In this weekend's Tower Heist, Eddie Murphy stars as as a benevolent crook who helps a few Ponzi scheme victims attempt to recover their money. So how did a Brooklyn-area stand-up transform himself into an '80s comedic superstar, an unexpected dramatic talent and this February, an Academy Award host?
You can always trace a direct line through a few important roles to illustrate what led to an actor's current success. As such, let's look at nine pivotal performances that track the evolution of Eddie Murphy.
Saturday Night Live (1980)
After spending his early years studying the comedy routines of Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor, the Brooklyn-raised stand-up scored his big break at the age of 19 when he was selected as a Saturday Night Live cast member. Because of his hit characters Gumby, Buckwheat and Mr. Robinson -- in addition to his impersonations (like that of James Brown below) -- Murphy is partially credited for rejuvenating the series after its first slump.
48 Hrs (1982)
Two years later, Murphy made his big screen debut opposite Nick Nolte in Walter Hill's film 48 Hrs, which is regularly cited as the first film in the buddy cop genre. Thanks in part to the chemistry between Nolte and Murphy -- who improvised most of their scenes together -- the film was a critical and box office success. In his review of the movie, Roger Ebert wrote that "sometimes an actor becomes a star in just one scene. [...] And in 48 Hrs., it happens to Eddie Murphy." The scene he was referencing of course is the one where Eddie's reformed convict Reggie Hammond impersonates a cop in a bar full of rednecks to force information out of a bartender. Enjoy the star-making moment below.
Bonus trivia: Nolte was scheduled to host Saturday Night Live as part of his promotional duties, but when he dropped out unexpectedly, Murphy filled in for him, becoming the first and only cast member to ever host while still a regular cast member.
Beverly Hills Cop (1984)
After the follow-up success of Trading Places with Dan Aykroyd, Paramount signed the 23-year-old actor for a $25 million, six-picture deal. The first film in that studio deal was Beverly Hills Cop, the Martin Brest comedy which was originally slated to star Sylvester Stallone. After major rewrites, Murphy jumped on board as a Detroit detective who moves to Beverly Hill to solve the murder of his best friend. Already a star in the U.S., Beverly Hills Cop established Murphy as an international star while grossing over $300 million worldwide and inspiring two sequels.
Harlem Nights (1989)
Following Beverly Hills Cop II and the dud The Golden Child -- another comedy that starred Murphy as a wise-cracking detective -- Murphy used his studio deal to make his directorial debut with the gangster comedy-drama Harlem Nights, which he also wrote and starred in opposite his comedy idol Richard Pryor. The 1930s crime film chronicled the adventures of a father (Pryor) and son (Murphy) and the gangsters and corrupt badges they regularly contend with as the owners of a Harlem nightclub. Even though Harlem Nights was a box office success, it was ravaged by critics who called the project an expletive-laden ego trip (Murphy's name was listed five times in the credits as director, executive producer, writer, star and namesake of Eddie Murphy Productions). For his work in Harlem Nights, Murphy earned a Razzie for Worst Screenplay and a Razzie nomination for Worst Director. Murphy never directed again.
Boomerang (1992)
After a mediocre 48 Hours sequel transitioned Murphy's career into official "slump" territory, the actor took two years off from film to recharge his batteries. When he returned, it was for his first romantic lead role in Boomerang, the film that helped -- for lack of a better word -- boomerang the actor's career back on track. As a chauvinistic ad exec who is humbled by his female equivalent (Robin Givens), Murphy displayed a gentler side of himself that audiences had not seen before while retaining that trademark grinning Murphy charm.
The Nutty Professor (1996)
Four years later, Murphy left Paramount for Universal to begin a new leg of his career -- the one involving fat suits. As morbidly obese professor Sherman Klump -- in a remake of the 1963 original -- Murphy's character develops a weight loss potion and an arrogant alter ego named Buddy Love. In addition to Sherman and Buddy, Murphy also played five other Klump family members. The film somehow successfully combined sweetness with bathroom humor, garnered positive reviews, won an Oscar (Best Makeup), grossed over $100 million worldwide, inspired a sequel and served as Murphy's official comeback vehicle.
The Adventures of Pluto Nash (2002)
After a fruitful six years, during which Murphy starred in Bowfinger, The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps, Dr. Doolittle, and Dr. Doolittle 2 in addition to voicing characters in Mulan and Shrek, the actor slipped up with the greatest commercial failure of his career, The Adventures of Pluto Nash. In Ron Underwood's sci-fi comedy, Murphy stars as a futuristic nightclub owner investigating the arson of his lunar property. How could this concept possibly misfire, especially with a $100 million budget and co-stars Randy Quaid and Jay Mohr? It is almost impressive how terribly this film did at the box office -- grossing just over $4 million. Today, The Adventures of Pluto Nash is considered one of the worst films ever made.
Dreamgirls (2006)
In spite of all the credibility Murphy burned in Pluto Nash -- or maybe because he had inadvertently set audience expectations so low -- Murphy was able to make an unexpected dramatic breakthrough in Bill Condon's 2006 musical drama film Dreamgirls. As local R&B star Jimmy "Thunder" Early, this phenomenal supporting turn helped revive Murphy's fading star. Although he seemed like a shoo-in for the Oscar -- after winning the Golden Globe and the Screen Actors Guild Award, it was Little Miss Sunshine's Alan Arkin who took home the statuette that year.
Tower Heist (2011)
After stumbling post-Dreamgirls with the other fat suit/multi-character comedy on Murphy's resume, Norbit and the mediocre Imagine That, the actor tries to regain his comedic footing by teaming up with Brett Ratner, Ben Stiller and Alan Alda for this weekend's Ponzi scheme heist comedy. If the film is successful, Murphy could be reborn as a movie star....and if the film bombs, it will provide great material for Murphy when he hosts this year's Academy Awards. Regardless, we hope to see many more milestones (maybe even of the Beverly Hills Cop IV":http://www.movieline.com/2011/10/how-about-brett-ratner-just-makes-beverly-hills-witch-and-calls-it-even.php variety) from the comedic talent. -- just hopefully no others that include futuristic nightclub owners or Murphy's directorial/writing skills.