When it comes to being a celebrity dad, Eddie Murphy has more experience than most. The comedian had 10 children aged 2 to 31 years. Her large litter includes 19-year-old Bella, the youngest of her five children with ex-wife Nicole Murphy, who plays her middle daughter in the newly released Coming 2 America.
In a new interview with the British newspaper, the Mirror, Murphy talked about parenting, which he called “the center of everything”.
“I’m going to be 60 in April and have all these babies,” he shared, adding that his family now takes precedence over his career.
“The idea of being there and making three films a year is over,” said the Oscar-nominated star. “I have all these babies … Along the way, I realized that if you put your children first, you will never make a wrong decision.
“When you get to a crossroads moment or have some shit, you think, ‘Well, what’s best for my kids?’ If you follow this path, you will never make a bad decision. “
Murphy became a father in 1989, when he and then-girlfriend Paulette McNeeley welcomed their son Eric. A year later, Tamara Hood gave birth to her son Christian. Murphy married Nicole Mitchell in 1993, and together they shared five children: Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola and Bella.
Shortly after his 2006 divorce, the actor made headlines by dodging allegations by ex-Spice Girl Mel B that he was the father of her baby, a daughter named Angel, born in April 2007. After the parenting proved to be the case, Murphy has since welcomed Angel into his family. Finally, he has two children, a daughter born in 2016 and a son born in 2018, with longtime partner Paige Butcher.
Murphy, who is also a grandfather, spoke enthusiastically at each child’s interview.
“I am very blessed with my children,” he said. “I don’t have a bad seed. I have no type, ‘Oh, you’re the only one.’
“I don’t have any of that. My kids are great, normal people – and no one is like the stupid Hollywood kid.
“My kids are smart and are trying to do things. I am blessed with my children. I was really lucky. “
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