Eddie Murphy’s Hidden Acts of Kindness Included Paying for Three Iconic Stars’ Memorials

In the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, fans of comedian Eddie Murphy get a glimpse into the life of the megastar that is rarely seen, including the darker moments and personal tragedies that shaped him, as well as the losses suffered by the people closest to him.

The film also highlights Murphy’s lesser-known altruistic side — the generosity he extended not just to his inner circle, but to the friends, collaborators, and cultural figures who influenced him throughout his career, including paying for the funerals of heroes and mentors including Redd Foxx and Rick James.

Eddie Murphy’s connection to Redd Foxx

In the doc, Murphy speaks highly of legendary comedian Redd Foxx, who inspired his comedy. He was able to work with Foxx on 1989’s Harlem Nights, which was a box office disappointment, but meant a lot to Murphy as it enabled him to work with his mentors Richard Pryor, Della Reese, and, of course, Foxx.

Paramount/courtesy Everett Collection

It’s during this segment of the documentary that Murphy reveals he did something for Foxx — and others — that few people ever knew about, a final act of respect that cemented just how much the comedy icon meant to him.

“Redd was funny effortlessly. I love Redd,” said Murphy. “He was a cautionary tale, too, because we’ve got drugs…sniffing blow and all that. Then his paper was all f**ked up, ’cause when Redd kicked out, I had to bury Redd,” confessed the superstar. “I had to bury Redd. I had to bury Rick [James]. I bought Buckwheat a tombstone. Buckwheat didn’t have no tombstone.”

Murphy and Rick James were friends and collaborators in the early to mid-1980s, at the height of both of their careers. Their most famous partnership was on Murphy’s 1985 hit single “Party All the Time,” which James co-wrote, produced, and performed on. The track was recorded at James’ home studio in Buffalo, and Murphy has said that James was the driving force behind convincing him he could make a legit pop song rather than just a comedy bit.

Courtesy of Everett Collection

Their relation was made famous with Murphy’s brother, the late Charlie Murphy, began telling outrageous yet true reenactments about James on Chappelle’s Show in Season 2 called “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories.”

And while Murphy didn’t have a personal relationship with Billie “Buckwheat” Thomas, he famously played Buckwheat on Saturday Night Live, which contributed to his breakout year. The bit became so popular it turned Buckwheat into one of Murphy’s most iconic characters. He resurrected the character over three decades later on December 21, 2019, in a sketch where Buckwheat showed up as a contestant on The Masked Singer.

Courtesy of Everett Collection; ©NBC/Courtesy Everett Collection

“I’m always burying these people,” said Murphy. “I mean, it tripped me out, these people, show business and all that, that when they pass away, there’s not even the money to bury these people?”

“Where are their families? Where are their people? It’s a lot of people like that,” Murphy laments in the documentary.

Being Eddie, premieres November 12, Netflix

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In a new Apple TV+ documentary, Murphy discusses the good and bad advice he got early in his career.

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