Editing Eddie Murphy (section)

===1976–1980: Early standup career===
When Murphy was fifteen, he listened to [[Richard Pryor]]'s comedy album ''[[That Nigger's Crazy]]'', which inspired his decision to become a comedian.<ref name=WashingtonPost>{{cite news | title=Eddie Murphy hasn't told a joke onstage in 28 years. He's still the funniest guy around | newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] | date=October 13, 2015 | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/sf/style/2015/10/13/eddie-murphy-hasnt-told-a-joke-onstage-in-28-years-hes-still-the-funniest-guy-around/ | access-date=August 6, 2022}}</ref> As a child, Murphy developed playing multiple characters in imitation of his acting hero, [[Peter Sellers]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Eddie Murphy: I'll retire from films at 50 |url=https://www.today.com/popculture/eddie-murphy-i-ll-retire-films-50-wbna25581773 |access-date=September 23, 2019 |work=[[Today (American TV program)|Today]]}}</ref> Other early influences included [[Bill Cosby]], [[Redd Foxx]], [[Robin Williams]],<ref name="actors"/> [[Muhammad Ali]], [[Bruce Lee]], and [[Charlie Chaplin]].<ref>{{cite news |last1=Kilkenny |first1=Katie |last2=Beresford |first2=Trilby |title=Eddie Murphy Talks Channeling Bruce Lee and Obama's Request for Him |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/eddie-murphy-reveals-favorite-comedians-obamas-request-him-1250278/ |access-date=February 22, 2022 |work=[[The Hollywood Reporter]] |date=October 26, 2019}}</ref>

On July 9, 1976, the date with which Murphy marks the beginning of his career, he performed in a talent show at the Roosevelt Youth Center, doing an impersonation of singer [[Al Green]] as Green's song "[[Let's Stay Together (Al Green song)|Let's Stay Together]]" played. This led to work at other clubs within walking distance, and then late-night jobs at locations that required him to commute by train. To do this, he secretly skipped school, and after his mother discovered this at the end of his senior year, he was required to attend summer school.<ref name=WashingtonPost/>