AFI Names Eddie Murphy 51st Life Achievement Honoree

The American Film Institute announced Friday that actor and comedian Eddie Murphy will receive its 51st Life Achievement Award, the organization's highest honor for a career in film, at a gala tribute on April 18, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.

The award recognizes Murphy's nearly five-decade impact on film, television and stand-up comedy, where he has demonstrated versatility and enduring cultural influence. "Eddie Murphy is an American icon," said Kathleen Kennedy, chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. "A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television and standup comedy, his versatility knows no bounds. Across five decades, his enduring impact on our culture has inspired artists and audiences alike, and AFI is proud to honor him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award."

Murphy, who turns 65 just two weeks after the gala, rose to prominence as a 19-year-old cast member on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s, where his impressions and sketches quickly made him a household name. He transitioned seamlessly to film, starring in breakout hits such as 1982's 48 Hrs., 1983's Trading Places and 1984's Beverly Hills Cop, which established him as one of Hollywood's...