Photo Credit: Today Show
Eddie Murphy, the iconic comedian and actor, recently opened up about his life as a father of 10, sharing insights into his family dynamics and the joys and challenges of parenting a large brood. Speaking with Al Roker on the Today Show, Murphy, 63, reflected on his Father's Day experience and his ideal day off from work, ahead of the release of his new film, ‘Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F’.
Murphy’s children range in age from 5 to 34: Eric, 34, Bria, 34, Christian, 33, Myles Mitchell, 31, Shayne Audra, 29, Zola Ivy, 24, Bella Zahra, 21, Angel Iris, 17, Izzy Iona, 8, and Max Charles, 5. Despite the often chaotic household, Murphy described Father’s Day as “like any other normal Father’s Day,” filled with the simple pleasure of having his children around.
During the interview, Roker asked Murphy about his ideal day off, to which he responded, “I remember talking to you once, and you said your ideal day for you when you’re not working is that you’re home and your kids are within earshot.” Murphy elaborated, “Yeah. That means I’m in a nice, quiet, controlled space. I have a 5-year-old and an 8-year-old, and they make a lot of noise. You need a little space.”
Murphy revealed that his younger children are blissfully unaware of their father’s celebrity status. When asked if the younger kids know about his cultural icon status, Murphy chuckled, “Not at all. And the other ones don’t care,” referring to his older children.
In a candid reflection on his role as a father, Murphy shared that his favorite role is being a dad. In a 2021 appearance on Marc Maron’s WTF podcast, he expressed that his children always come before his career, stating, “I love fatherhood.” He added, “The whole idea of being out there and doing three movies a year, that s— is over. I realized that if you put your children first, you never make a bad decision.”
Murphy feels blessed with his children, noting, “I don’t have one bad seed. My kids are so great, normal people — and nobody is like the Hollywood jerk kid.” This sentiment underscores the comedian’s deep appreciation for his family, highlighting that despite his fame, his true fulfillment comes from being a devoted father.
