The Hollywood community is in mourning once again, after losing another beloved actor and comedian.Charlie Murphy, the older brother of legendary comedianEddie Murphyand star of the iconic comedy seriesChappelle’s Show, has passed away at the age of 57. Murphy’s manager confirmed that hediedfrom Leukemia earlier this morning in a New York City hospital, where he was undergoing chemotherapy.
TMZreports that theactor’s deathcomes as an absolute shock to his family, since they had thought he was improving. The site says that his family would call him frequently, and that he would even joke that they were calling him too much. It hasn’t been confirmed how long he had been undergoing chemotherapy treatment for, before his death.
Charlie Murphywas born August 11, 2025 in Brooklyn toLillian Murphy, a telephone operator, andCharles Edward Murphy, a New York transit officer who was also an amateur actor and comedian. During his teenage years,Charlie Murphywas part of a street gang. According to his 2009 book “The Making of a Stand-Up Guy,” thelate comedianreveals that he received three years probation for his first offense, robbing a driver at gunpoint, but in the final year of his probation, he was arrested for larceny, loitering and other misdemeanors. Since this violated his probation, he was sentenced to serve the rest of his probation, 10 months, in the Nassau County Jail. The same day he was released from jail in 1978, he enlisted in the United States Navy, where he served for six years as a Boiler Technician.
His entertainment career didn’t begin until the late 1980s, making his feature film debut alongside his brotherEddie Murphyin 1989’sHarlem Nights, which he followed up with small roles inSpike Lee’sMo' Better BluesandJungle Fever, but his first major role was playing M.C. Gusto in the 1994 cult comedy classicCB4, alongsideChris Rock. The next year, he would also get a story and screenwriting credit onEddie Murphy’sVampire in Brooklyn, which was directed by the late greatWes Craven. He also wrotePaper SoldiersstarringKevin HartandEddie Murphy’sNorbit, while appearing in small roles in films likeThe Player’s Club,Unconditional LoveandDeath of a Dynasty, but thelate actorbecame best known for his “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Story” sketches on Comedy Central’sChappelle’s Show.
Charlie Murphyhad co-starred in various sketches onChappelle’s Show, and was also an uncredited writer, but two of the show’s most popular sketches ever were his “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Story” sketches about thelate musician PrinceandRick James. The sketches were based on true storiesCharlie Murphyexperienced alongside his iconic brother in the 1980s.Rick Jameshimself appeared in his sketch, confirming the story was true, whilePrincewould later confirm thatCharlie Murphy’s hilarious basketball story was also true.Princewould go on to use an image from that sketch, withDave Chappelleas Prince serving pancakes, as the artwork for his 2013 single “Breakfast Can Wait.”
AfterChappelle’s Showabruptly went off the air,Charlie Murphywould go on to star in movies likeKing’s Ransom,Roll Bounce,Night at the Museum,The Perfect Holiday,Frankehhood,Lottery Ticket,Our Family Weddingand last year’sMeet the Blacks. He also provided the voice of Ed Wuncler III onThe Boondocksand starred on TBS’Are We There Yet?andBlack Jesus, and most recently, he had a recurring role on Starz’sPower.Charlie Murphyis survived by his three children, and is preceded in death by his wifeTisha Taylor Murphy, who he was married to from 1997 until her death in 2009.
