One of the greatest stand-up comedian, actor, writer, singer, musician and director... Eddie Murphy does it all and it is his birthday today!

Born on April 3, 1961, Eddie grew up in the Bushwick neighbourhood of Brooklyn. Around the age of 15, Murphy was writing and performing his own routines, which were heavily influenced by Bill Cosby and Richard Pryor. Murphy performed stand-up at the Bay Area Comedy Club. 

Murphy first earned attention as a regular actor at Saturday Night Live, and was credited with helping revitalize the series during its first true slump in quality in the early 1980s. In 1982, Murphy made his big screen debut in the film 48 Hrs. with Nick Nolte. In 1984, Murphy appeared in Best Defense, co-starring Dudley Moore. Murphy, who was credited as a "Strategic Guest Star". After this his career took a dip until 1996 when his movie The Nutty Professor came and his career was thus revived. He followed with a series of very successful family-friendly movies like Mulan, Dr. Dolittle and its sequel, the Shrek series, Daddy Day Care and The Haunted Mansion.

In 2007, he won the Golden Globe for Best Supporting Actor and received a nomination for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of soul singer James "Thunder" Early in Dreamgirls.

Eddie Murphy's work as a voice actor includes Thurgood Stubbs in The PJs, Donkey in the Shrek series and the dragon Mushu in Disney's Mulan.

Apart from being a successful artist Murphy has donated money to the AIDS Foundation, and cancer, education, creative arts, family/parent support, health and homeless charities. He has donated to the Martin Luther King Jr. Center, various cancer charities and $100,000 to the Screen Actors' Guild's strike relief fund.

Fridaymoviez wishes Eddie Murphy a Very Happy Birthday!