Eddie Murphy Considering Return to Stand-Up Comedy, With One Condition

The legendary comedian says he's open to doing stand-up again, but it has to be fun for him.

Jan. 30, 2026 at 2:55pm

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Eddie Murphy, known for his iconic roles in films like the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, is considering a return to stand-up comedy. In a recent interview, Murphy revealed that he was originally planning to do a stand-up special before the COVID-19 pandemic hit, but those plans were put on hold. Now, he says he's 'open to the idea of doing it again,' but there's one key condition - it has to be fun for him. Murphy explained that the only reason he would do stand-up is if he's genuinely enjoying himself, as he doesn't want to feel any pressure or obligation to perform.

Why it matters

Eddie Murphy is one of the most celebrated comedians of all time, and his potential return to stand-up would be a highly anticipated event for fans. His stand-up specials, such as Delirious and Raw, are considered classics in the genre. However, Murphy has focused more on his film career in recent years, so a return to the stage would be a significant moment for comedy enthusiasts.

The details

In a recent interview, Murphy revealed that the idea for a stand-up documentary, titled Being Eddie, originally came about because he was considering doing a stand-up special. However, the pandemic put those plans on hold. Now, Murphy says he's 'over the pandemic' and is 'open to the idea of doing it again.' But he has one key condition - the stand-up performance has to be 'fun' for him. Murphy explained that if he doesn't feel like he's genuinely enjoying himself, and instead feels pressure or obligation, then the comedy won't be as effective.

  • In 2020, Murphy was planning a stand-up special before the COVID-19 pandemic hit.
  • In 2026, Murphy's documentary 'Being Eddie' was released on Netflix, highlighting his career and early stand-up days.

The players

Eddie Murphy

One of the most iconic and influential comedians of all time, known for his roles in films like the Beverly Hills Cop franchise and his classic stand-up specials Delirious and Raw.

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What they’re saying

“Now, I've gotten to where I'm over the pandemic, and I'm open to the idea of doing it again. It has to strike me as something that would be fun, because the only reason to do it is if it's fun for me to do it.”

— Eddie Murphy (ET)

“That's the only way it would be funny. If I'm having fun, then it's gonna be fun. But, if I go do something and it don't feel right and I feel pressure and I feel like people are checking to see if I want to do it as opposed to just laughing, if I feel all of that shit — like I said, it has to feel like it's fun.”

— Eddie Murphy (ET)

What’s next

While Murphy is open to the idea of returning to stand-up comedy, he hasn't made any firm plans or commitments yet. Fans will have to wait and see if the legendary comedian decides to hit the stage again in the future.

The takeaway

Eddie Murphy's potential return to stand-up comedy would be a highly anticipated event for fans, as the comedian is known for his iconic and influential work in the genre. However, Murphy is clear that he will only do stand-up if it's genuinely fun and enjoyable for him, rather than feeling any pressure or obligation to perform. This underscores Murphy's commitment to maintaining his creative passion and integrity, even as one of the most celebrated comedians of all time.