Other attendees included Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Arsenio Hall, Kenan Thompson, Jennifer Hudson, and Spike Lee.

Mike Myers honors Eddie Murphy in full Shrek makeup at AFI Life Achievement Award Ceremony: ‘One of the greatest’

Other attendees included Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Arsenio Hall, Kenan Thompson, Jennifer Hudson, and Spike Lee.

By Shania Russell

Shania Russell

Shania Russell is a news writer at *, *with five years of experience. Her work has previously appeared in SlashFilm and Paste Magazine.

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April 19, 2026 3:43 p.m. ET

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Eddie Murphy and Mike Meyers at the 51st AFI Lifetime Achievement Award ceremony April 18. Credit:

Kevin Winter/Getty; Kevin Winter/Getty

- Eddie Murphy received the AFI Life Achievement Award at a star-studded April 18 ceremony.

- Among the attendees was his *Shrek* costar Mike Myers, who dressed as the titular green ogre that he voices.

- Later, Murphy took to the stage to crack jokes and thank his friends and loved ones for turning out.

Home is where the heart is, and Shrek's swamp is wherever Mike Myers and Eddie Murphy are.

Mike Myers' enthusiasm for *Shrek* costar Eddie Murphy can't be contained by the silver screen.

A cadre of Hollywood legends gathered to honor Murphy on Saturday night as he received the the AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor bestowed by the American Film Institute. Myers was among them, but with an extra special twist: He showed up styled as Shrek, the grump ogre he voices in the beloved DreamWorks franchise.

The comedian honored his longtime pal and costar while smeared with green makeup and wearing ogre ears on either side of his head. During his tribute, he praised Murphy for his work as Donkey, Shrek's best friend and inescapable sidekick.

"None of *Shrek*’s success could have happened without Eddie Murphy," Myers said during the ceremony, per footage of the event shared on Reddit. "Eddie’s character, Donkey, is a masterpiece, as is every character Eddie has created over the years."

Mike Myers speaks at the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: A Tribute To Eddie Murphy.

Michael Kovac/Getty

He continued, "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."

Myers went on to say that while he never got the chance to work with such great legends as Charlie Chaplin, Alec Guinness, and Peter Sellers, he considers it an equal honor to have worked alongside Murphy.

"It is my absolute honor to say and to be able to tell my kids that I got to work with Eddie Murphy," he concluded.

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Myers was one of many who came forward to honor Murphy. The ceremony also included remarks from Martin Lawrence, Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Arsenio Hall, Judge Reinhold, and Kenan Thompson. Jennifer Hudson also delighted the audience with a *Dreamgirls* musical medley, a tribute to the 2006 film that saw her star alongside Murphy (for which he won a Golden Globe and SAG Award).

The AFI award was eventually presented to Murphy by Spike Lee. When at last the comedian took the stage, he couldn't help but crack a few jokes, quipping about what would’ve happened if AFI had made him wait until later in his career for the achievement.

"If you made me wait until I was 92, I would’ve came out here and said f--- everybody… and then I’d get down and shit on the floor," the comedian said to laughter from the crowd. "We staved off that happening by getting this award tonight.”

Eddie Murphy poses with his AFI Lifetime Achievement Award.

Savion Washington/Getty

Getting more serious, he admitted to being touched by all the heartfelt tributes.

"Seeing all of my family, all my kids, my beautiful wife, and seeing all the different people I worked with, I’m just really filled up," he told the Los Angeles crowd. "This is a special moment. I wish y’all could feel what I’m feeling, see what I’m seeing. I almost teared up. I’m going to get backstage and cry.”

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The stand-up legend has enjoyed a memorable career, spanning nearly 50 years thus far. Murphy has gone from basement stages to filling out Madison Square Garden. He enjoyed a pivotal four-season tenure on *Saturday Night Live* before solidifying himself as a box-office mainstay with films like *Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, The Nutty Professor *and, of course, the *Shrek* franchise.

Murphy's AFI tribute will premiere as a special on Netflix on May 31.

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Source: “EW Awards”