What The Stars Of The Nutty Professor Movies Look Like Today
A remake of the 1963 film of the same name that starred Jerry Lewis, 1996's "The Nutty Professor" is one of Eddie Murphy's most successful comedy movies. Grossing almost $274 million around the world, according to The Numbers, it outperformed the likes of "Daddy Day Care," "Trading Places," and "Beverly Hills Cop III."
The movie follows Professor Sherman Klump, a college researcher who is working on an experimental weight loss formula. He ends up using the untested drug on himself in an attempt to appear more attractive to his love interest Carla, and loses 300 pounds. Unfortunately, he also turns into an aggressive alter ego known as Buddy Love.
Murphy plays both Sherman and Buddy, backed by a supporting cast that includes stars like Jada Pinkett Smith and James Coburn. "The Nutty Professor" also introduced the world to a number of comedians, including a young Dave Chappelle and David Ramsey. More than 25 years later, you might be surprised at how different the cast looks now.
Eddie Murphy as Professor Sherman Klump/Buddy Love
Eddie Murphy is arguably one of the most recognizable celebrities on the planet, and had already been a comedy superstar for over a decade when he took on the title roles of Professor Sherman Klump and Buddy in "The Nutty Professor." Like in several other Murphy films, in what Empire described as a tribute to comedian and actor Peter Sellers, the actor plays a number of characters in this movie. This includes not just the main character and his alter ego, but five other individuals, bringing his total number of roles to seven. Four years later, he reprised his role in "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" where he again played Klump, Buddy, and many of his family members.
Kicking off his screen career on "Saturday Night Live" in the early 1980s after a successful few years as a stand-up comedian, Murphy began landing leading movie roles around the same time. He appeared in "48 Hrs." in 1982, and then went on to star in "Trading Places" in 1983 alongside Dan Aykroyd. The following year he starred in "Beverly Hills Cop" and found more success in "Coming to America."
"The Nutty Professor" marked something of a resurgence for Murphy, who would go on to take on parts in "Dr. Dolittle" along with voice roles in "Mulan" and "Shrek" following its release. He went on to be nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of James Early in "Dreamgirls" but his career again suffered after he starred in a number of flops (via News24). Following a break from Hollywood, he returned in 2019 with the Netflix original film "Dolemite Is My Name," which was met with critical acclaim and currently holds a Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of 97%.
Jada Pinkett as Carla Purty
The actor now known as Jada Pinkett Smith portrayed Carla Purty in "The Nutty Professor," essentially the love interest of Eddie Murphy's two main characters. Carla is a professor who has previously studied Professor Sherman's work and is an admirer of his. She's also the catalyst for Sherman to take the experimental weight loss formula, as he believes she would only date a thinner and more handsome man. When Sherman eventually defeats Buddy and returns to his normal self, the pair reconcile and seemingly get together as the story comes to a conclusion.
As one of her first roles, "The Nutty Professor" taught Pinkett Smith a lot. As she explained in her own chat show "Red Table Talk" (via EW), it prompted her to get her own hair stylist for future films after problems with a wig in the movie. Pinkett Smith didn't return for the sequel, going on to roles in "The Matrix Reloaded" and "The Matrix Revolutions." For "The Klumps," Carla was replaced with a new character played by Janet Jackson.
In 2006, Pinkett Smith lent her voice to the animated film "Madagascar" as Gloria, and later had roles in the TV series "Hawthorne" and "Gotham." More recently, she's appeared in "Magic Mike XXL," "Girls Trip," and "Bad Moms." The actor then reprised her role as Niobe in the 2021 film "The Matrix Resurrections."
Larry Miller as Dean Richmond
In "The Nutty Professor," comedian Larry Miller plays the man in charge of Wellman College, the boss of Sherman and the other professors. Dean Richmond apparently doesn't get on well with Sherman, largely because the professor has been a hindrance to funding with his tendency to scare away potential donors with his antics. In one meeting with Sherman, Dean Richmond mocks his weight and even threatens to kill him if he somehow messes up Harlan Hartley's donation to the university.
A highly acclaimed character actor and comedian, according to The A.V. Club, Miller has had a prolific career in movies and television. He is perhaps best known for appearing on "Mad About You" between 1993 and 1998, although he also had significant roles in "Pretty Woman" and "L.A. Story."
After "The Nutty Professor" and its sequel, Miller made appearances in "10 Things I Hate About You," "The Princess Diaries," and "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement." He also had a recurring role on "Boston Legal" as Edwin Poole, one of the three founding members of the fictional law firm Crane, Poole & Schmidt. From 2012 until 2020, Miller hosted a podcast known as "The Larry Miller Show."
