When I first saw the ads for Norbit, Eddie Murphy’s new movie in which he portrays three different characters, I had a strong case of déjà vu. I thought, hasn’t he just been in a movie where he has more than one role? When I looked into it, I realized that he hasn’t done so since 2000, when he took on eight characters in Nutty Professor II. But looking at all the movies he’s made, it does seem like Eddie Murphy enjoys, or at least has made a regular habit of, appearing as more than one character in a movie.
- Norbit (2007): Norbit/Rasputia/Mr. Wong
- Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000): Professor Sherman Klump/Buddy Love/Cletus ‘Papa’ Klump/Young Cletus Klump/Anna Pearl ‘Mama’ Jensen Klump/Ida Mae ‘Granny’ Jensen/Ernie Klump, Sr./Lance Perkins
- Bowfinger (1999): Kit Ramsey/Jeffernson ‘Jiff’ Ramsey
- The Nutty Professor (1996): Professor Sherman Klump/Buddy Love/Cletus ‘Papa’ Klump/Anna Pearl ‘Mama’ Jensen Klump/Ida Mae ‘Granny’ Jensen/Ernie Klump, Sr./Lance Perkins
- Vampire in Brooklyn (1995): Maximillian/Preacher Pauly/Guido
- Coming to America (1988): Prince Akeem/Clarence/Randy Watson/Saul
Update: This post was featured in the February 23, 2007 edition of the Carnival of Cinema.
