Charlie Murphy remembered by celebrities Ice Cube, DL Hughley, more
Actor, writer and stand-up comedian Charlie Murphy died Wednesday morning in a New York City hospital where he had been undergoing chemotherapy for leukemia, according to his manager and publicist.
Murphy, who was the older brother of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy, had worked in the entertainment industry for three decades, taking on roles in numerous feature films and TV shows including playing himself and several other characters on Comedy Central’s “Chappelle’s Show.”
Numerous stars took to Twitter to express their grief and to offer condolences to the three children Murphy leaves behind.
“After every gig, he rushed home to be with his kids. He died with gigs on the books,” fellow comic DL Hughley posted on Twitter.
While TV host and actor Wayne Brady and R&B star the Weeknd offered simple “RIP” posts, hip-hop artist and actor Ice Cube wrote something a bit more personal since the two both starred in Ice Cube’s 1998 film, “The Players Club.”
“Damn, sorry to hear about my friend Charlie Murphy. He took a chance on a young director in ‘The Players Club.’ Always made me laugh. RIP,” he shared.
Murphy wrote more than 50 screenplays including the 2007 comedy “Norbit” and 1995’s “Vampire in Brooklyn,” both of which starred his little brother, Eddie.
In an interview with the Orange County Register in 2008, Murphy shared that he wanted to give stand-up a try since he had watched his younger brother take over the comedy scene with “Eddie Murphy Raw” in the late ‘80s. At the age of 42, he took the stage for the first time and struggled to find his voice as he faced comparisons to brother. It didn’t faze him at the time, he said, instead it pushed him to study the works of numerous other successful comedians like Chappelle and Chris Rock to figure out how to tell which material would hit and what would flop.
“Nobody in my memory started doing stand-up at 42 and became successful,” Murphy told the Register. “And if there was anybody that did it at 42, their brother certainly wasn’t Eddie Murphy who had volumes of stand-up work. To have all of that in front of you and for you to try to make it in stand up … people said ‘Yeah right, I’m sure.’ Here we are five years later and I’m doing stand-up, not because it was handed to me, but because I busted my ass for it.”
Once his stand-up career started rolling, Murphy was a regular at the Ontario, Brea and Irvine Improv comedy clubs, where he headlined and performed in front of numerous sold out crowds.
“I got to know Charlie since I spent a lot of time with him over the last decade,” Dan Godfrey director of operations for LEG (Levity Entertainment Group), which books the Improv clubs. Godfrey remembers that before every show, Murphy would gather some of the club staff and other comics and do a little prayer circle.
“We’d all get together and stand in the green room in a circle and hold hands and Charlie would say a little prayer before he got on stage,” he said. “I’ll never forget those prayer circles. The first time, I felt a little awkward, but after that I just felt like part of the family.”
Though his comedy will certainly be missed, Godfrey said it was his off-stage persona that won over the hearts of those working in the Improv Clubs. His smile was warm and he was a low maintenance kind of guy.
“He didn’t need much,” Godfrey said. “Maybe a little weed, a little booze and a microphone and he was happy. He was probably also one of the best dressed performers we’ve ever had. Between Charlie and Bill Bellamy, I don’t know who dressed better. They were both pretty fantastic. We’re definitely going to miss him. We’re putting him up on all of our marquees at all of our clubs in Southern California right now.”
CHARLIE MURPHY DEAD AT 57 After Leukemia Battle
Charlie Murphy, Eddie's older brother, and a very successful and popular stand-up comedian in his own right has died ... TMZ has learned.
According to Charlie's manager, he died from leukemia Wednesday morning in a NYC hospital. He'd been going undergoing chemotherapy. Family members tell us they're absolutely shocked because they thought he was getting better.
We're told the family would call him frequently, and he'd even joke they were calling too much.
Charlie famously co-starred on "Chappelle's Show" in some of Dave's most memorable skits ... including the nights Charlie partied with Rick James and Prince.
Charlie also co-wrote some of Eddie Murphy's movies, like "Norbit" and "Vampire in Brooklyn." He co-starred in "Are We There Yet?," "The Boondocks" and "Black Jesus."
He recently toured with Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, George Lopez and D.L. Hughley on "The Comedy Get Down."
Charlie's wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, died in 2009 from cervical cancer. They had 2 children, and he had another from a previous relationship.
Charlie was 57.
#RIP
Comedian Charlie Murphy dies following leukemia battle
Comedian Charlie Murphy died Wednesday after a battle with leukemia, according to his publicist Domenick Nati.
Murphy was 57.
A long time comic, Murphy rose to fame for his work on Dave Chapelle's popular "Chapelle's Show," where he was a co-star and writer.
His recurring skit "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories," which recalled celebrity encounters he and his younger brother Eddie Murphy had with Rick James, Prince and others, became cult hits.
Comedian Charlie Murphy died Wednesday after a battle with leukemia, according to his publicist Domenick Nati.
Murphy was 57.
A long time comic, Murphy rose to fame for his work on Dave Chapelle's popular "Chapelle's Show," where he was a co-star and writer.
His recurring skit "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories," which recalled celebrity encounters he and his younger brother Eddie Murphy had with Rick James, Prince and others, became cult hits.
Murphy also appeared in several movies, including"Jungle Fever," "Lottery Ticket" and "CB4."
One day before his death, Murphy tweeted: "One to Sleep On: Release the past to rest as deeply as possible."
