Eddie Murphy has shared advice he received from Oscar-winning actor Sidney Poitier, who once told him to turn down a role in Malcolm X.
Speaking in Apple TV+'s documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood, Murphy revealed that he was approached to play Alex Haley in a planned adaptation of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, originally set to be directed by Norman Jewison.
Murphy recalled discussing the opportunity with Poitier, who strongly advised against it. "Sidney Poitier said, 'You are not Denzel [Washington], and you are not Morgan [Freeman]. You are a breath of fresh air, and don't **** with that!’"
Reflecting on the moment, Murphy admitted he was unsure whether the advice was "an insult or a compliment" but was simply shocked to be compared to Washington and Freeman.
Murphy, who was just 20 when he found fame, explained that Poitier and his peers had no real precedent for his career. "They didn’t have a reference for me, they couldn’t give me advice, ’cause I was 20, 21 years old, and my audience was the mainstream - all of everywhere."
Murphy went on to become one of Hollywood’s biggest comedy stars, with hits including Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America and The Nutty Professor.