Dave Chappelle as Reggie Warrington
Although "The Nutty Professor" was not Dave Chappelle's first movie role, it undoubtedly played a major part in establishing him in Hollywood and bringing him to a wider audience. Entertainment Weekly listed Chappelle as one of Eddie Murphy's disciples, with the comic being influenced by Murphy's style and delivery, so it makes sense he was cast in the film. He plays Reggie, a stand-up comedian at a nightclub who is involved in one of the most memorable scenes in the movie. He and Buddy battle it out on stage, trading insults at each other as the crowd turns against Reggie.
Since appearing in Murphy's film in 1996, he has appeared in a handful of other movies, including "Con Air," "Half Baked," and "A Star Is Born." He has won five Emmy Awards for TV work, including "Saturday Night Live" and his own comedy specials. The comedian's biggest success came with his own Comedy Central series, "Chappelle's Show," which ran from 2003 to 2004 for a total of 28 episodes. In recent years, he's released six specials on Netflix in a partnership that appears set to last into at least the near future.
John Ales as Jason
John Ales plays Jason, one of Sherman's students at the college and someone who works with him throughout the film. Working as a lab assistant, he discovers what the weight loss formula Sherman has created is capable of. Later on, Jason attempts to stop Buddy from taking a large dose of the formula in what the alter ego hopes will kill Sherman for good and stop any future transformations. Near the end of the film, Jason learns that the formula could kill both Sherman and Buddy, as it has raised his testosterone levels dangerously high.
"The Nutty Professor" was one of Ales' first major movie appearances, with the actor only having minor roles in "Crime Killer" and "Spy Hard" before it. However, he did have a recurring role on "Madman of the People" as Dylan Buckner. Ales returned for "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps," and has had credits in films and television shows such as "You Wish," "Burning Down the House," and "Station 19" since then. His recent work has included being a regular part of the cast of "Euphoria" as David Vaughn, and he is set to play Dr. Gregory Fitzgibbons in "Painkiller," according to The Hollywood Reporter.
Jamal Mixon as Ernie Klump Jr.
Ernie Klump Jr. is the only member of the Klump family in "The Nutty Professor" who is not played by Eddie Murphy. Instead, Sherman's nephew is portrayed by Jamal Mixon. The film was his acting first role, and it was a relatively small part that didn't involve much in the way of speaking. Instead, he usually just sits at the dining table with the rest of the family eating and laughing. He particularly finds farts and other bodily noises funny.
Mixon returned for the sequel "Nutty Professor II: The Klumps" in 2000, given a more expanded role and even had a line to speak. He has continued to appear in movies and TV series, with credits in "Paul Blart: Mall Cop," "Longshot," "The Cookout," and "Gridiron Gang." Mixon's most recent role came in a 2017 episode of "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia." His older brother, Jerod Mixon, is also an actor who has appeared in the likes of "Me, Myself & Irene" and "The New Guy."
Montell Jordan as himself
Singer, songwriter, and record producer Montell Jordan appears briefly in "The Nutty Professor" in a cameo role as himself. He performs with a band in the same club where Buddy and Reggie have their confrontation, though the scene takes place on a different night when Sherman takes Carla Purty there on a date. One of his songs, "I Like," is also on the official soundtrack for the film.
Following his appearance in the 1996 comedy, Jordan has had two more movie roles. He played Mr. Johnson in the 2003 film "The Fighting Temptations" and Brian Mullenax in "The List," which was released in 2015. He continued to release music under Def Jam Records until 2003, when he joined Kock Records and released the album "Life After Def." This would prove to be his final record until 2019, when the musician launched "Masterpeace." This extended break was largely due to the fact that Jordan became a born-again Christian, according to CBN News.
Ned Luke as a construction worker
Ned Luke has been working in movies and TV since the 1980s. He started his career with a role in "The Bear" as a football player, before taking on a voice role in "Rover Dangerfield" as Raffles. He went on to have small roles on a number of television shows between 1992 and 1996, including "Angel Street," "Guiding Light," and "NYPD Blue." In "The Nutty Professor," he had a minor uncredited role as a construction worker.
After the movie, Luke continued his acting career with appearances on "General Hospital" and "Law & Order," among many others. However, he took a break from acting in 2007, telling USA Today that he moved back home and opened a restaurant with his brother. A few years later, he returned to New York and auditioned for Rockstar Games' "Grand Theft Auto V," taking on the role of Michael De Santa. Recently, he's been seen on "Boardwalk Empire" and "American Gothic."
Nichole McAuley as Fit Woman
First appearing in several uncredited roles throughout the early 1990s, including bit parts in "Addams Family Values," "Brain Smasher... A Love Story," and "I'll Do Anything," Nichole McAuley appeared in the Eddie Murphy movie "Beverly Hills Cop III" in 1994. She then had another uncredited part in "Out-of-Sync" before getting her part in "The Nutty Professor." She plays one of the exercising students seen while Sherman is trying to lose weight in aerobic class, credited as "Fit Woman."
