Honoring an Iconic Career in Film – Gala Celebration Set for April 18, 2026

The American Film Institute (AFI) Board of Trustees announced that Eddie Murphy will be honored with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest recognition for an accomplished career in film in the United States. Murphy will accept the award during a special Gala Tribute at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on April 18, 2026, with all proceeds benefiting AFI’s arts and education initiatives.

“Eddie Murphy is a true American icon,” said AFI Board of Trustees Chair Kathleen Kennedy. “His pioneering work across film, television, and stand-up comedy has set new standards, and his influence continues to inspire generations of artists and audiences. It is our privilege to present him with the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award.”

AFI, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting the moving image as an art form, will use the Gala Tribute proceeds to further its mission in arts education. The event’s official sponsor is Canva, the versatile visual communication platform.

Previous AFI Life Achievement Award Recipients

Eddie Murphy joins a distinguished roster of honorees who have received the AFI Life Achievement Award since its founding in 1973. Past recipients include:

  • John Ford (1973)
  • James Cagney (1974)
  • Orson Welles (1975)
  • William Wyler (1976)
  • Bette Davis (1977)
  • Henry Fonda (1978)
  • Alfred Hitchcock (1979)
  • James Stewart (1980)
  • Fred Astaire (1981)
  • Frank Capra (1982)
  • John Huston (1983)
  • Lillian Gish (1984)
  • Gene Kelly (1985)
  • Billy Wilder (1986)
  • Barbara Stanwyck (1987)
  • Jack Lemmon (1988)
  • Gregory Peck (1989)
  • David Lean (1990)
  • Kirk Douglas (1991)
  • Sidney Poitier (1992)
  • Elizabeth Taylor (1993)
  • Jack Nicholson (1994)
  • Steven Spielberg (1995)
  • Clint Eastwood (1996)
  • Martin Scorsese (1997)
  • Robert Wise (1998)
  • Dustin Hoffman (1999)
  • Harrison Ford (2000)
  • Barbra Streisand (2001)
  • Tom Hanks (2002)
  • Robert De Niro (2003)
  • Meryl Streep (2004)
  • George Lucas (2005)
  • Sean Connery (2006)
  • Al Pacino (2007)
  • Warren Beatty (2008)
  • Michael Douglas (2009)
  • Mike Nichols (2010)
  • Morgan Freeman (2011)
  • Shirley MacLaine (2012)
  • Mel Brooks (2013)
  • Jane Fonda (2014)
  • Steve Martin (2015)
  • John Williams (2016)
  • Diane Keaton (2017)
  • George Clooney (2018)
  • Denzel Washington (2019)
  • Julie Andrews (2022)
  • Nicole Kidman (2024)
  • Francis Ford Coppola (2025)

Eddie Murphy stands as the most commercially successful African-American actor in film history and ranks among the top five box-office stars ever. At 64, Murphy’s career boasts several movies grossing over $100 million, including hits like Beverly Hills Cop and Daddy Day Care. Recently, he was featured in the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, starred in Amazon’s The Pickup, and appeared in the holiday favorite Candy Cane Lane and Netflix’s You People. His acclaimed performance in Dolemite Is My Name earned him Golden Globe nominations and a Critics Choice nod.

Murphy’s extensive achievements include a 2020 Emmy® for his guest role on Saturday Night Live and the 2023 Cecil B. DeMille Award from the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. His portrayal of James “Thunder” Early in Dreamgirls garnered him a Golden Globe, Screen Actors Guild, and Broadcast Film Critics Association awards for Best Supporting Actor, along with his first Oscar® nomination.

He’s well known for voicing Donkey in the Shrek franchise, which holds the record for highest-grossing animated film. Murphy’s voice work earned him an Annie Award and BAFTA and MTV Movie Award nominations, and he will reprise Donkey in the next Shrek installment.

Murphy launched his career as a stand-up comedian and joined Saturday Night Live at age 19. He has since starred in numerous blockbuster comedies such as 48 Hrs., Trading Places, Dr. Dolittle, Coming to America, and the Beverly Hills Cop series, receiving multiple Golden Globe nominations for his comedic performances.

In 1989, Murphy directed, wrote, and starred in Harlem Nights alongside Richard Pryor and Redd Foxx. He produced and starred in Life with Martin Lawrence, and Bowfinger with Steve Martin, and voiced Mushu in Disney’s Mulan. In The Nutty Professor and its sequel, Murphy played multiple roles, earning another Golden Globe nomination. His credits also include Dr. Dolittle 2, Daddy Day Care, Norbit, Tower Heist, and Mr. Church.

About the AFI Life Achievement Award

Established in 1973, the AFI Life Achievement Award honors a single individual each year whose talent fundamentally advances the art of film. Recipients are selected for their lasting contributions, critical acclaim, peer recognition, and enduring influence. The 50th award was presented to Francis Ford Coppola in April 2025, with a star-studded tribute from industry legends. The honor celebrates those whose work has truly stood the test of time.

Founded in 1967, the American Film Institute is a nonprofit dedicated to elevating the art of the moving image. AFI launched the first thorough history of American film, pioneered film preservation, and established the AFI Conservatory—one of America’s top film schools. AFI’s legacy includes the Life Achievement Award, AFI AWARDS, and initiatives like the AFI Catalog of Feature Films and the AFI Archive. Exhibition programs include AFI FEST presented by Canva and screenings at the AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center in Maryland. AFI also offers programs to increase diversity in storytelling, such as AFI DWW+ and the Cinematography Intensive Workshop. Discover more at AFI.com and follow AFI on Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and Instagram.