On Monday (Dec. 30), the Critics’ Choice Association announced that Eddie Murphy is set to receive the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 25th Annual Critics’ Choice Awards. The iconic actor most recently was nominated for Best Actor by the organization for his stellar portrayal of Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name.
The Critics Choice Association also noted that Murphy is one of few actors who have starred in multiple $100 million grossing films, ranging from Beverly Hills Cop to Daddy Day Care. Murphy’s other box office hits have included 48 Hours, Trading Places, Coming to America, Harlem Nights, The Distinguished Gentleman, Bowfinger, The Nutty Professor and Shrek.
Murphy also recently wrapped up production on his highly anticipated Coming 2 America sequel. He’ll receive his award at the 25th annual Critics’ Choice Awards, which will take place on Sunday (Jan. 12) at 7 p.m. EST in Santa Monica, CA. The event will once again be hosted by actor Taye Diggs and broadcasted on The CW.
2019 proved a successful comeback year for Murphy. Dolemite Is My Name marked his first lead role since 2011’s Tower Heist and also landed him a nomination for Best Performance By An Actor In A Motion Picture (Musical Or Comedy) at the 2020 Golden Globe Awards. Murphy also recently made his return to the “Saturday Night Live” stage, hosting a special episode alongside Tracy Morgan, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock and Kenan Thompson.
Not all were happy with Murphy ending his 35-year “SNL” hiatus, though. Bill Cosby and his spokesperson responded angrily to jokes that Murphy made during the show at the incarcerated actor’s expense.
“If you had told me 30 years ago that I would be this boring stay-at-home house dad and Bill Cosby would be in jail, even I would have took that bet,” Murphy had said.
Cosby’s spokesperson, Andrew Wyatt, responded by calling Murphy a “Hollywood slave.”