Dave Chappelle on Charlie Murphy: ‘Everybody in Comedy Is Heartbroken’
Dave Chappelle honored late comedian and Chappelle’s Show cast member Charlie Murphy while making a cameo at a John Mayer concert in Columbus, Ohio Wednesday.
“Today, I got some terrible news,” Chappelle said. “My good friend, Charlie Murphy, passed away this morning, and everybody in comedy is heartbroken.” The comedian and Mayer reminisced about Murphy’s legendary “True Hollywood Stories” sketches on Chappelle’s Show, with both noting they still use Murphy’s classic line about Rick James, “He’s a habitual line-stepper.”
Chappelle then asked Mayer to perform a special rendition of “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me,” which the comedian said reminded him of Murphy.
Murphy, the older brother of Eddie Murphy, died Wednesday in New York City at the age of 57 after a battle with leukemia. Prior to his breakout tenure on Chappelle’s Show, Murphy worked diligently as a stand-up and acted in movies like CB4 and Spike Lee’s Mo’ Better Blues and Jungle Fever. He also co-wrote Vampire in Brooklyn and 2007’s Norbit. After Chappelle’s Show, Murphy continued to tour and appear in numerous films and TV projects.
Chapelle is the latest comic to pay tribute to Murphy. The comedian’s family released a statement saying, “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.” Elsewhere, Chris Rock – who appeared alongside Murphy in CB4 – tweeted, “We just lost one of the funniest most real brothers of all time,” while D.L. Hughley remembered his frequent tourmate as “the best storyteller I ever heard.”
Charlie Murphy, who passed away at the age of 57, was famous for his Chappelle’s Show sketches, small film roles and standup. Watch some of his best impressions, here.