There are many styles of standup, but the comedians I like are people like Dick Gregory and Richard Pryor. Because Richard Pryor told the truth. Chris Rock. I love Chris Rock. He's funny, but he's also poignant. He's not there just to make people laugh; he's there to make people wake up, too.
Every barbershop has a guy who wrecks shop every time he comes in. He has the whole barbershop laughing. That doesn't mean he's a comedian.
I didn't want to do anything that could possibly tarnish my brother's career.
If you look at my acting career, I never played a role that was similar to anything my brother played. I was always cast as the bad guy or a gangster, because my brother didn't do those kind of roles.
I have people tell me all the time, 'I was expecting you to be mean.' Why is that? Because you saw me in a movie? That's acting.
My name is Charlie Murphy. I was born into this name, and I've been rolling how I've been rolling my whole life.
I don't think I have any hobbies.
I'm always working, and I'm a single parent, so I don't think I have time for stuff most normal people do.
Most of my good friends have fights with me. Those guys know that I was in martial arts for 12 years fighting on the circuit.
Nobody gave me anything.
I didn't go to no school for acting. I learned it all by trial and error.
I've been in a lot of different arenas of life.
My background is part of my comedy. Your experiences are where the jokes come from.
Don't underestimate the power of the Web.
People who know me know that I'm the last person on earth that wants to be somebody else.
I bombed in front of 5,000 people. Anybody that's ever stood in front of 5,000 people that don't like them can tell you, it's an energy associated with that. You don't want to feel that. You ask yourself, 'Do you really really want to do this?'
You make shows, and you don't go into it thinking, 'Our show's going to be number one'; you go into it hoping to stay on the air.
When I first started, it was a dare. Someone basically said, 'You're a tough guy... but I'll bet you won't get on a microphone in front of a bunch of people.' I was terrified, but I did it. Once I broke the ice and got onstage and got some laughs, I thought, 'That's not so bad.'
I guess I must have a good metabolism.
If you can't eat incredible food, then what's the point?
