The American Film Institute (AFI) has announced that Eddie Murphy will be honored with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, the nation’s highest recognition for a career in film. The award will be presented at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026.
AFI Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen Kennedy praised Murphy as an “American icon” whose influence spans film, television, and stand-up comedy. She noted his five decades of cultural impact and his role in inspiring generations of artists and audiences.
Proceeds from the Gala Tribute will support AFI’s education and arts initiatives. Canva, the visual communication platform, will serve as the official sponsor of the gala dinner.
Murphy joins a distinguished list of AFI honorees dating back to 1973, including John Ford, Sidney Poitier, Meryl Streep, Denzel Washington, Nicole Kidman, and most recently Francis Ford Coppola in 2025.
Murphy’s recognition follows a career marked by box-office success and cultural influence. Widely regarded as the most commercially successful African-American actor in film history, he has starred in multiple long-running hits, including Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor, Dr. Dolittle, and Daddy Day Care. He is also the voice of Donkey in the Shrek franchise.
In recent years, Murphy has appeared in Netflix’s Being Eddie, the Amazon comedy The Pickup, the holiday film Candy Cane Lane, and You People. His portrayal of Rudy Ray Moore in Dolemite Is My Name earned multiple award nominations, including Golden Globe and Critics Choice nods.
Murphy won an Emmy in 2020 for his return to Saturday Night Live, and in 2023 received the Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
His earlier work includes acclaimed performances in Dreamgirls, Trading Places, 48 Hrs., and Life, along with his directorial debut Harlem Nights. Murphy also provided the voice of Mushu in Disney’s Mulan.
The 2026 Gala will mark a new milestone in Murphy’s enduring career, celebrating his contributions to comedy, film, and the broader entertainment industry.