McAuley had a regular role on "EZ Streets" as a dancer between 1996 and 1997, although this was again uncredited. Her big break came in 1999 when she was cast as a Starfleet scientist and an alien masseuse on the TV series "Stark Trek: Voyager." She appeared in 25 episodes of the show over a two-year span. More recently, she portrayed Mama Bear in the 2018 film "ZombieCON" and played Theresa Markoivics in "Syndicate Smasher" in 2017.
Hamilton von Watts as Health Instructor
Hamilton von Watts plays a brief role in "The Nutty Professor" as a health instructor. He doesn't have any lines and only appears for a few short moments in the scene where Sherman is trying to lose weight at the gym. He uses a skipping rope with the main character, seemingly showing him what to do. "The Nutty Professor" was his first role in a movie or television series
After this, he portrayed Troy in the Nickelodeon movie "Good Burger" as a henchman who battles against Kel Mitchell and Kenan Thompson's heroes. He later played Andy in "Zoe, Duncan, Jack & Jane" and Zack in "10 Items or Less." Von Watts has also worked as a writer and producer, serving both roles on the 2011 film "Satin" and 2014's "Sunken City." He also acted in both projects, with his part as Detective Nick Terry in "Sunken City" being his most recent screen credit.
Doug Williams as Band Leader
A stand-up comedian and writer, Doug Williams started performing on the comedy circuit in Alabama in 1990 and, after graduating from college, landed several minor roles in movies. "The Nutty Professor" was one of his first projects, along with being cast in "First Kid." He's credited as the band leader, and he can be seen briefly before Reggie appears on stage, reappearing several times throughout the film.
In 2001, he had a regular role as Kevin on "The Mind of the Married Man" and went on to make appearances on TV series such as "The Bernie Mac Show" and "Close to Home." That same year he participated in the roast of former NFL star Emmitt Smith and was heckled by Jamie Foxx throughout his set. Speaking to Vlad TV about the event, he explained that he had been set up but confirmed that he's now on good terms with Foxx, and the two have worked together since.
John Prosky as Doctor
John Prosky appears in "The Nutty Professor" as a doctor. He can be seen early on in the movie when Sherman is dreaming about growing enormous in size and going on a rampage throughout the city. The doctor is operating when Sherman suddenly starts to expand, and he's crushed against the wall as he attempts to escape.
Now with more than 100 credits to his name on IMDb, Prosky first started acting in 1986 when he appeared in "A Case of Deadly Force" and then had roles on the likes of "L.A. Law" and "Dream On" before getting the gig in "The Nutty Professor." That same year, he had parts on "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" and "Murder One."
Over the years, Prosky has had a varied career, having appeared in dozens of different movies and TV series. Some of his more notable roles include playing David Finch on "True Blood" and Lawrence Pearl on "Touch." In 2018, he played Tom Tristan on the television show "Conrad," and followed that up in 2019 with the movie "The Way You Look Tonight."
David Ramsey as Student
The role of one of Sherman's students in "The Nutty Professor" was David Ramsey's first big-screen gig. After first appearing in a classroom scene, he later interacts with Sherman at The Scream when the professor is on a date with Carla. Although a relatively minor role, it helped to establish him in Hollywood, and Ramsey would continue as an actor for many years to come.
One of his first major roles after "The Nutty Professor" came in 1997, when he starred on the sitcom "Good News" as Pastor David Randolph. He went on to play Muhammad Ali in the movie "Ali: An American Hero" in 2000, and had recurring roles on both "The West Wing" and "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation."
His most memorable part is probably the character John Diggle, otherwise known as Spartan, on the CW series "Arrow" — a character he played for some 170 episodes between 2012 and 2020. After that flagship show ended, Ramsey continued to reprise the part in other "Arrowverse" projects, such as "The Flash" and "Batwoman." He even launched a career as a director helming episodes of various shows across The CW's DC Universe (via Entertainment Weekly).
James Coburn as Harlan Hartley
Veteran actor James Coburn played businessman Harlan Hartley in "The Nutty Professor." The character visits Sherman's lab and is planning on donating a sum of $10 million to aid research at the university's science department. He meets with Buddy Love (who has taken over Sherman's job as well as his body), and sees the serum in action. Impressed, he invites Buddy to the Alumni Ball, where the truth emerges about what Sherman has done. However, Hartley still agrees to donate the money after seeing how kind and brilliant the scientist is.
Before appearing in the 1996 film, Coburn had been an established tough guy actor for decades. Often playing gruff action heroes or villains, he had starring roles in "The Magnificent Seven," "Cross of Iron," "In Like Flint," and "The Great Escape." However, his career was largely put on hold after he was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis, which caused him a huge amount of pain.
By the mid 1990s, ABC News reports, Coburn had begun taking methylsulfonylmethane to ease his pain. This allowed him to begin starring in movies again, and in 1997 he appeared in "Affliction," for which he won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. His final movie role came in the 2002 drama "American Gun." That year, as the LA Times reports, he died of a heart attack in his wife's arms at the age of 74.