Charlie Murphy, the older brother of Eddie Murphy and a comic performer who turned his encounters with Rick James and Prince into standout sketches on Chappelle’s Show, has died at the age of 57.



In the show’s recurring segment Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories, Murphy would recount how his brother’s fame brought him into the orbit of the biggest stars. His versions of the experiences, played out by him, Chappelle and others, became enduring hits. In one sketch, Prince is at first mocked for his frilly shirt but then shows his slick moves on the basketball court. The music legend then serves everyone pancakes.



Warning: strong language

Charlie Murphy collaborated with his brother on the screenplays for Norbit and Vampire in Brooklyn; voiced a role in the animated TV series The Boondocks; and also appeared in the comedy series Black Jesus. Murphy’s feature films include Our Family Wedding, King’s Ransom and CB4.



Former basketball player Magic Johnson tweeted that “I haven’t seen anything as funny as Charlie Murphy & Dave Chappelle’s skits on Chappelle’s Show!”, while the Hamilton playwright Lin-Manuel Miranda said that Murphy’s “storytelling was hilarious and unforgettable.” Comedian Chris Rock tweeted: “We just lost one of the funniest most real brothers of all time.”

