Award-winning actor Eddie Murphy, best known for his work in the films Coming to America, Beverly Hills Cop, The Nutty Professor and Dreamgirls, among many others, will receive this year’s Distinguished Artisan Award at the 8th Annual Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild Awards celebrating the prolific spectrum of his versatile four-decade acting career on screen and television. Presenting the Distinguished Artisan Award to Murphy will be Arsenio Hall, star of Murphy’s upcoming movie Coming 2 America.
The reimagined awards gala, honoring outstanding achievements of both make-up artists and hair stylists in motion pictures, television, commercials and live theater, will be held virtually on Saturday, April 3, 2021. The announcement was made today by Julie Socash, President of IATSE Local 706.
“From The Nutty Professor to Prince Akeem, Eddie Murphy is a legendary actor whose myriad of characters live in our hearts forever. He has expertly created memorable personalities in numerous award winning films, often portraying multiple characters in the same film. This award recognizes all the hours that he has spent in the make-up chair collaborating with our talented and innovative make-up artists and hair stylists, and we celebrate these great relationships and Eddie’s enormous talents,” said Socash.
Eddie Murphy is the most commercially successful African-American actor in the history of the motion picture business, and is one of the industry’s top five box-office performers overall. At the tender age of 59, Murphy is on the very short list of actors who have starred in multiple $100 million pictures over the past three decades, from Beverly Hills Cop to Daddy Day Care.
His films have been among the highest-grossing comedies in the industry; they include 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Dr. Dolittle, Coming to America and the Beverly Hills Cop franchise. Murphy garnered Golden Globe Award nominations for Best Actor in a Comedy for his performances in Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places and 48 Hrs.
In 1989, Murphy made his directorial debut with Harlem Nights, a period comedy he also wrote and starred in, opposite Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. In addition, Murphy starred in and produced the hit comedy Life, co-starring Martin Lawrence, and starred opposite Steve Martin in the comedy Bowfinger. He was also the voice of Mushu the Dragon in the successful animated epic Mulan.
The Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylists Guild’s Distinguished Artisan Award is given annually to those whose body of work in the film and television industry was richly enhanced by the consistent collaboration of make-up and hair styling artistry creating memorable characters throughout their career. Previous recipients include Sir Patrick Stewart, Melissa McCarthy, Gary Oldman, Johnny Depp, Ryan Murphy and Guillermo del Toro.
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