Remember Eddie Murphy’s unforgettable laugh? Well, you might not hear it much anymore. The legendary actor behind characters like Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop actually made a big change to his laugh. But what’s the reason?

Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop (Credits: Paramount Pictures)
Eddie Murphy in Beverly Hills Cop (Credits: Paramount Pictures)

It’s because Murphy wanted people to focus on his acting skills rather than just his funny giggle. His laugh had become such a trademark that it was constantly imitated, which left the Hollywood star worried it was drowning out his talent.

The Reason Why Eddie Murphy Halted His Iconic Beverly Hills Cop Laugh

Beverly Hills Cop
Beverly Hills Cop (Credits: Paramount Pictures)

Eddie Murphy‘s infectious laugh was a beloved part of his comedic persona, especially the booming one from Axel Foley in earlier Beverly Hills Cop films. However, it became so popular that everyone started copying it. Comedians and fans alike found it irresistible to mimic.

It got to the point where people only seemed to notice his laugh, not his acting skills. And this constant association with the laugh became a source of frustration for the actor. The 63-year-old said in an interview with CBR‘s Kevin Polowy:

In the 80s, I was like, ‘I don’t want to be known for a laugh.’ That’s all they did was that laugh… It was like, ‘Hey, you know what, I’m going to stop laughing.’ I forced myself to stop laughing, which is really an unnatural thing. You laugh, and it’s like, ‘I have to stop laughing like that.’ And now I don’t laugh like that anymore.

Changing his laugh wasn’t easy for Murphy. It shows how dedicated actors can be when they want to step out of their usual roles. Murphy changed his laugh to stop being seen only as the funny actor and to show he could do more. This hard work has paid off. The Brooklyn native might have changed his laugh, but he still brings his signature humor back in Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F.

Eddie Murphy is All Set to Reprise His Role in the New Beverly Hills Cop movie

Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop 4 (Credits: Netflix)
Eddie Murphy as Axel Foley in Beverly Hills Cop 4 (Credits: Netflix)

Eddie Murphy is reprising his role as Detective Axel Foley in the new Beverly Hills Cop movie, titled Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. The film also sees the return of some familiar faces from the franchise, including Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot.

Newcomers to the cast include Taylour Paige, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Kevin Bacon. Mark Molloy is the one directing the movie. The movie follows Foley as he returns to Beverly Hills to investigate a threat against his daughter. He teams up with his daughter (Paige), a new partner (Gordon-Levitt), and his old friends from the police department to solve the case.

Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F will be available on Netflix starting July 3, 2024.

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