Eddie Murphy Reveals Disappointing Truth About Iconic Laugh

The decades-spanning career of Eddie Murphy has seen him rise from a raunchy standup comedian to one of Hollywood’s biggest stars. Murphy, known for his iconic roles and comedic talent, has had to adapt over the years. One significant change involves a feature many fans associate with him from his early days on screen.

While discussing his return as Axel Foley in “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F,” Murphy provided some insight into how both he and the character have evolved since the original 1984 film. Specifically, he talked about altering his famous laugh, a staple in many of his 1980s performances, because of his perception of audience reactions.

“That was my real laugh,” Murphy shared. “And then I realized, ‘Oh, they’re laughing at my laugh.’ It became a thing where all I had to do was that laugh, and they would laugh. And it was like, ‘Oh, no.’ I made myself stop laughing like that. It’s strange to change something natural, but I can’t laugh like that anymore.”

During the 1980s, Murphy’s laugh was a signature element in his films, particularly in his breakout role as Axel Foley in “Beverly Hills Cop.” Fans recognize it in the sequels too, although discerning viewers may notice he often toned it down.

The absence of Murphy’s iconic laugh might be a letdown for some longtime fans, but “Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” promises numerous nods to the earlier films. Key among these are the returns of actors Judge Reinhold, John Ashton, Paul Reiser, and Bronson Pinchot.

Reinhold and Ashton return as Billy Rosewood and John Taggart, respectively. Both are former LA Police Department colleagues who assisted Foley in his Beverly Hills investigations. Reinhold’s last appearance as Rosewood was in “Beverly Hills Cop 3,” while Ashton last appeared as Taggart in “Beverly Hills Cop 2.”

Reiser also returns, reprising his role as Jeffrey Friedman, Axel’s partner from the Detroit Police Department. Friedman has since become the deputy chief of the department. Pinchot, who played Serge, a quirky art dealer-turned-weapons dealer in the original trilogy, also makes a comeback.

In addition to these familiar faces, Murphy is joined by new cast members Kevin Bacon, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, and Taylor Paige. They accompany him on Foley’s latest mission to Beverly Hills, where he investigates threats against his estranged daughter, a defense attorney in LA who is representing someone entangled with corrupt LAPD officers.

“Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F” is available to stream on Netflix.