Eddie Murphy has specific wishes that his family knows to follow after his death.
In an interview with journalist Kevin McCarthy posted to Instagram on Wednesday, July 3, the comedian revealed he didn’t want a funeral after joking that people should play the Beverly Hills Cop theme music during the event to make people “smile”.
He replayed his own a capella version of the jingle, stating that it was to be played while he was buried.
“It’s just a joke, because I will never have a funeral,” he said.
Murphy then clarified: “I mean, I’m going to die like everybody else. But (my loved ones) know… no funeral. Just let me go peacefully.”
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The interview was to promote his latest film, Beverly Hills Cop: Axel Fthe fourth installment in the action-comedy franchise, released on Wednesday, July 3.
Murphy reprises his role as Axel Foley in the film, a cop who returns to Beverly Hills after his daughter’s life is threatened. It’s been ten years since the third film was released.
Speaking with McCarthy, the actor joked that he’d been asked what he thought about playing “the black James Bond” and told anyone who asked: “I don’t need to be a black James Bond. I’ve got Axel Foley and he’s got the music for the movie and everything.”
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The Oscar-nominated actor has starred in many memorable comedy franchises, although only Beverly Hills Cop is action-packed and its other characters don’t have catchy background music.
Following the success of Beverly Hills Cop and its sequel, Murphy directed the 1998 classic Coming to America as Prince Akeem, an African prince who travels to New York to find a bride. Its sequel, Coming to America, was released in 2021.
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He also played Professor Sherman Klump in The Mad Professorreleased in 1996. The film franchise, in which Sherman takes a chemical that makes him thin but changes his personality, received a sequel in 2000.
Murphy followed up on this film in 1998 when he directed the reboot of the Doctor Dolittle He plays the main character, who realizes he can talk to animals. He reprised the role in 2001.
Most recently, Murphy voiced Shrek’s sidekick Donkey in four films. Shrek feature films.
Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F is now streaming on Netflix.
