Few comedians have left a mark like Eddie Murphy. The raw and unfiltered jokester rose to fame in the 1980s and hasn’t slowed down since. Born in April 1961 in Brooklyn, N.Y., Eddie is the son of Lillian and Charles Edward Murphy.
The New York native, who spent part of his childhood in foster care, grew up to become one of the most celebrated comedians of his generation. Behind that success stands the love and influence of his parents and siblings. Here’s a look at the actor’s family, including his parental figures and equally talented brothers.
Eddie Murphy’s parents had a tough relationship.
Eddie’s mother, Lillian, worked as a telephone operator, while his father, Charles, served as a New York City transit police officer and part-time comedian. The couple separated when Eddie was very young. In 1969, when Eddie was 8, his father was fatally stabbed by a woman he was dating. Murphy later told People that the loss “affected me a bunch of different ways” and acknowledged the trauma of those years.
“I’m sure it affected me a bunch of different ways,” he said. “There was a lot of trauma, and we’re shaped by that stuff.” His mother remarried, to Vernon Lynch Sr., someone Murphy says filled an important void: “By the grace of God, my mother married an amazing, solid man who put all the right s–t in me. That’s crucial. It makes a huge difference.”…