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Eddie Murphy
Growing up Eddie Murphy idolized Richard Pryor and by the age of 15 had begun performing stand-up comedy himself. His appearances at local bars and events in Brooklyn soon led across the river to Manhattan. At The Comic Strip, the club co-owners Robert Wachs and Richard Tienken were so impressed with Murphy's talents that they offered to manage his career.At the time Saturday Night Live was in transition and looking for new blood. Wachs and Tienken got the 19-year-old Murphy an audition. He was signed as a featured player, but it wasn't until late in the season that he broke out. With the show running short, Murphy was sent out on stage to do stand-up. He hit big and soon took a regular cast role, playing characters such as Velvet Jones, Gumby and Stevie Wonder.
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