Eddie Murphy Received AFI Life Achievement Award
Eddie Murphy is getting his flowers. The legend was at the Dolby Theatre recently to accept the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, and the energy was high. He had his whole family in the building, including his wife Paige Butcher and his kids, to witness the moment.
In classic Eddie fashion, he started his speech by roasting the trophy, asking if it had always been that small. He kept it real and said he was glad they honored him now while he is still young. He joked that if they had waited until he was 90 years old, he probably would have been on stage acting crazy and cussing everyone out.
The tribute lineup was heavy. Giants like Spike Lee, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, and Martin Lawrence all showed up to show respect. Chris Rock said there would be no “us” without Eddie, and Spike Lee gave him credit for officially pushing the culture forward.
Even though he is the greatest to ever do it, you could tell Eddie was actually moved by the love. He told the crowd he would save the crying for backstage, but it was clear how much it meant to him to see his impact recognized. From the SNL days and Beverly Hills Cop to Shrek, he has paved the way for everyone.
The tribute special, “The 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute to Eddie Murphy,” is set to premiere on Netflix on May 31, 2026.
