Eddie Murphy Lands First Primetime Emmy Win For SNL Guest Appearance

After five previous nominations throughout his career, Eddie Murphy has finally won his first Primetime Emmy in the Guest Actor Comedy category.

Murphy won for his triumphant return to Saturday Night Live last December, his first appearance on the show in 35 years, according to Deadline. Murphy reprised some of his famed SNL characters for his appearance, including Gumby, Buckwheat, and Mrs. Robinson.

Murphy won in a category packed with star power, including Brad Pitt, Adam Driver, Fred Willard, Dev Patel, and Lenny Bruce. 

Murphy pre-recorded his acceptance speech, but it was not aired for the telecast. Instead, his speech was posted to the Television Academy’s social media accounts.

“Thank you to everybody at the Emmys. Thank you so much for giving me an Emmy. I don’t have an Emmy. This is 40 years since I started Saturday Night Live, this is my first Emmy, so thank you so much,” Murphy said in his speech. 

I want to thank Lorne Michaels for putting this whole thing together and making this happen. And I want to thank the cast, the writers, and the crew at SNL,” he continued. “This was a very, very special thing for me to come back and have the show turn out the way it did. I’m still floating from it. And thank you to everybody for giving me an Emmy.”

Murphy received previous Emmy nominations for SNL, once in 1983 for Outstanding Actor in a Comedy, Variety, or Music Series. Again, in 1984 for Writing in a Variety or Music Program and Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program. He was nominated for his show The PJs in 1999 for Outstanding Animated Programming, Hour or Less.

Check out Eddie Murphy's #Emmy acceptance speech for Outstanding Guest Actor In A Comedy Series for @nbcsnl. Congrats again, Eddie! pic.twitter.com/o2Tuptr8HV

— Television Academy (@TelevisionAcad) September 20, 2020