Actor and renowned stand-up comedian Eddie Murphy has been chosen to receive the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, a significant milestone in his cinematic career. According to Variety, the American Film Institute will honour Murphy at a gala tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood on April 18, 2026, just two weeks after he turns 65.

Murphy will be the fourth Black recipient of this prestigious award, joining the ranks of Sidney Poitier (1992), Morgan Freeman (2011), and Denzel Washington (2019), as reported by The Hollywood Reporter. Previous awardees have included prominent figures such as Steve Martin, Diane Keaton, George Clooney, Nicole Kidman, John Williams, Martin Scorsese, Tom Hanks, Meryl Streep, Al Pacino, and Julie Andrews. Last year, the honor went to Francis Ford Coppola.

The AFI Life Achievement Award is presented annually to a single individual in recognition of their contributions to the cinematic arts, career longevity, and influence acknowledged by critics, peers, scholars, and audiences. Kathleen Kennedy, chair of AFI's board of trustees, stated, “Eddie Murphy is an American icon. A trailblazer in film, television, and stand-up comedy, his versatility is unmatched. Over five decades, his impact on culture has inspired artists and audiences alike, and AFI is proud to present him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.”

Murphy rose to fame on Saturday Night Live in the early 1980s and quickly transitioned into a successful film career. While he initially focused on stand-up comedy, he achieved blockbuster success with films such as Beverly Hills Cop 2, Coming to America, and The Nutty Professor. More recently, he appeared in the 2025 Netflix documentary Being Eddie and the Amazon Prime action-comedy The Pickup.