You Are Not Denzel

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Eddie Murphy gained stardom on Saturday Night Live with his creation of unique characters and celebrity impressions. Transitioning to films in the ’80s and ’90s, iconic roles such as Professor Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor and Prince Akeem in Coming to America became popular. Despite his success in comedies, Murphy was given a serious dramatic role offer as well. However, legendary actor Sidney Poitier advised him against accepting it.

The recently released two-part documentary titled “Number One on the Call Sheet” is now accessible for Apple TV+ subscribers. This documentary features prominent Black actors sharing their Hollywood experiences, and in one of its segments, Eddie Murphy recounts a moment when he was offered a role in a movie that eventually became a Spike Lee production.

Initially, Sidney expressed uncertainty – it wasn’t clear if he was being criticized or praised, or something in between. It felt like… They were discussing the production of a movie based on Malcolm X. Norman Jewison was planning the project, and they intended to use The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley as a source. They approached Sidney about portraying Alex Haley in the film.

One memorable role James Earl Jones excelled in was portraying author Alex Haley in the television adaptations of the books “Roots” and its sequel “Roots: The Next Generations”. Given the impact of this role, it would have been quite different for Eddie Murphy at that stage in his career. However, Murphy’s skillset was substantial, making it plausible that director Norman Jewison would have sought him for the project during his tenure on it.

In the documentary, the Oscar-nominated individual shared that he eventually informed Sidney Poitier about the role. However, Poitier seemed less than enthusiastic about the comedian taking on the character of Alex Haley, and he clarified his reasons for this reaction.

About the same period, I encountered Sidney Poitier at some place or another. I inquired, “By any chance, are you referring to me considering the role of Alex Haley?” To which he replied, “You’re not Denzel, and you’re not Morgan. You’re a breath of fresh air. Just don’t mess it up.” I was taken aback, saying, “Wait, what?

Essentially, Alex Haley didn’t appear in the movie “Malcolm X,” though his book served as its foundation. It appeared that Sidney Poitier might have been unclear about whether he was praising or criticizing Alex Haley when he made those comments. However, I believe what Poitier intended to say was that Eddie Murphy possesses a unique charm and talent that sets him apart from more conventional dramatic actors like Denzel Washington and Morgan Freeman. In essence, Poitier may have been suggesting that instead of trying to emulate these traditional dramatic actors, Murphy should continue embracing his distinctive style.

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The actor who played Shrek will remain a prominent figure in Hollywood due to his success in both comedic and dramatic roles. He’s also part of an exclusive group whose films have grossed over $2 billion collectively. Essentially, Mike Murphy is a unique talent and has opened doors for future Black actors to secure leading roles in Hollywood.

It might be unfair to criticize the late Sidney Poitier too harshly, considering he was probably attempting to assist. Given his unique status as a Bahamian-American actor, Poitier’s portrayals of intelligent and self-assured characters made him the first Black actor to win an Academy Award for Best Actor. Therefore, while it’s tempting to ponder the alternate paths, I believe Eddie Murphy is not necessarily worse off for not having played Malcolm X in a film.

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2025-03-30 18:42