Comedians React To Charlie Murphy's Death

There's no question that Eddie Murphy and older brother Charlie were incredibly close, with Charlie serving as Eddie's protector while they were children before becoming his bodyguard as an adult and then writing movies for Eddie to star in. While Eddie Murphy isn't particularly active on social media—"I don't need to be on the Facebook," he once told Rolling Stone—the Murphy family released a brief statement on Wednesday afternoon following Charlie's death.

"Our hearts are heavy with the loss today of our son, brother, father, uncle and friend Charlie. Charlie filled our family with love and laughter and there won't be a day that goes by that his presence will not be missed. Thank you for the outpouring of condolences and prayers. We respectfully ask for privacy during this time of great loss for all of us."

Fans of John Mayer got an unexpected surprise Wednesday night at his concert in Columbus, Ohio, when Ohio local and Chappelle's Show creator Dave Chappelle made an appearance on stage with the singer. The pair reminisced about a sketch called "Dancing for Different Cultures," which Mayer helped Chappelle out with in a 2004 episode of his series. Chappelle went on to speak briefly about the loss of Charlie Murphy, saying, "Everybody in comedy is heartbroken." Chappelle then asked the audience to put their phones down: "For just a few minutes tonight, don't take a picture or video. Let's make a memory that only we get to have."

A few audience members didn't stop filming, though, and we're glad they didn't—because it means we can share with you a touching video of John Mayer singing "You're Gonna Live Forever In Me," as Chappelle tells Murphy, "Rest in peace, Charlie Murphy. We love you, we love your comedy, we love your stories, and we love your spirit."

While Kevin Hart is better known today for his parts in the Scary Movie franchise and his stand-up comedy specials and albums, Hart got his start on the big screen with his role in the 2002 crime comedy Paper Soldiers, in which he starred. Charlie Murphy also appeared alongside Hart in Paper Soldiers, playing a detective in the film. Upon hearing of Murphy's passing, Kevin Hart made a heartfelt post to Charlie on his Instagram account, thanking Murphy for not only believing in him, but for being his friend through the years.

Neal Brennan, a comedian and writer has worked on Saturday Night Live and The Daily Show, among other projects. He also worked together with Charlie Murphy on the set of Chappelle's Show, which Brennan co-created along with Dave Chappelle.

Brennan posted a tribute to Murphy on his Twitter feed Wednesday, featuring a collage of photos from some of Murphy's best moments, and letting the world know that Charlie "changed my life."

For years, Paul Mooney has been behind the scenes at some of our favorite comedy shows, working as a writer for Good Times, In Living Color, and even Richard Pryor. It wasn't until Mooney started appearing as "Negrodamus" alongside Charlie Murphy on Chappelle's Show that many fans got an up-close look at his comic abilities. While Paul has been dealing with his own struggle with prostate cancer, Mooney paid tribute to Charlie Murphy on Twitter after his passing Wednesday, expressing his deep sorrow over Murphy's death.

Mike Epps came to prominence in comedy with his roles in Ice Cube's stoner comedy films Next Friday and Friday After Next. Epps would later work alongside Charlie Murphy and Paul Mooney in the 2016 comedy-horror film Meet The Blacks. They'd also film together for the 2010 comedy Lottery Ticket, along with Bill Bellamy and Leslie Jones. After learning of Murphy's passing, Epps posted a photo of the two together on his Twitter account, telling Murphy, "we will ride for you bro."

While actor and comedian Dane Cook never had the opportunity to work directly with Charlie Murphy on a project, Cook clearly knew what a comedic treasure the world had in Murphy.

He shared his thoughts about the sad news on Wednesday via Twitter, calling Murphy a "really nice, really funny guy," and remembering the many times "our paths crossed over the years."

Superstar comedy director Kevin Smith has long been a fan of Chappelle's Show, particularly Charlie Murphy's work. In his 2007 autobiography My Boring-Ass Life, Smith extolled Murphy's virtues. "But the un-sung hero of [Chappelle's Show] has gotta be Charlie Murphy," he writes. "The man is one of the most real human beings I've ever seen on TV and a dazzling storyteller. There are comedians, there are comic actors, there are monologuists, and there are storytellers, and Charlie Murphy is a phenomenal storyteller. ... He can make you laugh and make you feel, and he'll put you directly into the moment of the tale he's telling. The guy's amazing."

While many of us are familiar with Charlie Murphy's tales about Rick James and Prince, Smith recommends we check out a different clip. "Pop in the [Chappelle's Show] bonus features disc and go right to the Charlie Murphy story entitled, 'That's My Brother.' ... There's no reenactment footage ... just Charlie, in front of a green screen, weaving a word tapestry that paints a picture so well, it makes me jealous." After learning of Murphy's passing, Smith reiterated his love for Charlie with a post on Twitter, calling Murphy "one of the greatest storytellers I've ever heard in my life."

Charlie Murphy's influence and friendship broke international borders, as evidenced by the reaction of Canadian comedian Russell Peters after he heard the news of Murphy's passing. Peters shared a long post on Instagram about his friend, along with a photo from a past tour event they attended together. "It is with true sadness that I say bye to my friend Charlie Murphy," Peters writes. "We used to have the strangest and funniest conversations, he was an amazing human, a great father, and completely selfless, which is why he never once told anyone about his illness... Because he didn't want us to worry."