The American Film Institute Board of Trustees has selected Eddie Murphy as the recipient of its 51st AFI Life Achievement Award. Murphy will be honored at a Gala Tribute taking place on April 18, 2026 at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
The AFI Life Achievement Award honoree is selected by the AFI Board of Trustees. Considered the highest honor for a career in film, the AFI Life Achievement Award is given to a single honoree each year, recognizing talent that has furthered the cinematic arts, demonstrated longevity and been acknowledged by scholars, critics, peers and audiences alike. Last year’s recipient was Francis Ford Coppola, with previous winners including Steve Martin, John Williams, Diane Keaton, George Clooney, Denzel Washington, Julie Andrews and Nicole Kidman.
AFI Board of Trustees chairwoman Kathleen Kennedy said in a statement, “Eddie Murphy is an American icon. A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television and stand-up 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 has had a hugely successful movie career, with several of his films grossing over $100M during the past four decades. Some of his most notable projects include: Beverly Hills Cop, 48 Hrs., Daddy Day Care, Trading Places, Coming to America, Boomerang, The Nutty Professor, Dreamgirls, Dr. Doolittle and the voice of ‘Donkey’ in the Shrek franchise.
Murphy’s stage and stand up specials include 1983’s “Delirious” and 1987’s “Raw” and his role as a cast member on “Saturday Night Live”. Most recently, he was the subject of the 2025 Netflix documentary “Being Eddie”
In 2020, Murphy won the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for Saturday Night Live, and in 2023 he received the Cecil B. DeMille Award – the Golden Globes’ highest honor. Murphy also earned a Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his work in 2006’s Dreamgirls, and is a Grammy winner as well as the recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
Most recently, Murphy appeared in the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, and starred in the Amazon Prime action comedy featur “The Pickup.”
Editorial credit: Featureflash Photo Agency / Shutterstock.com
