Eddie Murphy Honored by Fellow Actors at Spike TV's Special, Singing With Stevie Wonder
Eddie Murphy got toasted by a number of Hollywood A-listers on Saturday night, November 3 during the taping of Spike TV's "Eddie Murphy: One Night Only". Jamie Foxx kicked off the tribute show, praising the James "Thunder" Early of "Dreamgirls", "Not one comedian can tell you that they didn't look at Eddie Murphy and want to be like him."
Tracy Morgan revisited Murphy's days in 1983 when he starred in a comedy special "Delirious" by wearing his signature red leather suit while showing off his belly. "I'll tell you what Eddie's real legacy is - he made comedy sexy," Morgan declared and played a video of "Saturday Night Live" current regulars Jason Sudeikis, Fred Armisen, Jay Pharaoh and Kennan Thompson honoring the former cast member of the variety show.
Adam Sandler was also on hand to honor Murphy, stating, "As I watched ['Delirious'], I said to my father, 'I want to be that guy when I grow up.' " He added, "Everybody on the planet wanted to be Eddie. He's funnier than us. He's cooler than any of us." Russell Brand, meanwhile, called the 51-year-old entertainer "the Rosa Parks of tight trousers."
Samuel L. Jackson, who co-starred Murphy in "Coming to America", credited the actor of "The Nutty Professor" film series for changing "the course of American film history." He elaborated, "He did it in 1987 when he gave me, Sam Jackson, my first big role in a major film, and thereby launched my career. If it weren't for Eddie, the world would not have all the wonderful film's I have made."
Stevie Wonder, whom Murphy famously spoofed in "SNL" sketches, made a surprise performance that night, singing "My Cherie Amour" which brought the audience on their feet. Murphy later joined the musician on stage to sing "Higher Ground" together.
At the end of the two-hour event, Murphy delivered his speech. "This is really a touching moving thing, and I really appreciate it," he said. "You know what it's like when you have something like this? You know when they sing happy birthday to you? It's like that for, like, two hours... and I am Eddied out."
"Eddie Murphy: One Night Only" will air Wednesday, November 14 at 10 P.M. on Spike. Also joining the show as presenters were Chris Rock, Martin Lawrence, Brett Ratner, DreamWorks Animation CEO Jeffrey Katzenberg and Murphy's brother Charlie.
