When the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences enlisted Eddie Murphy, star of the new movie Tower Heist, to host the next Oscars, they knew what they were doing. The Brooklyn native hadn't hosted an awards show in years (more on that later), but he's been entertaining since he was 19 years old. Following this year's debacle with actors James Franco and Anne Hathaway as co-hosts, the Oscar committee called in a more seasoned funnyman. Whether he's acting or doing voiceover work in one of his many blockbuster films, performing stand-up, or even singing his way up the Billboard charts, Murphy knows how to entertain a captive audience. Here, BlackEnterprise.com decodes Murphy's deceptively versatile resume. —William Ketchum III
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