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Hollywood icon Eddie Murphy has opened up about the defining incident that stopped him from ever venturing into the world of hard drugs, explaining that one blunt remark from a fellow comedian was enough to keep him on a clean path throughout his storied career.
Speaking in a recent interview with Collider, the 64-year-old actor reflected on his early years in entertainment and the limited experimentation he had with substances. Murphy noted that while he tried marijuana in his youth and once took a dentist-prescribed painkiller in his 20s, those experiences never pushed him toward anything more extreme.
“I never had interest in hard stuff,” he explained, recalling a particular moment when he was given Percocet after a dental procedure. The painkiller, he admitted, made him feel unusually relaxed and upbeat—so much so that he finished the entire prescription. But despite the temporary feeling of ease, Murphy said he quickly recognized that the sensation wasn’t something he wanted to pursue.
The pivotal moment that shut the door on further experimentation happened at the legendary Comedy Store in Los Angeles, a regular gathering spot for comedians in the 1980s. Murphy described how, on one particular night, he had combined the Percocet with a joint. While he was socializing in the club, comedian Pauly Shore approached him with a comment that caught him completely off guard.
According to Murphy, Shore walked up, studied him for a moment, and said plainly: “You don’t even look like yourself tonight.”
Murphy said the statement hit him instantly. Confused, he remembers asking, “Who do I look like?” Shore’s response was as unsettling as it was brief: “Some other dude,” he said, before casually walking away.
That brief exchange changed everything. Murphy burst into laughter while recounting it, but emphasized how serious the moment felt at the time. “Right there I decided I wasn’t messing with that anymore,” he said. The idea that he could appear so altered that he no longer resembled himself was enough to stop him from further drug use. Reflecting on the incident, he added, “I was like, what was I looking like? That was it for me.”
Murphy’s disciplined approach has continued throughout his decades-long career, even as he navigated fame, pressure, and the intense lifestyle often associated with Hollywood. His decision to avoid hard drugs, he implied, was grounded not in fear of scandal but in a desire to stay grounded in who he is.
Beyond discussing his personal experiences, Murphy also shared updates on his upcoming projects. He is preparing to star in a biographical film about George Clinton, the visionary founder of Parliament-Funkadelic. Additionally, Murphy is set to take on the iconic role of Inspector Clouseau in a new remake of The Pink Panther. When it comes to playing real or established characters, Murphy said he does just enough research to understand them—but ultimately relies on instinct and intuition. “I study them briefly,” he noted, explaining that tapping into a character’s essence comes naturally to him once he steps into the role.
With decades of success behind him and new major roles ahead, Murphy’s reflections offer a glimpse into the choices that shaped his journey—proving that sometimes one honest comment is enough to redirect a life.
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