington, and Francis Ford Coppola.