Murphy, who was the older brother of actor and comedian Eddie Murphy, had worked in the entertainment industry for three decades, taking on roles in numerous feature films and TV shows including playing himself and several other characters on Comedy Central’s “Chappelle’s Show.”
Numerous stars took to Twitter to express their grief and to offer condolences to the three children Murphy leaves behind.
“After every gig, he rushed home to be with his kids. He died with gigs on the books,” fellow comic DL Hughley posted on Twitter.
While TV host and actor Wayne Brady and R&B star the Weeknd offered simple “RIP” posts, hip-hop artist and actor Ice Cube wrote something a bit more personal since the two both starred in Ice Cube’s 1998 film, “The Players Club.”
“Damn, sorry to hear about my friend Charlie Murphy. He took a chance on a young director in ‘The Players Club.’ Always made me laugh. RIP,” he shared.
Murphy wrote more than 50 screenplays including the 2007 comedy “Norbit” and 1995’s “Vampire in Brooklyn,” both of which starred his little brother, Eddie.
In an interview with the Orange County Register in 2008, Murphy shared that he wanted to give stand-up a try since he had watched his younger brother take over the comedy scene with “Eddie Murphy Raw” in the late ‘80s. At the age of 42, he took the stage for the first time and struggled to find his voice as he faced comparisons to brother. It didn’t faze him at the time, he said, instead it pushed him to study the works of numerous other successful comedians like Chappelle and Chris Rock to figure out how to tell which material would hit and what would flop.
“Nobody in my memory started doing stand-up at 42 and became successful,” Murphy told the Register. “And if there was anybody that did it at 42, their brother certainly wasn’t Eddie Murphy who had volumes of stand-up work. To have all of that in front of you and for you to try to make it in stand up … people said ‘Yeah right, I’m sure.’ Here we are five years later and I’m doing stand-up, not because it was handed to me, but because I busted my ass for it.”
Once his stand-up career started rolling, Murphy was a regular at the Ontario, Brea and Irvine Improv comedy clubs, where he headlined and performed in front of numerous sold out crowds.
“I got to know Charlie since I spent a lot of time with him over the last decade,” Dan Godfrey director of operations for LEG (Levity Entertainment Group), which books the Improv clubs. Godfrey remembers that before every show, Murphy would gather some of the club staff and other comics and do a little prayer circle.
“We’d all get together and stand in the green room in a circle and hold hands and Charlie would say a little prayer before he got on stage,” he said. “I’ll never forget those prayer circles. The first time, I felt a little awkward, but after that I just felt like part of the family.”
Though his comedy will certainly be missed, Godfrey said it was his off-stage persona that won over the hearts of those working in the Improv Clubs. His smile was warm and he was a low maintenance kind of guy.
“He didn’t need much,” Godfrey said. “Maybe a little weed, a little booze and a microphone and he was happy. He was probably also one of the best dressed performers we’ve ever had. Between Charlie and Bill Bellamy, I don’t know who dressed better. They were both pretty fantastic. We’re definitely going to miss him. We’re putting him up on all of our marquees at all of our clubs in Southern California right now.”
 |
| FILE- In this Nov. 3, 2012 file photo, comedian Charlie Murphy appears at "Eddie Murphy: One Night Only," a celebration of Murphy's career in Beverly Hills, Calif. Murphy, older brother of actor-comedian Eddie Murphy, died Wednesday, April 12, 2017 of leukemia in New York. He was 57. (Photo by Chris Pizzello/Invision/AP, File) |
CHARLIE MURPHY DEAD AT 57 After Leukemia Battle
Charlie Murphy, Eddie's older brother, and a very successful and popular stand-up comedian in his own right has died ... TMZ has learned.
According to Charlie's manager, he died from leukemia Wednesday morning in a NYC hospital. He'd been going undergoing chemotherapy. Family members tell us they're absolutely shocked because they thought he was getting better.
We're told the family would call him frequently, and he'd even joke they were calling too much.
Charlie famously co-starred on "Chappelle's Show" in some of Dave's most memorable skits ... including the nights Charlie partied with Rick James and Prince.
Charlie also co-wrote some of Eddie Murphy's movies, like "Norbit" and "Vampire in Brooklyn." He co-starred in "Are We There Yet?," "The Boondocks" and "Black Jesus."
He recently toured with Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, George Lopez and D.L. Hughley on "The Comedy Get Down."
Charlie's wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, died in 2009 from cervical cancer. They had 2 children, and he had another from a previous relationship.
Charlie was 57.
#RIP
Comedian Charlie Murphy dies following leukemia battle
Comedian Charlie Murphy died Wednesday after a battle with leukemia, according to his publicist Domenick Nati.
Murphy was 57.
A long time comic, Murphy rose to fame for his work on Dave Chapelle's popular "Chapelle's Show," where he was a co-star and writer.
His recurring skit "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories," which recalled celebrity encounters he and his younger brother Eddie Murphy had with Rick James, Prince and others, became cult hits.
Comedian Charlie Murphy died Wednesday after a battle with leukemia, according to his publicist Domenick Nati.
Murphy was 57.
A long time comic, Murphy rose to fame for his work on Dave Chapelle's popular "Chapelle's Show," where he was a co-star and writer.
His recurring skit "Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories," which recalled celebrity encounters he and his younger brother Eddie Murphy had with Rick James, Prince and others, became cult hits.
Murphy also appeared in several movies, including"Jungle Fever," "Lottery Ticket" and "CB4."
One day before his death, Murphy tweeted: "One to Sleep On: Release the past to rest as deeply as possible."
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