Eddie Murphy was 19 when he joined Saturday Night Live as a cast member in 1980.
Murphy joined the program during its sixth season after first appearing as a featured player. His energetic impressions and original characters quickly made him one of the show’s central performers. He portrayed figures including Buckwheat, Gumby, and Mr. Robinson, helping restore attention to the series during a period of cast and format changes.
His success on Saturday Night Live led to a rapid film career. Trading Places arrived in 1983, followed by Beverly Hills Cop in 1984, which became one of the decade’s major box-office successes. Murphy also developed a major stand-up reputation through concert films such as Delirious and Raw.
The age is easy to confuse with the age of other young SNL performers. Murphy’s significance lies not merely in joining young, but in becoming a breakout star almost immediately after entering the cast.