Eddie Murphy named Academy Awards host

Comedian will emcee Hollywood's biggest night early next year

Published September 6, 2011 7:39PM (EDT)

In this April 21, 2010 file photo, actor Eddie Murphy attends the premiere of "Shrek Forever After" during the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival in New York.    (AP/Peter Kramer)
In this April 21, 2010 file photo, actor Eddie Murphy attends the premiere of "Shrek Forever After" during the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival in New York. (AP/Peter Kramer)

Eddie Murphy is hosting the Oscars. Academy Awards producers Brett Ratner and Don Mischer say the actor and comedian will host the 84th annual Oscar ceremony.

Ratner called the 50-year-old entertainer "a comedic genius; one of the greatest and most influential live performers ever." Mischer called Murphy "a truly groundbreaking performer" whose "quick wit and charisma will serve him very well as Oscar host."

This will be Murphy's first time hosting the Academy Awards. He was nominated for an Oscar in 2006 for his supporting role in "Dreamgirls."

Murphy said in a statement Tuesday that he is "enormously honored" to join the ranks of past Academy Awards hosts such as Johnny Carson, Bob Hope, Billy Crystal, Steve Martin and Whoopi Goldberg.


By Associated Press

MORE FROM Associated Press


Related Topics ------------------------------------------

Oscars