From Daniel Broadway

LOS ANGELES, April 19 (Reuters) - Star Eddie Murphy received a Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Film Institute on Saturday night in Los Angeles in recognition of a career that has impacted the world of comedy and film for more than five decades.

Murphy accepted the award with his characteristic humor, joking about its size. "Has this award always been this big? This one looks smaller," he said, eliciting laughter from the audience.

Murphy, who turned 65 this month, expressed his gratitude for receiving the honor while he is still healthy enough to enjoy it.

He joked, "Sometimes they make you wait until you're quite old to receive this award." He pointed out that actors Mel Brooks and Francis Ford Coppola received the honor after the age of 80, while Lillian Gish received it at the age of 90.

But in a moment when he truly felt, Murphy told the audience that he wished they could feel what he felt standing on stage, adding, "I almost cried... I'm going to go backstage and cry."

Other actors such as Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle and Kenan Thompson have spoken about Murphy's influence on the world of comedy and his pioneering role for generations of Black performers.

Thompson said on stage, "He wasn't just an influential figure... he was proof that you can start young, have big adventures, believe in yourself, and leave a mark that lasts for decades."

Murphy rose to fame after appearing on Saturday Night Live from 1980 to 1984.

He then rose to prominence with notable roles in films such as *Beverly Hills Cop* and *Coming to America*. He received critical acclaim for *Dreamgirls*. Newer generations recognized him through the animated film series *Shrek*, where he voiced Donkey, and in *Mulan*, where he voiced Mushu.

The concert will be streamed on Netflix on May 31 for the first time on the platform.

The American Film Institute was founded in 1967 with the goal of preserving the history and culture of film, honoring artists, and nurturing future filmmakers. Past recipients of its Lifetime Achievement Award include John Ford, Tom Hanks, and Meryl Streep.