The legendary comedian opens up in Netflix’s upcoming documentary “Being Eddie,” offering an unprecedented look at his five-decade career and lasting influence on Hollywood.
Netflix is celebrating one of comedy’s greatest icons with Being Eddie, a new feature documentary about the life and career of Eddie Murphy, set to premiere on Wednesday, November 12.
The film, directed by Angus Wall, a two-time Academy Award winner for film editing, promises an intimate look at the entertainer who reshaped American comedy, broke countless barriers, and influenced generations of performers.
From his teenage years sharing the stage with Jerry Seinfeld to joining Saturday Night Live straight out of high school, Murphy’s rise was meteoric. The documentary traces his transformation from a Brooklyn prodigy to a Hollywood powerhouse, revisiting his groundbreaking roles in Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, and his unforgettable turn as the voice of Donkey in Shrek.
The official synopsis notes that no other performer has managed to dominate stand-up, television, and film with such consistency while remaining largely untouched by the darker sides of fame.
Murphy’s early rise began in 1980 when he joined Saturday Night Live at just 19 years old, quickly revitalizing the show with his sharp wit and memorable characters like Mister Robinson and Buckwheat. Before SNL, he had been performing stand-up in New York comedy clubs as a teenager, honing the timing and confidence that would soon make him a household name.
His breakout sketches and spontaneous humor on SNL helped define a new era of television comedy and positioned him as one of the youngest stars ever to dominate late-night entertainment.
Over the next four decades, Murphy’s career flourished with critical and commercial success across film and television. He earned multiple Grammys, a Golden Globe, and an Oscar nomination for his role in Dreamgirls (2006).
In 2020, he won his first Primetime Emmy Award for his return to SNL, and a year later, he was inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame, cementing his place among entertainment’s elite.
For the first time, Murphy opens the doors to his home and personal archives, reflecting on nearly fifty years in the spotlight. The film pairs these candid interviews with commentary from some of the biggest names in entertainment, including Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Jamie Foxx, Arsenio Hall, Jerry Seinfeld, Kevin Hart, and Tracee Ellis Ross.
Their insights reveal Murphy not just as a comic genius but as a deeply introspective artist who balanced superstardom with self-awareness and humility.
Produced by John Davis, John Fox, Charisse Hewitt-Webster, Terry Leonard, and Kent Kubena, Being Eddie aims to be both a career retrospective and a personal portrait.
For longtime fans and newcomers alike, the documentary celebrates a performer who changed the landscape of entertainment and remains one of Hollywood’s most magnetic and enduring figures.
