Hollywood star Eddie Murphy, who recently reprised his role as Axel Foley in the fourth installment in the Beverly Hills Cop film series, had a childhood marked by the tragic death of his father, who passed away when he was just 8 years old.
The actor has admitted that while he didn’t remember much about his father, Charles Edward Murphy, he was aware of the circumstances surrounding his death, attributing it to what he described as the ‘Murphy charm.’
Eddie Murphy Reflected on His Father’s Tragic Death
In a 1989 interview with Rolling Stone, the Beverly Hills Cop star Eddie Murphy discussed his distant memories of his father and the tragic circumstances of his passing. “I have very dim memories,” he said, noting that he was very young when his father passed away.
“My mother and father broke up when I was three, and he died when I was eight,” Murphy said. Talking about the circumstances around his passing, the actor described it as a “crime of passion,” stating that he was allegedly killed by a woman.
He was a victim of the Murphy charm [chuckles]. A woman stabbed my father. I never got all the logistics. It was supposed to be one of those crimes of passion: “If I can’t have you, then no one else will” kind of deal.
The Emmy-winning comedian also recalled being advised not to trust the women following the incident. However, Murphy firmly dismissed such a notion, saying, “I don’t think the two have anything to do with each other.”
The Coming to America star admitted that his father’s passing significantly impacted him. “It was really traumatic,” he said while reflecting, “Every now and then, I wonder what it would be like if he was still here.”
However, the actor acknowledged the presence of paternal figures in his life. “And I do have two fathers. My father that’s alive, he raised me,” he said, referring to his stepfather Vernon Lynch Sr.
Eddie Murphy Does Not Want a Funeral Service
While promoting his new film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, Eddie Murphy recently reflected on his iconic role and dismissed the idea of being Black James Bond. Instead, the actor expressed pride in his character Axel Foley.
“I don’t have to be some Black James Bond. I have Axel Foley and he has theme music and everything,” he said in an interview with Kevin McCarthy. Talking about the theme song of the Beverly Hills Cop, he joked that the it should be played at his funeral service.
However, he quickly clarified with a burst of laughter, “That’s just a joke, ’cause I’m never having a funeral.” He further said, “I mean, I’m gonna die like everyone else. But [my loved ones] know…no funeral. Just let me go quietly.”
Recently reprising his role as Axel Foley after a decade, Murphy returned to the big screen in the fourth installment of Beverly Hills Cop. The film follows Foley returning to Beverly Hills to protect his daughter Jane and teaming up with old partner Billy Rosewood to uncover a conspiracy.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is available to stream on Netflix.
Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop II, and Beverly Hills Cop III are available to stream on Paramount+.
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