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Eddie Murphy was born in Brooklyn in 1961 and by 15 was writing and performing his own stand-up routines in bars. He shot to stardom after winning a part on Saturday Night Live and was soon cashing in on his smart-ass persona in film, on comedy records and even on pop albums. His most famous role, that of Axel Foley, had originally been intended for either Sly Stallone or Clint Eastwood. He was called upon by Spike Lee and others to help break down the barriers that were preventing Afro-Americans being hired by studios. After a run of dire movies in the early 90s he bounced back, literally, in The Nutty Professor and its sequel.
