At an afterparty following the release of “Coming to America” in 1988, Eddie Murphy’s exceptional ability for character transformation led Jesse Jackson to mistake one of Murphy’s roles for a genuine supporting actor. This incident highlighted the remarkable authenticity of Murphy’s character work, bringing the topic of Eddie Murphy character transformations fully into the spotlight.
Murphy’s Convincing Disguises Leave Lasting Impressions
In “Coming to America,” Eddie Murphy, best known for his longtime involvement with Saturday Night Live, took on multiple parts, including the memorable elderly barbershop owner Clarence. The civil rights activist Jesse Jackson reportedly approached Murphy after the film’s premiere to thank him for casting older Black actors in the movie, believing the role of Clarence was played by another veteran performer.
“When we did the original Coming to America, at the afterparty, Jesse Jackson came up to me and he was like, ‘Hey, you know, I wanna say thank you for looking out for some of the older Black actors and putting them in the film, you know, and giving them a shot because those guys are gonna become stars,’”
Murphy said in the Netflix documentary “Being Eddie.” – Eddie Murphy, Comedian
Murphy recounted his own disbelief when Jackson failed to recognize him beneath the makeup.
“I was like, ‘What are you talking about?’”
Murphy recalled.
“He said, ‘Those guys in the barbershop. Man, they’re funny, and those guys will get famous because of this.’”
Murphy responded in his trademark style:
“I was like, ‘Motherf—er, that was me,’”
Murphy exclaimed, and Jackson’s stunned reaction followed:
“What? What? That was you? Now I got to go see the movie again.”
– Eddie Murphy, Comedian
The Evolution of Murphy’s Multi-Character Roles
Interestingly, only a few years earlier, Murphy had parodied Jesse Jackson himself during a 1984 episode of Saturday Night Live. This talent for mimicry and disguise became a signature element of Murphy’s comedic brand. “Coming to America” marked the first major film in which Murphy played several roles: Prince Akeem Joffer, the performer Randy Watson, Clarence the barbershop owner, and Saul, an elderly Jewish customer—all brought to life with distinct looks and personalities.
Murphy’s creative use of character transformations continued in other films. He tackled three roles in “Vampire in Brooklyn” (1995), played seven parts in “The Nutty Professor” (1996), portrayed two distinct characters in “Bowfinger” (1999), astoundingly embodied eight roles in “Nutty Professor II: The Klumps” (2000), and brought three unique personas to “Norbit” (2007). Each transformation required heavy use of makeup and character work, contributing to the actor’s celebrated versatility.
Returning to Zamunda and the Passion Behind the Makeovers
Eddie Murphy teamed up again with Arsenio Hall for “Coming 2 America” in 2021, reprising all their original multi-character performances. Hall, like Murphy, was credited for four roles in the original, adding to the film’s comedic depth and entertainment value.
In his documentary “Being Eddie” on Netflix, Murphy delved further into his fascination with inhabiting different identities.
“When I get a voice or a character, the way my voice sounds, I can lose it completely. There’s no sign of my voice. Characters are like real people.”
– Eddie Murphy, Comedian
Murphy explained that this passion for acting transformations traces back to his childhood, when he would rewatch films featuring dramatic makeup effects, such as the 1939 “Hunchback of Notre Dame” starring Charles Laughton.
“I’ve always been a fan of makeup movies. There’s some makeup, they turn into another person,”
he explained.
“I always gravitated to stuff like that. And I watched that stuff over and over and over and over again.”
– Eddie Murphy, Comedian
The Lasting Impact of Murphy’s On-Screen Transformations
Eddie Murphy’s exceptional aptitude for disappearing into his characters has created comedic moments that fool even celebrities like Jesse Jackson, while inspiring other actors and comedy stars. His dedication to character work, seen in films stretching across decades and genres, has set a standard for comedic versatility and continues to capture the imagination of audiences and colleagues alike. The ongoing interest in Murphy’s transformations ensures his legacy as a master of disguise in Hollywood remains secure.
