Eddie Murphy’s series of Saturday Night Live sketches that parodied Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood were one of the comic genius’ great recurring characters.
Murphy‘s tenure on SNL may have been brief but he made a huge impact. Get this: when he joined the series in 1980, he was only 19 years old. He was an immediate breakout star playing such characters as Buckwheat and Gumby. He began to receive roles in Hollywood while still acting on the series but the demand led him to pursue filmdom full time and he left the comedy series in 1984.
Those early film hits included 48 Hrs. (1982) opposite Nick Nolte, Trading Places (1983) co-starring SNL alum Dan Aykroyd and Beverly Hills Cop (1984) with no big-name co-star.
Over the years, Murphy has enjoyed success with sequels to Beverly Hills Cop and 48 Hrs. and such comedies as The Distinguished Gentleman and a remake of The Nutty Professor. He’s also served as the voice of the Donkey in the hugely successful Shrek films. His sole Academy Award nomination was for his role in 2006’s Dreamgirls. (He didn’t win but earned a Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor.)
Murphy received three Emmy Award nominations for his Saturday Night Live work, though he failed to win.
Murphy returned to host the sketch comedy series on Dec. 15, 1984. Naturally, the Mister Robinson parody of TV’s Fred Rogers offered Murphy’s viewers his take on Christmas in this Classic Video:
“Christmas is a holiday for giving… and for taking. I have so much in common with Santa Claus. We both like to sneak into your house late at night. Santa Claus prefers to leave things; Mister Robinson prefers to take a few things.”
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Murphy was born April 3, 1961. He received some of his best reviews in recent years with the 2019 film, Dolemite is My Name. When he hosted Saturday Night Live on Dec. 21, 2019, he reprised his Mister Robinson character.
Murphy will star in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F in Summer 2024.
Related: How Eddie Murphy became a star with 48 Hrs.
