The American Film Institute has named Eddie Murphy the recipient of the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, considered America’s highest honor for a career in film.
“Eddie Murphy is an American icon,” said Kathleen Kennedy, Chair of the AFI Board of Trustees. “A trailblazing force in the art forms of film, television and stand-up comedy, his versatility knows no bounds. Across five decades, his enduring impact on our culture has inspired artists and audiences alike, and AFI is proud to honor him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.”
Murphy is currently seen in the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, along with Amazon’s heist comedy The Pickup and the hit holiday film Candy Cane Lane, as well as You People for Netflix.
He also starred in Coming 2 America; as well as in the Netflix biopic Dolemite is My Name, a performance which garnered him Golden Globes nominations for Best Picture Comedy/Musical and Lead Actor Motion Picture Musical or Comedy and a Critics Choice Association nomination for Best Actor. In 2023 his contributions to film were recognized by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association when they presented him with their highest honor, The Cecil B. DeMille Award.
The American Film Institute is a nonprofit organization with a mandate to champion the moving image as an art form. All proceeds from the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award Tribute Gala support AFI’s education and arts initiatives. The award will be presented at a Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026.
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