Black History Month: People Who Changed the World #7 · 7:19pm Feb 7th, 2018

Welcome to another installment in my Month-Long anthology which depicts specific African-American people who, in one way or another, changed the world. Today's subject needs no true introduction as he's best known for his films and comedy shows including: Norbit, Doctor Doolittle, Shrek and more! Ladies and Gentlemen, may I introduce to you, Mr. Eddie Murphy!

Bio: Edward Regan Murphy (born April 3, 1961) is an American comedian, actor, writer, singer, and producer. Murphy was a regular cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984. He has worked as a stand-up comedian and was ranked #10 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-ups of All Time. In films, Murphy has received Golden Globe Award nominations for his performances in 48 Hrs., the Beverly Hills Cop series, Trading Places, and The Nutty Professor. In 2007, he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of soul singer James "Thunder" Early in Dreamgirls.

Murphy's work as a voice actor in films includes Thurgood Stubbs in The PJs, Donkey in DreamWorks' Shrek series, and the Chinese dragon Mushu in Disney's Mulan. In some films, he plays multiple roles in addition to his main character, intended as a tribute to one of his idols Peter Sellers, who played multiple roles in Dr. Strangelove and elsewhere. He has played multiple roles in Coming to America, Wes Craven's Vampire in Brooklyn, the Nutty Professor films (where he played the title role in two incarnations, plus his character's father, brother, mother, and grandmother), Bowfinger, The Adventures of Pluto Nash, Norbit, and Meet Dave. As of 2014, Murphy's films have grossed over $3.8 billion in the United States and Canada box office and $6.6 billion worldwide. In 2015, his films made him the 6th-highest grossing actor in the United States.

Murphy was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.

My thoughts: Man, what can't be said about Eddie Murphy! He's talented, funny and an all around great guy! I think the world would be far less funny without him in it! And Now! A quote from Eddie Murphy: