Eddie Murphy is a legend. From Saturday Night Live to Beverly Hills Cop and Dreamgirls, he’s been a fixture of American culture for over four decades. But honestly, if you look at the Google search trends, people are just as obsessed with his personal life as they are with his stand-up specials. Eddie Murphy relationships have been a tabloid fixture since the 1980s, mostly because they don’t follow the typical Hollywood script. We’re talking about a man who has ten children with five different women, a short-lived symbolic marriage in Bora Bora, and a decade-long engagement that seems rock solid.
It’s complicated. It’s expensive. And somehow, it’s remarkably civil.
Most people expect the drama of a reality show when they see that many moving parts in a family tree. You’d think there would be "tell-all" books or Twitter feuds every other week. Yet, Murphy has managed to keep his circle surprisingly tight and quiet. To understand how he navigates these dynamics, you have to look past the "10 kids" headlines and see the actual timeline of how he got here.
The Nicole Mitchell Era: A Decade of Stability
The most significant chapter in the history of Eddie Murphy relationships is undoubtedly his marriage to Nicole Mitchell. They met in 1988 at an NAACP Image Awards show. At the time, Eddie was the biggest star on the planet. They dated for years before finally tying the knot in a massive, star-studded ceremony at the Plaza Hotel in New York City in 1993.
This wasn’t some flash-in-the-pan celebrity hookup. They were married for 12 years and together for nearly 17.
They had five children together: Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola, and Bella. For a long time, Nicole was the stabilizing force in his life. However, by 2005, the marriage had run its course. Nicole filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences. What’s interesting here is the lack of public vitriol. Even after the divorce was finalized in 2006, the two have been photographed together at their children’s art shows and movie premieres. It set a precedent for how Murphy would handle his future family expansions—prioritizing the kids over the ego.
That Scandalous Summer of 2006
If 1993 was the year of the wedding, 2006 was the year of the chaos.
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Shortly after his divorce, Murphy began dating Melanie Brown—better known as Mel B or Scary Spice. This is the one part of the Eddie Murphy relationships saga that actually got messy in public. It was a whirlwind romance that ended abruptly, right around the time Mel B announced she was pregnant.
Murphy famously told an interviewer on the red carpet, "I don’t know whose child that is until it comes out and has a blood test."
Ouch.
That quote lived in the headlines for years. When Angel Iris Murphy Brown was born in 2007, a DNA test confirmed Murphy was indeed the father. While things were icy for a long time, they’ve since thawed. In her 2018 memoir Brutally Honest, Mel B actually called Murphy the "love of her life" and noted that they had eventually moved toward a respectful co-parenting relationship. It’s a reminder that even the most public celebrity fallout can be mended with enough time and, presumably, very good lawyers.
The Bora Bora "Wedding" and the Tracey Edmonds Incident
Almost immediately after the Mel B situation, Eddie moved on with film producer Tracey Edmonds. She was the former wife of Babyface and a powerhouse in her own right. They seemed like a perfect match—two industry veterans who understood the grind.
In early 2008, they held a romantic ceremony on a private island off the coast of Bora Bora.
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The photos were beautiful. The setting was perfect. The marriage? It wasn't actually legal.
They had planned to have a legal ceremony upon returning to the United States, but within two weeks, they issued a joint statement saying they had decided to remain friends instead. Rumors swirled about why it collapsed so fast. Some reports suggested a clash between Tracey and Eddie’s mother, Lillian. Others said it was just the realization that they weren't compatible for the long haul. Whatever the reason, it remains one of the shortest "marriages" in Hollywood history, lasting only 14 days in a non-legal capacity.
Finding Peace with Paige Butcher
Since 2012, the narrative surrounding Eddie Murphy relationships has shifted from "turbulent" to "steady." That’s when he started dating Australian model Paige Butcher.
They have two children together, Izzy Oona and Max Charles (named after Eddie’s late brother, Charlie Murphy). Unlike his previous high-profile romances, Paige stays almost entirely off social media. She doesn't post "Day in the Life" videos or engage with fans. This privacy seems to be the secret sauce.
They got engaged in 2018, but they haven't rushed down the aisle.
When you have ten kids ranging from their 30s down to toddlers, your priorities change. Murphy has often said in interviews that his life is now about his children and his home. The frantic energy of his Raw and Delirious days is gone, replaced by a man who seems genuinely content being a "boring" family man.
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The Complexity of the Murphy Family Tree
To really get the scope of this, you have to look at the older children who often get lost in the shuffle of the marriage talk.
- Eric Murphy: Born in 1989 to Paulette McNeely. Eric has recently been in the news for dating Jasmin Lawrence—who is the daughter of Martin Lawrence. Yes, the Bad Boys and Life co-stars might eventually be in-laws.
- Christian Murphy: Born in 1990 to Tamara Hood.
- The Nicole Mitchell Kids: Five children (Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola, Bella).
- Angel Iris: With Mel B.
- Izzy and Max: With Paige Butcher.
It’s a lot.
But if you see them all together on a red carpet—which happened at the Coming 2 America premiere—it’s clear they aren't a fractured group. They are a "blended family" in the truest sense of the word.
Why Does This Matter for Fans?
We care about Eddie Murphy relationships because they mirror a shift in how we view modern families. The "nuclear family" isn't the only way to find happiness. Murphy has proven that you can have a complex history, make mistakes in the public eye (like the Mel B situation), and still end up with a cohesive, loving unit.
He once told Mirror Online that he doesn't have a "bad seed" in the bunch. He credits the mothers of his children for doing the heavy lifting, but his financial and emotional presence is what keeps the gears turning.
Actionable Insights for Navigating Complex Family Dynamics
If there is anything to learn from the way Eddie Murphy manages his life, it’s these three things:
- Prioritize Civil Co-parenting: Even after a public breakup, Murphy moved toward peace. If you’re in a similar spot, focus on the "business" of the child's well-being rather than the emotions of the past relationship.
- Privacy is a Tool: Notice how Murphy’s life got quieter as he got more successful in his personal life. Limiting what you share on social media about your partner can reduce external pressure.
- Consistency Over Labels: He’s been engaged to Paige for years without a legal "I do." Sometimes, the stability of the partnership is more important than the paperwork.
Understanding the history of Eddie Murphy relationships requires looking at the man as a father first and a movie star second. He’s navigated the pitfalls of fame, divorce, and scandal to arrive at a place of apparent tranquility. It’s not a perfect journey, but it’s a human one. For more updates on how the Murphy family is expanding or to see his latest projects, keeping an eye on official press releases rather than gossip blogs is usually your best bet for the truth.