Mike Myers Goes All Out as Shrek During Emotional Tribute to Eddie Murphy at AFI Award Ceremony
You’ve probably already seen the clips circulating online. Mike Myers walked into the AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony on Saturday night dressed in full Shrek costume — green makeup, ogre ears, the whole thing — and the internet lost its mind. But the moment was more than a gimmick. It was a genuinely heartfelt tribute to Eddie Murphy, and what Myers actually said on that stage deserves as much attention as the costume.
The ceremony, held Saturday, April 18, honored Murphy with the American Film Institute’s highest honor, celebrating a career that has spanned nearly 50 years. Multiple Hollywood figures turned out to pay their respects. But it was Myers who made the biggest entrance, arriving in character as the animated ogre he’s voiced across the beloved Shrek franchise — a direct nod to Murphy’s iconic role as Donkey.
Footage shared on Reddit captured Myers delivering a tribute that went far beyond the visual gag.
“None of Shrek’s success could have happened without Eddie Murphy,” Myers said. “Eddie’s character, Donkey, is a masterpiece, as is every character Eddie has created over the years.”
He didn’t stop there. Myers offered what amounted to a love letter to Murphy’s talent, describing him as “Lovable, hilarious, joyous, vulnerable, and loyal. Eddie combines all of those in a tour de force, and plainly put, Eddie is one of the greatest.”
Then came the line that might hit hardest for anyone who grew up watching these two on screen together: “It is my absolute honor to say and to be able to tell my kids that I got to work with Eddie Murphy.”
The Shrek tribute carries extra weight given what’s on the horizon. Shrek 5 has a scheduled theatrical release of June 30, 2027, with returning cast that includes Myers, Murphy and Cameron Diaz. Myers showing up in full ogre regalia wasn’t just a look back — it was a reminder that this partnership is very much alive.
Myers wasn’t the only one who showed up to honor Murphy’s legacy. The ceremony drew an impressive roster of talent, including Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Arsenio Hall, Judge Reinhold and Kenan Thompson.
Jennifer Hudson performed a Dreamgirls medley, a callback to the 2006 film starring Murphy. His performance in that film earned him both a Golden Globe and a SAG Award.
Murphy’s nearly 50-year career in entertainment is the kind that rarely gets replicated. He found early stand-up success performing in major venues like Madison Square Garden, then joined the Saturday Night Live cast for four seasons, becoming one of the show’s most memorable performers.
From there, the film roles stacked up: Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor and the Shrek franchise, among others. The AFI’s highest honor recognizes the full sweep of that body of work.
This article was created by content specialists using various tools, including AI.
