Posted in: Movies, TV | Tagged: Charlie Murphy, obituary
Comedian Charlie Murphy Passes Away At 57
Charlie Murphy, the older brother of Eddie Murphy, passed away today at the age of 57. As his manager confirmed on TMZ, he died in a New York City hospital after a long battle with leukemia.
A Brooklyn native, Murphy performed standup comedy and acted in minor TV and film roles. His first big role came in 1993 playing Gusto in the film CB4. But most fans would know him best from one of two comedic stories. The first being that Charlie was often the "rube" in a lot of his brother's (Eddie Murphy) standup routines as Eddie became a phenomenon in the '80s. The second that most younger fans would know him from are his stories with Rick James and Prince on Chapelle's Show. From there, Charlie became a household comedic name that helped him launch a whole new phase into his standup career. But he never seemed to get away from the phrase "I'm Rick James, bitch!" The man was an excellent storyteller and by all accounts a really cool human being.
Murphy is survived by three children, two from a previous marriage and one with his last wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, who died from cancer in 2009.