Edward Regan Murphy was born April 3, 1961, and raised in Long Island in a middle-class community. He lost his father, a Brooklyn policeman, when he was only eight years old. His sense of humor was ever-present as a child, however, and he was the proverbial class clown in school. Voted the most popular student at his high school, Murphy was a comedic prodigy, performing for money at the age of fifteen. By eighteen, he was a headline act on the circuit.

A year later he passed an audition to appear on the NBC cult hit Saturday Night Live. The show was struggling to survive at the time, having lost most of the original cast, as well as founder and producer Lorne Michaels.

His talent earned him a regular slot on the program, as well as a loyal following. Murphy had a rapport with the camera and live audience that was astonishing for someone his age. His characters became legendary, from Buckwheat and Gumby to Mr. Robinson and James Brown It did not take long for Hollywood to take notice of his genius.

His first film, 48 Hrs., was a surprise hit that established him as a future star of the silver screen. Another hit followed, Trading Places, along with his classic routine in Delirious. Murphy was everywhere at the time, from film to a successful comedy album that earned him a Grammy. But his fame did not skyrocket until he was given his own vehicle to star in. The film was 1984's Beverly Hills Cop and it transformed his career forever. It went on to become one of the most successful films of all-time when it was released, and made Murphy rich.

No matter what Murphy did during the rest of the decade, he had the Midas touch. Even a mediocre film like The Golden Child in 1986 made a fortune at the box office. A sequel to Cop was a hit as well and he proved he still had the stand-up gift in Raw. Over the next several years, only Coming to America was able to generate considerable revenue at the box office. His foray into directing with Harlem Nights was a flop and he made many forgettable films that could not replicate his past glory.

All of that changed with the 1996 remake of The Nutty Professor. The film featured Murphy at his manic best as the alter ego Buddy Love. Another remake, Dr. Dolittle, introduced Murphy to a new legion of fans. He has since scored big with sequels to both and vocal roles in the animated hits Mulan and Shrek.

Critical praise was doled out with an unusual performance in Bowfinger. If anything, Murphy has proven that he is still a reliable Hollywood asset and has no shortage of work in the future. He starred in the film Showtime with Robert De Niro and Rene Russo and can be seen in The Adventures of Pluto Nash and another remake -- of a television show this time -- I Spy.

Murphy and his wife of nine years, Nicole Mitchell, are the parents of four children.