Nice on stage and off. Charlie was a man’s man
and a man grateful for the position his hard work
afforded him and the opportunities he received;
including those provided by Eddie.
Charlie confided to Freez that his favorite film
wasn’t the ones he’d scripted along with Eddie
(Vampire in Brooklyn, Norbit), but Harlem Nights.
Charlie felt privileged to be a part of a film that was
certified comedy history. It could never be remade
because of its legendary cast: Richard Pryor, Redd
Foxx, Della Reese and the new guard of Arsenio
Hall, Robin Harris (who Eddie had big plans for
which were cut short by Harris’ untimely death in
1990), Reynaldo Rey, Tommy Ford, Miguel Nunez, Jr.
and Steve White. Based on Uncle Ray Murphy’s life
all the way down to the club he owned named
Sugar Ray’s, Harlem Nights was not just a film to
Charlie, but part of his comedy education and he
took that course seriously. I
Years later Charlie got into films himself as a behind-
the-scenes force.
One such project was 2008’s
“The Hustle”.
It featured comedienne, Luenell
Campbell who regarded the Sacramento shooting
experience fondly. “I was playing a meter maid
and he played bug exterminator.
The scene
called for me to give his bug exterminator vehicle a
ticket. We had a fight scene and I remember
Charlie teaching me how to slap him.
I have
slapped guys before, but I have never had a lesson
on it. He (Charlie) was always so wonderful to me
and happy to see me. That big smile would go
from ear to ear whenever he saw me and that
makes me feel great. We worked together on a
few more projects Charlie had swimming around in
his head and I would see him as often as I could
and out on the road. Great guy. Terribly missed.”
There was a guy at the door pointing out one of the
waitresses and saying to anybody who crossed the
threshold, “Her son was on “America’s Most
Wanted” tonight. Tell ‘em. Go on, ask her!” Few
patrons were classless enough to ask, but you could
tell by the look on the woman’s face that it was not
only true, but she’d had a rough life period. Finally,
Charlie did ask her. She responded that it was true
and with that Charlie reached into his pocket,
pulled out a fat wad of money and handed it to
the late shift worker. “I know you’re going through
it, but things are going to be okay.”
That was
Charlie Murphy. He made seemingly insignificant
people seem significant.
Once the partnership had gone as far as it could
between Charlie and Freez Love, the latter
explored his writing talent (he’d been Charlie’s
ghost writer for years) and Charlie signed up to tour
with D. L. Hughley, Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie
Griffin and George Lopez. He worked with this line-
up until leukemia coupled with chemotherapy and
a sudden case of pneumonia ended a life that
many took for granted could not be extinguished.
Nevertheless, on April 12, 2017, Charles Quinton
Murphy left the planet Earth and became part of
the firmament for eternity.
Rest in Peace, good
brother. We’ll never forget you.
The love comedians had for Charlie Murphy was a
two-way street. Charlie once told Freez Love that
he looked up to comedians. He called them
wizards with good spells and that the ones putting
out bad spells usually got screwed. Charlie loved
the life comedy gave him; the travel, perks and
public interaction. Charlie loved people. He also
adored food. He was a connoisseur of the high-
end cuisine, but also enjoyed plopping down at a
Waffle House and just grubbing. One night he and
Freez hit up one in Georgia. Most Waffle Houses are
inhabited by local characters and this one was no
exception.
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