The actor Eddie Murphy never wanted to be like: “That’s the reality of it”
Eddie Murphy will surely go down in history for unique range of talents over the years, stacking up an impressive resume that mostly contains the Shrek franchise and cult B-movies like Beverly Hills Cop and Dr Dolittle. He is known for his comedic prowess and regular appearance in animated films, with a maleable voice that can lend itself to a number of strange characters from the safety of a recording booth.
Arguably, his casting as Donkey in the Shrek series is the height of his career, perhaps showing his slightly one-sided talents and lack of range. Perhaps this is why he cannot fathom the career of another great actor, revealing his questionable intentions in the business.
Robin Williams was one of the greatest performers of all time, flitting between a dizzying number of genres as he starred in comedic classics such as Mrs Doubtfire and Aladdin as well as sensitive and heartfelt dramas like Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society. His performances highlight the tragic underlayer of comedy, with Charlie Chaplin famously saying that comedy is a tragedy through a close-up lens. We often use humour to cover up the darkness in our lives, something that Williams perhaps imbued into his dramatic performances, creating layered and melancholic characters.
Many actors would kill for his versatility and range to be able to entertain and simultaneously rip your heart out, sometimes blurring the lines between both emotions in bittersweet films such as The Fisher King, Hook and Good Morning Vietnam. This is what makes him a true artist, as he is motivated by something bigger than Hollywood – he cares about storytelling and making something real. However, Eddie Murphy does not care about this in the same way, which is a quality he exposed in himself when discussing Williams’ career.
When Murphy was asked about Williams’ ability to swing from comedies to Oscar-nominated dramas, the actor said, “I make more money than Robin Williams. That’s the reality of it. If you ask Nick Nolte or Robin Williams if they’d rather have an Oscar or what I get a picture, they’d take the salary. Or they’re nuts.”
This is completely baffling to me, as what real artist would admit that they care more about money than they do about their craft. Murphy is completely wrong in his assumptions, as Williams was not a shallow performer and his heart was in the right place. He cared more about entertaining people and creating meaningful projects than he did about a quick buck. Murphy should be ashamed of this philosophy, and any artist in their right mind would not admit to such a shallow motivation for being in the business. While you sometimes have to accept a gig you don’t care about to pay the bills, that doesn’t mean money is your sole motivation for being an artist.
Ultimately, Williams will be remembered for far longer than Murphy, as who is going to fondly recall the profound impact of Shrek in fifty years over the poignant power of Good Will Hunting and Dead Poets Society? Alas, I rest my case. Let’s hope that Murphy is enjoying those cheques and his smug knowledge at joining the most empty group in Hollywood.
