Pete Davidson Reveals His First Eddie Murphy Memory — And It's Not What You Think

Published 07/24/2025, 3:08 AM EDT

Pete Davidson has always been known for his candid storytelling and sharp wit, but his latest revelation offers a surprising twist on how he first connected with one of comedy’s greatest legends. Long before becoming a household name himself, Davidson’s introduction to Eddie Murphy’s unique charm came from an unexpected place, one that might just change how one thinks about his comedic roots.

This unexpected gateway not only shaped Pete Davidson’s appreciation for Eddie Murphy’s unique comedic voice but also laid the foundation for becoming a fanboy.

How Pete Davidson become a fan of Eddie Murphy?

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In an interview on The Tonight Show, answering Jimmy Fallon, Pete Davidson said that his initial exposure to Eddie Murphy's comedic genre was unexpectedly through the animated character Donkey in the movie Shrek when Davidson was approximately seven years old. This early, distinctively generational introduction to Murphy's voice led Davidson to seek out more of his work. Eddie Murphy quickly became Pete Davidson's comedic hero and a significant inspiration. Davidson openly states that Murphy is his "longtime idol" and considers him in "a league of his own," asserting that "it's Eddie, and then everyone else" when it comes to comedians.  

Pete Davidson later discovered the Eddie Murphy Delirious stand-up special at a store. Although his mother initially intervened due to the mature content and took the DVD away, she recognized the joy it brought him. Consequently, she secretly allowed him to continue watching it, leading to Davidson quickly memorizing and quoting lines from the special around their home. This deep admiration is evident in Davidson's enthusiasm for working alongside Eddie Murphy, even accepting a role in a film without reading the script, simply because Murphy was involved.  

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This profound admiration from Pete Davidson has now wonderfully culminated in a highly anticipated professional collaboration.

What to know about the professional collaboration: The Pickup

The Pickup is an upcoming action-comedy film that promises to deliver a blend of thrilling heists, comedic banter, and impressive action sequences, starring the legendary Eddie Murphy and Gen Z's beloved soon-to-be dad, Pete Davidson. Directed by Tim Story and written by Matt Mider and Kevin Burrows, the film centers on a routine cash pickup that goes wildly awry. Eddie Murphy and Pete Davidson portray two mismatched armored truck drivers, Russell and Travis, respectively, who find themselves ambushed by a ruthless criminal gang. This crew, led by the savvy mastermind Zoe (played by Keke Palmer), has plans that extend far beyond simply stealing the cash.

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Beyond the on-screen action, The Pickup holds special significance due to the real-life dynamic between its lead actors. Pete Davidson, a self-proclaimed die-hard fan of Eddie Murphy since childhood, considers this film a dream come true. Moreover, The Pickup is set to be released globally on Prime Video on August 6, 2025.

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What do you think about Pete Davidson's confession of Eddie Murphy? Let us know in the comments below.

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Soma Mitra

125 articles

Soma is a journalist at Netflix Junkie. With a postgraduate degree in Mass Communication, she brings production experience from documentary films like Chandua: Stories on Fabric. Covering the true crime and docu-drama beat, she turns psychological thrillers into sharp, audience-aware storytelling.

Edited By: Aliza Siddiqui

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