Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel: Comedy Legend Meets Late Night

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel

One became a superstar at 19 on Saturday Night Live and went on to make some of the biggest comedies ever. The other has hosted his own late night show since 2003 and has interviewed nearly every big name in Hollywood. Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel are both comedy royalty, and their paths have crossed many times on late night TV.

Murphy has visited Jimmy Kimmel Live several times. In one memorable 2023 interview, Kimmel read a note from Murphy’s 1985 album about a $100,000 bet with Richard Pryor. Murphy explained that Pryor bet he would never make a music album, then never paid up. The two also talked about Murphy meeting Frank Sinatra and the rumor that Stevie Wonder can see.

This profile compares Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel across ages, education, career timelines, awards, and 2026 news.

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel at a Glance

Early Life and Education

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel were both born in Brooklyn, but they grew up in different places.

Eddie Murphy

Eddie Murphy was born in Brooklyn in 1961. His father, a police officer and amateur comedian, died when Eddie was eight. He and his brother Charlie spent a year in foster care before his mother remarried, and the family moved to Roosevelt, Long Island.

He started doing stand up at 15, performing at youth centers and bars. He graduated from Roosevelt Junior Senior High School in 1979. A year later, at 19, he joined Saturday Night Live.

Jimmy Kimmel

Jimmy Kimmel was born in Brooklyn in 1967 and moved to Las Vegas with his family at age 9. He grew up watching David Letterman and dreamed of a career in broadcasting.

He studied at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and then Arizona State University, but left without a degree to work in radio. He spent years as a radio host in Seattle, Tampa, Palm Springs, and Los Angeles.

Career Timeline

Eddie Murphy’s Career

Jimmy Kimmel’s Career

Their Late Night Moments

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel have shared some fun conversations.

• The Pryor bet: In November 2023, Kimmel found a note on Murphy’s 1985 album How Could It Be about a $100,000 bet with Richard Pryor. Murphy said Pryor never paid.
• Meeting Sinatra: Murphy recalled meeting Frank Sinatra at Sammy Davis Jr.’s 60th anniversary show in 1990.
• Impressions: On earlier visits, Murphy did a spot on impression of Tracy Morgan and talked about returning to stand up comedy.

Murphy, usually a private person, often seems relaxed and playful in Kimmel’s chair.

Two Different Comedy Paths

Murphy is a movie and stand up superstar. In the 1980s, he was the biggest comedy star in the world. He could do it all: stand up, sketch comedy, action comedy, family films, and voice acting. His characters, from Axel Foley to Donkey, are beloved worldwide.

Kimmel is a talk show host and producer. His comedy is dry, quick, and often built around pranks and viral bits. He has also become known for emotional and political monologues.

Awards and Achievements

Eddie Murphy won a Golden Globe and earned an Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls. He received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2015, an Emmy for hosting SNL in 2020, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award at the 2023 Golden Globes. His films have earned billions at the box office.

Jimmy Kimmel has hosted the Oscars four times. He won a Daytime Emmy for Win Ben Stein’s Money and has received many Emmy nominations for Jimmy Kimmel Live.

Personal Lives

Eddie Murphy has ten children. He was married to Nicole Mitchell from 1993 to 2006. He married his longtime partner, Paige Butcher, in 2024. His son Eric married Jasmin Lawrence, the daughter of comedian Martin Lawrence.

Jimmy Kimmel has two adult children from his first marriage. He married writer and producer Molly McNearney in 2013, and they have two children, Jane and Billy.

Where Are They Now in 2026?

Eddie Murphy has several big projects in the works. He is set to play Inspector Clouseau in a new Pink Panther film from the director of the Sonic the Hedgehog movies. He will return as Donkey in Shrek 5, which has been delayed, and in a Donkey spin off planned for 2028. The 2025 Netflix documentary Being Eddie gave fans a rare look at his life. He is 65.

Jimmy Kimmel is still hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live, with his ABC deal running through May 2027. In September 2026, ABC called a report that the show would end after this season inaccurate. He is 58.

Fun Facts

• Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel were both born in Brooklyn.
• Murphy’s SNL characters included Mister Robinson and Gumby.
• Kimmel’s “Mean Tweets” segment has featured presidents and movie stars.
• Murphy has played multiple characters in the same film, including in Coming to America and The Nutty Professor.

Frequently Asked Questions

Has Eddie Murphy been on Jimmy Kimmel Live? Yes, several times, including a memorable 2023 interview about his bet with Richard Pryor.

How old is Eddie Murphy? He was born on April 3, 1961, so he is 65.

Is Eddie Murphy returning as Donkey? Yes. He is set to voice Donkey in Shrek 5 and in a Donkey spin off planned for 2028.

Who is older? Eddie Murphy is about six years older than Jimmy Kimmel.

Lessons From Their Careers

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel both show the value of finding your own voice early. Murphy was performing stand up at 15 and was on national TV at 19. Kimmel worked in radio for years before landing his own show. Both also kept reinventing themselves. Murphy moved from raunchy stand up to family films and back to adult comedy, while Kimmel moved from The Man Show to a mainstream late night show.

Why People Compare Them

Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel are two Brooklyn born comedy stars who reached the top in different ways. Murphy became a movie icon, while Kimmel became a late night institution. Their fun conversations on Kimmel’s show bring their worlds together.

Both men have spent decades making America laugh, each in his own style. Few names last that long.

Key Takeaways

• Eddie Murphy and Jimmy Kimmel are linked through Murphy’s visits to Jimmy Kimmel Live, including a 2023 talk about his $100,000 bet with Richard Pryor.
• Eddie Murphy was born April 3, 1961, in Brooklyn, and is 65. He joined Saturday Night Live at 19.
• Jimmy Kimmel was born November 13, 1967, in Brooklyn, and is 58. He studied at UNLV and Arizona State.
• Murphy has won a Golden Globe, an Emmy, the Mark Twain Prize, and the Cecil B. DeMille Award.
• Kimmel has hosted Jimmy Kimmel Live since 2003 and the Oscars four times.
• In 2026, Murphy is developing The Pink Panther and Shrek projects, while Kimmel continues his show through at least May 2027.