Birthplace: Brooklyn, NY
Birthname: Edward Regan Murphy

theOscarSite Bio: Eddie Murphy's father died when Eddie was quite young, and he, his brother, and step-brother were raised by his mother, a telephone-company employee, and his stepfather, a foreman at a Breyer's Ice Cream plant. His comic talent was evident from an early age, and by 15 he was writing and performing his own routines at youth centers and local bars, as well as at the Roosevelt High School auditorium. Eventually, Murphy made it to a Manhattan showcase, The Comic Strip. The club's co-owners, Robert Wachs and Richard Tienken, were so impressed with Murphy's ability that they agreed to manage his career. Wachs and Tienken succeeded in getting Murphy an audition for the revamped "Saturday Night Live" in 1980, where he was eventually cast as a featured player and appeared in 64 episodes over 4 seasons. By the end of his first season, however, he had moved up to star status.

As such, he entered American film with 48 HRS. (1982). This successful film debut was followed by TRADING PLACES (1983) and BEST DEFENSE and BEVERLY HILLS COP (both 1984). After leaving "SNL", he appeared in THE GOLDEN CHILD (1986), BEVERLY HILLS COP II (1987), COMING TO AMERICA (1988), HARLEM NIGHTS (1989), ANOTHER 48 HRS. (1990), BOOMERANG and THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN (both 1992), BEVERLY HILLS COP III (1993), VAMPIRE IN BROOKLYN (1995), THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (1996), METRO (1997), DOCTOR DOLITTLE and HOLY MAN (both 1998), LIFE and BOWFINGER (both 1999), NUTTY PROFESSOR II: THE KLUMPS (2000) and SHREK (2001), where he provided the voice of Donkey.

Murphy's most recent screen credits include DR. DOLITTLE II (2001), SHOWTIME, THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH and I SPY (all 2002), DADDY DAY CARE and THE HAUNTED MANSION (both 2003), SHREK 2 (2004, voice), DREAMGIRLS (2006), NORBIT and SHREK THE THIRD (voice) (both 2007), and MEET DAVE and THE INCREDIBLE SHRINKING MAN (both 2008), NOWHERELAND and A THOUSAND WORDS (both scheduled for release in 2009), and SHREK GOES FOURTH (announced for release in 2010 - voice).

· Outstanding Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role 2006: DREAMGIRLS