Eddie Murphy says he's headed back to stand-up after the pandemic

Murphy is still regarded as one of the most influential stand-up comedians.

March 8, 2021, 10:16 AM

Eddie Murphy is looking to get back to his early beginnings in comedy.

In an interview with Kevin Hart on his SiriusXM podcast, Murphy teased that he was planning to return to the comedy stage in the near future.

"My plan was to do 'Dolemite,' 'Saturday Night Live,' 'Coming 2 America' and then do stand-up," Murphy said. "And then the pandemic hit, and it shut the whole s--- down."

Murphy explained that he had planned to work on his comedy act last year, but unfortunately everything was put on hold.

PHOTO: Eddie Murphy accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award onstage during the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on Jan. 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, Calif.
Eddie Murphy accepts the Lifetime Achievement Award onstage during the 25th Annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on Jan. 12, 2020 in Santa Monica, Calif.
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images, FILE

Now he's ready to get back to work.

"When the pandemic is over and it’s safe for everybody to go out and do it, then the plan is to do it,” he said.

Prior to his Hollywood success and stint on "Saturday Night Live," Murphy was known and is still regarded as one of the most influential stand-up comedians.

For those who may be unfamiliar, Murphy had comedic success in the early ’80s, with the double-platinum 1983 LP "Eddie Murphy: Comedian," which won the Grammy for Comedy Album of the Year. After that, his 1987 film "Raw" received national success and remains the top-grossing stand-up comedy movie of all time.

Murphy has yet to announce an official date for his stand-up comedy return.