Ending the week with Eddie Murphy.

Eddie Murphy is a popular comedian, movie star, and part-time singer who started life in the housing projects of Brooklyn. His parents divorced when Murphy was a toddler, and his father, a policeman, was killed by an angry girlfriend when Murphy was 8. Murphy and his older brother, Charles, were placed in foster care when their mother was hospitalized for a long period of time. By high school, Murphy was the class clown, and by age 17 he was performing comedy in clubs where a kid his age wouldn’t otherwise have been allowed in. The smaller venues paid $25-$50 a night, and he soon worked his way to larger clubs, including New York’s Comic Strip.

At 19, he was hired as a minor player on Saturday Night Live. He was quickly promoted to full-fledged cast member. On SNL, Murphy’s running gags included “Little Richard Simmons”, “Velvet Jones”, “Buckwheat”, “Gumby”, “Raheem Abdul Muhammad” (the militant black movie critic), and “Mr. Robinson”, a blaxploitated homage to Mr. Rogers. In 1982, Murphy issued his debut comedy album, a self-titled effort that was criticized by the humor-deprived for making fun of Asians, women, and especially gays. The same year he made his big screen debut in 48 Hours, stealing the film from big star Nick Nolte.

Then came Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop (in a part originally written for Sylvester Stallone), and Coming to America. He reportedly turned down the Ghostbusters part that went to Ernie Hudson. In recent years, Murphy has reinvented himself in family-friendly fluff comedies like Doctor Dolittle, Daddy Day Care, and Shrek, and he was Oscar-nominated for his supporting role in 2006’s Dreamgirls.

In 1985, Murphy released How Could It Be, a album of pop music including the million-selling single “Party All the Time.” His other musical albums include So Happy (1989) and Love’s Alright (1993).

Good Morning.

As you spend this weekend with family and friends, don’t forget JJP.

Drop those links. Engage in debate. Give us trivia and gossip too.

And always, have a peaceful day.

Eddie should’ve won the Oscar…damn NORBIT!!

I don’t care what anyone says, I enjoyed Party All The Time.

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