Does Eddie Murphy Have Kids? Family and Children Explained

The Short Answer

Yes, Eddie Murphy has ten children. The comedy legend is the father of ten kids with five different women, spanning from his mid-thirties down to young children. His eldest, Eric, was born in 1989; his youngest, Max Charles, was born in 2018. Murphy, born Edward Regan Murphy on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York, is widely recognized as one of the most influential Black artists in entertainment and one of the greatest comedians of all time.

His children include five with his ex-wife Nicole Mitchell Murphy (married 1993–2006), one with Melanie Brown ("Scary Spice" of the Spice Girls), and two youngest — Izzy and Max — with his wife Paige Butcher, whom he married in 2024. He has received a Golden Globe, a Grammy and an Emmy, plus the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2015) and the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2023).

Who Is Eddie Murphy?

Edward Regan Murphy was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York. He had his breakthrough as a teenage stand-up comic, and at just 19 he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (1980–1984), where his characters — Buckwheat, Gumby, Mr. Robinson — are credited with saving the show. His 1980s stand-up specials Delirious and Raw remain landmarks of comedy.

His film career made him one of the biggest box-office stars on the planet: 48 Hrs. (1982), Trading Places (1983), Beverly Hills Cop (1984), Coming to America (1988) and The Nutty Professor (1996). He earned an Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls (2006), voiced Donkey in the Shrek franchise and headlined family hits like Dr. Dolittle and Daddy Day Care. His 2019 comeback in Dolemite Is My Name earned some of the best reviews of his career.

Early Life and Birthday

Eddie Murphy was born on April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, New York, to telephone operator Lillian and transit police officer Charles Edward Murphy. His father died when Eddie was eight, and he and his older brother Charlie were raised by their mother and stepfather in Roosevelt, Long Island. He has said comedy became his refuge, doing impressions of relatives to make his family laugh.

At 15 he was performing stand-up at clubs on Long Island, and by 19 he had auditioned for Saturday Night Live — initially hired only as a featured player, he was promoted to full cast member within weeks as audiences responded to his electric talent. His stand-up fame exploded with the HBO special Delirious (1983), filmed when he was 22.

Children and Family

Eddie Murphy has ten children with five women. His eldest is Eric Murphy (born 1989) with Paulette McNeely. With his ex-wife Nicole Mitchell Murphy, whom he married in 1993 and divorced in 2006, he has five: Bria (1989), Myles (1992), Shayne (1994), Zola (1999) and Bella (2002). He has a son Christian (born 1990) with Tamara Hood, and a daughter Angel Iris Murphy Brown (born 2007) with Melanie Brown of the Spice Girls.

His two youngest are with his wife Paige Butcher: daughter Izzy Oona Murphy (born May 2016) and son Max Charles Murphy (born November 2018), named after Murphy's late brother Charlie. Despite the sprawling family, Murphy is known as a devoted father who keeps his children close — several of his kids have appeared with him at premieres, and Bria has followed him into acting.

Relationships and Marriage

Eddie Murphy married Australian model Paige Butcher in 2024 after a decade-long relationship; they share daughter Izzy and son Max. Before Butcher, his most significant relationship was his 13-year marriage to Nicole Mitchell Murphy (1993–2006), with whom he had five children. Nicole later starred on Hollywood Exes.

Murphy was briefly married to film producer Tracey Edmonds in a symbolic ceremony in 2008 that was never legally finalized. He also had a high-profile relationship with Melanie Brown, with whom he shares daughter Angel. Now 65, Murphy has settled into family life with Butcher while continuing to work.

Career Highlights

Murphy's career spans stand-up legend, box-office king and acclaimed dramatic actor. After SNL, his 1980s run — 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America — made him the biggest comedy star in the world. The 1990s brought The Nutty Professor (playing multiple roles), Dr. Dolittle and the voice of Donkey in Shrek, one of the most beloved animated characters ever.

His dramatic turn in Dreamgirls earned an Oscar nomination, and his portrayal of Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name (2019) was hailed as a career-best comeback. His honors include a Golden Globe, a Grammy for Best Comedy Album, an Emmy for returning to SNL, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2015), the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2023) and the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award (2026).

Awards and Box-Office Reign

Eddie Murphy's honors reflect a career of historic firsts. He won a Golden Globe for Dreamgirls (2006), a Grammy for Best Comedy Album (Raw), and an Emmy for hosting Saturday Night Live in 2019 — plus an Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls. His lifetime honors are comedy's highest: the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2015), the Cecil B. DeMille Award (2023) and the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award (2026).

At his 1980s peak, he was the biggest box-office star in the world: Beverly Hills Cop (1984) was the highest-grossing film of its year, and his films have earned nearly $7 billion worldwide. His stand-up specials Delirious (1983) and Raw (1987) remain landmarks — Raw was the highest-grossing stand-up film ever at the time. His 2019 Dolemite Is My Name comeback earned career-best reviews.

Family Life and Cultural Influence

Murphy is known as a devoted father to his ten children, keeping them close despite the sprawling family structure. Several kids have joined him at premieres — daughter Bria has acted, son Myles works in entertainment — and Murphy has spoken about the joy of his large family. His youngest, Izzy (10) and Max (8), are being raised with wife Paige Butcher, whom he married in 2024; he is also now a grandfather.

His cultural influence is immeasurable: he broke barriers for Black comedians on SNL and in film, created iconic characters across Coming to America (playing multiple roles, a signature trick), and voiced Donkey in Shrek — one of animation's most beloved characters. Generations of comedians, from Chris Rock to Dave Chappelle, cite him as the gold standard.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F and Late Career

Eddie Murphy's 2024 return as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F — forty years after the original — was a streaming hit that proved the character's enduring appeal. The film reunited him with Judge Reinhold and John Ashton, and Murphy's charisma carried the legacy sequel past its formula. He has also voiced Donkey across the Shrek franchise's continued expansions, a role spanning nearly 25 years.

His 2019 SNL hosting gig — his first in 35 years — won him the Emmy and was hailed as a triumphant homecoming. At 65, married to Paige Butcher since 2024, father of ten and now a grandfather, Murphy has entered his victory-lap era: the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award (2026) capped a career that took him from teenage SNL prodigy to the most influential Black comedian in entertainment history.

Lesser-Known Facts About Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy was only 19 when he joined Saturday Night Live in 1980 — initially hired as a featured player, promoted to full cast within weeks because audiences demanded it. His Raw (1987) stand-up film was, at the time, the highest-grossing stand-up comedy film ever. He voiced Donkey in Shrek after being cast for his ability to improvise — much of Donkey's dialogue was ad-libbed.

He played multiple roles in Coming to America and The Nutty Professor — a signature trick requiring hours of prosthetic makeup. His brother Charlie Murphy, the comedian famous for Chappelle's Show stories, died in 2017; Eddie named his youngest son Max Charles in his honor. At 65, with ten children and a 2024 marriage to Paige Butcher, Murphy's AFI Life Achievement Award (2026) capped a five-decade reign.

Where Is Eddie Murphy Now?

At 65, Eddie Murphy remains active: he reprised Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F (2024), continues voice work and stand-up, and received the AFI Life Achievement Award in 2026. Married to Paige Butcher since 2024, he is the father of ten — and now a grandfather as well. From teenage SNL prodigy to elder statesman of comedy, his influence on generations of comedians is immeasurable.

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