The American Film Institute (AFI) has tapped actor and comedian Eddie Murphy as the next recipient of its life achievement award, the highest honor one can receive for their career in film, according to a Nov. 21
announcement from AFI’s board of trustees.
Murphy, 64, will be presented with the award during the 51st annual AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute Gala at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles next year.
“Eddie Murphy is an American icon,” Kathleen Kennedy, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees, said in a press release. “A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television and stand-up comedy, his versatility knows no bounds. Across five decades, his enduring impact on our culture has inspired artists and audiences alike, and AFI is proud to honor him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.”
Established in 1973, the
award recognizes individuals who have contributed to the “enrichment of American culture” within the motion pictures and television industry.
“The recipient should be one whose talent has in a fundamental way advanced the film art; whose accomplishment has been acknowledged by scholars, critics, professional peers and the general public; and whose work has stood the test of time,” said AFI.
All proceeds from the Gala on April 18, 2026, will go toward supporting initiatives in education and the arts.
Murphy joins a long list of past honorees, including Orson Welles, Elizabeth Taylor, Steven Spielberg, Al Pacino, Diane Keaton, George Clooney, Francis Ford Coppola, and many others.
Since the award’s inception, he will be the fourth African-American recipient, following actors Sidney Poitier, Morgan Freeman, and Denzel Washington.
For more than four decades, Murphy has made his mark in the entertainment industry as one of the top five box-office performers overall. From stand-up comedy to the big screen, he is part of a shortlist of actors who have starred in numerous $100 million pictures over the last 30 years.
Murphy rose to fame at age 19 as part of the 1980 cast for “Saturday Night Live.” Three years later, his comedy special “Delirious” became one of the most acclaimed stand-up performances, followed by “Raw” in 1987.
He went on to break out in Hollywood, starring in comedy box office hits like “Trading Places” (1983), “Beverly Hills Cop” (1984), “Coming to America” (1988), and “Daddy Day Care” (2003).
With more than 80 acting
credits throughout film and television combined, Murphy has received 106 total award nominations and 46 wins.
In 2006, he received an Oscar nomination for his performance in “Dreamgirls,” and in 2020, an Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series on “Saturday Night Live.”
At the 2023 Golden Globes, Murphy was
presented with the
prestigious “Cecil B. DeMille Award” for outstanding contributions to the world of entertainment.
