You’ve seen the red leather suit. Even if you weren't alive in 1983, you know the one. It’s skin-tight, blindingly bright, and basically defined the entire aesthetic of 80s stand-up comedy. Pictures of Eddie Murphy from that era aren't just celebrity snapshots; they’re historical markers of a time when one guy from Roosevelt, Long Island, basically owned the entire planet's sense of humor.
Honestly, looking back at those old photos, it’s hard to wrap your head around how fast it all happened. Most people forget he was only 19 when he started on Saturday Night Live. Think about what you were doing at 19. He was saving a flailing late-night institution and becoming a household name before he could legally buy a beer.
The "Delirious" Red Suit and the Missing Kodak 110
If there is one image that lives rent-free in the collective memory of pop culture, it’s Eddie on stage at Constitution Hall in D.C. He’s drenched in sweat, pacing like a panther, and wearing that legendary red leather outfit. But there’s a specific "lost" piece of history hidden in the footage of that night.
During the set, Eddie actually takes a fan’s camera—a tiny little Kodak 110 pocket camera—and snaps a couple of pictures of the audience. He even snaps one of his own "package" for a laugh. For decades, fans have obsessed over these lost pictures of Eddie Murphy. Did the fan get them developed? Are they sitting in a shoebox in a basement in Maryland? Or did the heat of the venue ruin the film? There’s a whole subculture of internet sleuths still trying to track down those specific frames. They represent the ultimate "I was there" holy grail of comedy memorabilia.
Why 1980s Eddie Hits Different
When you scroll through a gallery of Eddie from the mid-80s, you’ll notice a very specific energy. It’s a mix of pure, unadulterated swagger and an almost athletic intensity. Ted Thai, a photographer for LIFE, captured some of the best candid shots of him back then. In some, he’s shirtless with just track pants and a ball cap.
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If you didn’t know who he was, you’d swear he was a pro point guard.
- The SNL Years: Shots of him as Gumby ("I'm Gumby, dammit!") or Mr. Robinson.
- The Co-Star Era: Sitting next to a stone-faced Nick Nolte on the set of 48 Hrs. * The Peak Mogul Look: Wearing the Detroit Lions varsity jacket in Beverly Hills Cop.
That jacket, by the way, became its own cultural phenomenon. Every kid wanted one. Every photo of Axel Foley leaning against a beat-up Chevy Nova reinforced the idea that being "street smart" was the coolest thing you could be.
The Mystery of the Google Glitch
Funny enough, if you’ve searched for pictures of Eddie Murphy recently, you might have run into a weird digital hiccup. For a while, Google’s Knowledge Graph had a bit of an identity crisis. When users looked up the cast of certain movies, the search engine would occasionally display a photo of British comedian Eddie Izzard instead of Murphy.
It’s one of those "you had one job" moments for the algorithm. It also proves that even in 2026, with all our AI and advanced indexing, the human eye is still better at spotting the real Axel Foley than a server rack is.
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Beyond the Jumpsuit: The Style Icon
We talk about the comedy, but we don't talk enough about the fashion. Eddie was one of the first comedians to treat a stand-up special like a rock concert. Before him, guys wore suits or casual jeans. Eddie showed up in purple leather for Raw (1987) with a gold chain and a haircut so sharp it could draw blood.
Photographer David McGough captured some incredible shots of Eddie backstage during this time. You’ll see him hanging out with Rick James or Michael Jackson. These aren't just "celeb shots." They are the blueprints for the modern "superstar" archetype. He bridged the gap between the gritty comedy clubs of the 70s and the stadium-filling spectacles of today.
Modern Eddie: The Return of the King
The latest pictures of Eddie Murphy look a bit different. The hair is shorter, the suits are more tailored (and definitely not made of purple leather), but that smirk hasn't aged a day. Whether he’s on the red carpet for Dolemite Is My Name or back on the set of Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F, there’s a certain gravity he carries now.
He’s no longer the 19-year-old kid trying to prove he belongs. He’s the elder statesman.
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If you're looking to find high-quality, authentic prints or digital archives, your best bet isn't just a generic image search. You want to look into specialized archives like the LIFE Picture Collection or Getty’s editorial "Through the Years" series. These sources usually have the original metadata, telling you exactly where he was—whether it was the 1989 American Music Awards or a candid moment on the set of Coming to America in Queens.
Your Eddie Murphy Visual Checklist
If you’re building a collection or just a fan of the aesthetic, here is what to look for to get the full "Eddie" experience:
- The 1980 SNL Headshot: The "rookie card" of his career.
- The "Raw" Purple Jumpsuit: Captured by Paramount’s unit photographers; look for the ones with the high-contrast stage lighting.
- The Candids with Richard Pryor: These are rare and usually show a much more humble, "student" side of Eddie.
- The "Coming to America" Prosthetics: Shots of him as Saul the Jewish barbershop regular are masterpieces of Rick Baker’s makeup work.
To really appreciate the evolution, start by comparing his 1982 Saturday Night Live promo shots with his 2019 Toronto International Film Festival appearances. It's a masterclass in aging with dignity while keeping the same spark that made him a legend in the first place.