Summary
- Eddie Murphy's portrayal of multiple characters in "Coming to America" showcased his comedic versatility and helped make the film a favorite among audiences.
- The most important character played by Murphy in the film is Prince Akeem, who stands out for his charm and search for love.
- Murphy's ability to transform into unrecognizable characters like Randy Watson and Saul demonstrates his talent and versatility as an actor.
Looking back at how many characters Eddie Murphy played in Coming to America is a testament to his talents as an actor as well as being part of the reason the comedy has become such a favorite. When the film released in 1988, audiences had never seen the former Saturday Night Live star take on multiple roles within a single feature, though he would later portray seven different characters in the 1996 comedy The Nutty Professor. With Coming to America, Murphy displayed his comedic versatility by changing his appearance and transforming into several unique personas. The Coming to America Eddie Murphy characters turned the hilarious comedy into something more special.
In Coming to America, Prince Akeem Joffer (Murphy) relocates to the Queens borough of New York City and searches for love. Murphy is the shining star of Coming to America, but also secretly steals many scenes in supporting roles. There have been other movies in which the lead actor plays multiple characters, notably with Stanley Kubrick's Dr. Strangelove, and Murphy cemented himself as one of the best to do it with his versatility and comedic skills bringing these Coming to America characters to life.
Prince Akeem Joffer
Clearly, the most important of the Coming to America Eddie Murphy characters is the protagonist Prince Akeem. Murphy plays it mostly straight in the lead role. Previously, he'd portrayed comic figures in 48 Hrs., Trading Places, and Beverly Hills Cop; characters who would punctuate scenes with one-liners. With Coming to America, Murphy dials it down a notch and focuses on the story of a man who wants to be recognized for his values rather than his wealth. The actor's dry humor approach contrasts with the aggressive comedy of his other characters. However, Prince Akeem's charming search for love makes for one of the most likable Eddie Murphy characters.
Randy Watson
39 minutes into Coming to America, Akeem attends Black Awareness Week and catches a performance by Jackson Heights native Randy Watson. The character's voice gives Murphy away as the singer, especially when he stumbles through a rendition of "The Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston. By the end, Randy screams out his band's name, Sexual Chocolate, while Akeem and Semmi attempt to process what they just experienced. It is a hilarious and brief appearance that shows how unrecognizable even a giant star like Murphy can be under the makeup. Randy's appearance is so memorable he was brought back for an Easter egg in Coming 2 America where he comes to perform at the climactic wedding.
Saul
In perhaps the wildest transformation of all the Coming to America Eddie Murphy characters, he also plays an elderly Jewish man named Saul. The character first appears at the 26-minute mark in the famous barbershop scene that features a Coming to America role for young Cuba Gooding Jr. Saul defends the boxers Joe Louis and Muhammad Ali during a barber shop conversation. Saul later calls Akeem "Kunta Kinte," a reference to his African roots and the main character from Alex Haley's 1976 novel Roots. Saul speaks definitively in Coming to America and typically has the last word. He repeats the joke when Prince Akeem returns to the barbershop in Coming 2 America.
Clarence
In the final Coming to America Eddie Murphy character, the actor portrays a barber named Clarence. The character looks like an older version of Murphy, and speaks with a distinct high-pitched tone. Clarence likes to make boasts during barber shop conversations and often gets called out for exaggerating his life experiences or downright making up stories that seemingly improve his arguments. Early on in Coming to America, Clarence informs Akeem and Semmi that he's headed to the Black Awareness rally for "prime" women. Like Saul, Clarence makes a brief return in the sequel where he remains as angry as ever but actually doesn't seem to have aged all that much in the 30 years.
Coming To America Started An Eddie Murphy Trend
The Coming to America Eddie Murphy characters were received so well in the movie that the actor brought the idea back again and again. There have been multiple movies with Eddie Murphy playing multiple characters with the Nutty Professor movies being the most popular among them. In that instance, Murphy really shows his talents in playing every adult member of a family, known as the Klumps. There are scenes in which the family sits down together for dinner and hilarious conversation in which Murphy is basically the only actor in the scene. It makes for a tour-de-force comedic performance.
Murphy's work in The Nutty Professor was so popular that the sequel largely focused on the family aspect which was only a small part of the original. However, Murphy's multiple character performances don't always result in success as with the critical and commercial flop Norbit. The movie was mostly criticized for not being funny, but many also found many of Murphy's characters offensive. However, Murphy proved he still could pull it off to great effect when he brought back all of those original characters from Coming to America for the sequel, Coming 2 America.