Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel: Comedy Royalty and the Late-Night Host

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel

When Eddie Murphy joined Saturday Night Live in 1980, he was 19 years old. Within a couple of years, he was the biggest star on the show and one of the hottest comedians in America. Jimmy Kimmel was a teenager in Las Vegas at the time, part of a generation that grew up quoting Murphy’s routines.

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel represent two kinds of comedy success. Murphy became a movie superstar with Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and Shrek. Kimmel became one of the longest-serving late-night hosts in TV history. In 2026, Murphy received the AFI Life Achievement Award, and Kimmel faces questions about how much longer his show will run. This article looks at both.

Quick Facts

Both men were born in Brooklyn, though both grew up elsewhere: Murphy on Long Island and Kimmel in Las Vegas.

Eddie Murphy: A Comedy Legend

Early Life and Education

Edward Regan Murphy was born in Brooklyn. His father, a police officer and amateur comedian, died when Eddie was eight. He and his brother Charlie spent time in foster care before his mother remarried and the family moved to Roosevelt, Long Island. He started doing impressions and stand-up as a teen and graduated from Roosevelt High School, then briefly attended Nassau Community College.

Career Timeline

• 1980: Joined Saturday Night Live at 19, creating characters like Buckwheat and Mister Robinson.
• 1982: Made his film debut in 48 Hrs. with Nick Nolte.
• 1983: Starred in Trading Places and released the stand-up special Delirious.
• 1984: Starred in Beverly Hills Cop, one of the biggest hits of the decade.
• 1987: Released the concert film Raw, still one of the highest-grossing stand-up films.
• 1988: Starred in Coming to America.
• 1996: Starred in The Nutty Professor, playing multiple roles.
• 1998: Voiced Mushu in Disney’s Mulan.
• 2001: Voiced Donkey in Shrek.
• 2007: Won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls.
• 2019: Starred in Dolemite Is My Name and returned to host SNL, winning an Emmy.
• 2023: Received the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the Golden Globes.
• 2024: Returned as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.
• April 2026: Received the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, with tributes from Spike Lee, Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, and others.

Murphy in 2026

At the AFI ceremony, Murphy said the night was one he would remember forever. Speakers praised his influence on generations of comedians and actors. He has also said that surviving fame with his sanity intact is his proudest achievement. A new Shrek film, with Murphy back as Donkey, is in the works.

Jimmy Kimmel: The Late-Night Lifer

Early Life and Education

Jimmy Kimmel was born in Brooklyn and moved to Las Vegas at nine. He graduated from Clark High School and took classes at UNLV and Arizona State before leaving to work in radio.

Career Timeline

• 1990s: Worked in radio, landing at KROQ in Los Angeles.
• 1997: Co-hosted Win Ben Stein’s Money, winning a Daytime Emmy.
• 1999: Launched The Man Show with Adam Carolla.
• 2003: Started Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC.
• 2017, 2018, 2023, and 2024: Hosted the Academy Awards.
• September 2025: ABC briefly suspended his show over comments about Charlie Kirk’s killing, then restored it.
• December 2025: Extended his ABC deal through May 2027.
• 2026: Watched his late-night peer Stephen Colbert sign off as CBS ended The Late Show.

Film Star vs. TV Host

Murphy’s comedy is built on characters and voices. He can disappear into roles, playing several characters in one film. In Coming to America, he played four different characters, including an old Jewish barber, under heavy makeup by Rick Baker. Kimmel’s comedy is built on observation and timing, reacting to the news and the people in it. He has also built long-running bits, from fake feuds to street interviews, that keep viewers coming back.

The Influence of Eddie Murphy

Few comedians have influenced the field more than Murphy. Comedians like Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, and Kenan Thompson have named him as a hero. His stand-up specials Delirious and Raw changed what stand-up could be, filling arenas and selling as concert films.

Kimmel, like many in his generation, grew up watching Murphy on SNL. The late-night format Kimmel now leads owes a lot to SNL’s influence on TV comedy.

Why People Search for Them Together

Searches for Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel often come from fans of classic comedy and late-night TV. Murphy has appeared on late-night shows over the years to promote his films, and those visits draw big audiences.

Their shared Brooklyn birthplace is another fun link. Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel were both born in the same New York borough before their families moved elsewhere, and both went on to shape American comedy.

Family Life

• Murphy has ten children, and his longtime partner is Australian model Paige Butcher. Several of his children have followed him into entertainment.
• Kimmel has four children and is married to Molly McNearney, co-head writer of his show.

Hosting the Big Shows

Both men have taken on high-pressure hosting jobs.

Kimmel is one of the most experienced award show hosts of his generation, leading the Oscars four times and the Emmys three times. He handled the 2017 Best Picture mix-up, when the wrong film was announced, with calm humor.

Murphy is better known as a performer than a host, but his 2019 return to host Saturday Night Live was one of the most celebrated episodes in years. He revived classic characters like Gumby and Mister Robinson, and the episode drew huge ratings and an Emmy win.

For fans of Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel, these moments show two masters of live comedy at work.

Fast Facts

• Murphy’s 1983 special Delirious is famous for his red leather suit.
• Kimmel once worked as a radio sidekick under the name “Jimmy the Sports Guy.”
• Murphy recorded music, including the 1985 hit “Party All the Time,” produced by Rick James.
• Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” segment has featured presidents, athletes, and movie stars.

These details add fun to the stories of Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel, two comedy greats born in the same borough.

Comedy Across Generations

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel show how comedy has changed over the decades. Murphy’s rise came through TV sketches, stand-up concert films, and box office hits. Kimmel’s success came through late-night TV and online clips that reach millions of viewers on social media the next morning.

Final Thoughts

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel are two giants of American comedy. Murphy became a superstar on SNL and went on to one of the most successful comedy film careers ever. Kimmel became one of the longest-running late-night hosts, steering his show through more than two decades.

In 2026, Murphy was celebrated with the AFI Life Achievement Award, while Kimmel continued his ABC run as late night changed around him.

Key Takeaways

• Eddie Murphy was born April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn. Jimmy Kimmel was born November 13, 1967, also in Brooklyn.
• Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel represent two kinds of comedy success: movie stardom and late-night hosting.
• Murphy joined SNL at 19 and starred in 48 Hrs., Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and Shrek.
• Murphy received the AFI Life Achievement Award in April 2026, with tributes from Spike Lee, Chris Rock, and Dave Chappelle.
• Kimmel launched Jimmy Kimmel Live! in 2003 and has hosted the Oscars four times.
• Kimmel’s ABC contract runs through May 2027.
• Murphy’s specials Delirious and Raw influenced generations of comedians, including many who grew up alongside Kimmel.