Eddie Murphy, in his new Netflix documentary ‘Being Eddie,’ opens up about his 40-year career in Hollywood, the challenges he has faced, and his belief that he has never won an Oscar despite his immense success. He criticizes the Academy for not recognizing Black talent and highlights his unique approach to comedy and film.
Throughout his 40-year career, Murphy has never been a fan of the glitz and glam of Hollywood. Ahead of the release of Netflix’s ‘Being Eddie,’ the 64-year-old actor revealed why he avoids award shows and ‘fake’ people. He told USA Today, ‘That’s one of the reasons why I don’t go to award shows and stuff, the feeling of being in a room full of famous people who all want to win some trophy, that feeling is such a s—ty feeling.’ He added, ‘Everybody’s dressed and acting and fake … just being in a room full of famous people is just a weird — I don’t like it.’
Murphy, who started his career as a stand-up comedian at 15, gained fame for his role on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in the 1980s and went on to star in films such as ‘Beverly Hills Cop’ and ‘Coming to America.’ Despite his iconic status, he has never won an Academy Award, a fact he attributes to the Academy’s past neglect of Black talent. In a notable moment, he called out the Academy during the 1995 Oscars for not recognizing Black actors, a statement that he believes may have contributed to his lack of recognition.
Reginald Hudlin, a film producer and director, said Murphy had a mission. ‘One of the quiet agendas that Eddie has is,