In its 50 years Saturday Night Live has been the launching pad for a great many stars of movies and television. The list includes Will Ferrell, Bill Murray, Adam Sander, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Kristen Wiig, Chevy Chase, Mike Myers, Chris Rock, and many, many more (John Belushi, Dan Aykoryd, Kate McKinnon, David Spade, Chris Farley, Bill Hader….)
But none of these stars skyrocketed as high or as fast as Eddie Murphy. He debuted on Saturday Night Live in 1980, at the remarkable age of 19, and quickly caught fire behind the strength of such characters as Mr. Robinson, Buckwheat and Gumby. He then capitalized on that popularity with a string of hit movies that included 48 Hours, Trading Places and Beverly Hills Cop. Not to mention his wildly popular 1983 standup special Delirious.
Photos in the LIFE archive capture the public life of a young man taking flight. He is photographed in the company of such luminaries as Jerry Lewis, Liza Minelli, Michael Jackson, Sylvester Stallone, Rick James, Luther Vandross, Jamie Lee Curtis and Arsenio Hall.
The paparazzi shots are telling, and so are the images in this collection that were shot for LIFE by Ted Thai. For those photos Murphy posed shirtless, with track pants and a ball cap. If you saw those pictures without knowing why Murphy was famous, you might guess that he was an athlete—and that comparison is appropriate. He was the comedy equivalent of another 1980s contemporary, Michael Jordan, a young man electrifying the stage with his prodigal talent.
Cast members Eddie Murphy (left) and Joe Piscopo (right) appearing with guest Jerry Lewis on Saturday Night Live, 1984.
DMI/Shutterstock
Comedian Eddie Murphy, 1983
Ted Thai/LIfe Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Eddie Murphy
Ted Thai/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Comedian Eddie Murphy (left) and singer Rick James following Murphy’s performance at Madison Square Garden, 1986.
David Mcgough/Life Picture Collection/Shutterstock
Eddie Murphy and singer Luther Vandross after Vandross’ performance at Radio City Music Hall, 1985.
DAVID MCGOUGH/DMI
Singer Michael Jackson and actor Eddie Murphy in Press Room at American Music Awards, 1989.
Kevin Winter/DMI
Sylvester Stallone and Eddie Murphy, 1991.
DMI
Eddie Murphy with Liza Minelli, 1990.
DMI
Eddie Murphy posed with the poster of his hit comedy Beverly Hills Cop.
DMI
Eddie Murphy, 1987.
DMI
Jamie Lee Curtis and Eddie Murphy, co-stars of the film Trading Places, in 1993.
DMI
Eddie Murphy with Vanessa Williams.
DMI
Eddie Murphy with talk show host Arsenio Hall, 1990.
DMI
Eddie Murphy, 1990.
DMI
Eddie Murphy, 1990.
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Eddie Murphy
DMI
