Where Are They Now? The Cast of 'Coming to America'

Eddie Murphy, James Earl Jones, Shari Headley and the rest.

Eddie Murphy - Already a box-office star with a string of hits under his belt when he made Coming to America, the comedian-turned-actor maintained his marquee status for nearly two decades with films like The Nutty Professor, Dr. Doolittle and the Shrek franchise. He was even nominated for an Academy Award for 2006's Dreamgirls. But in the last decade, Murphy has earned more Golden Raspberry awards (a whopping 11) than any other accolade thanks to career-stalling works like Norbit and A Thousand Words. Most recently, he starred in the 2016 drama Mr. Church. (Photo: Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Arsenio Hall - After stealing scenes as Murphy's loyal sidekick Semmi, Hall reunited with his A-list buddy a year later for Harlem Nights. That was right around the time when the powers-that-be took notice of this rising star, and in 1989 Hall began his five-year stint hosting his own late night talk show. Hall got a chance to recreate the magic of the Arsenio Hall Show in 2013, when it was revived to great fanfare. Sadly, the show was canceled after just one season.  (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images)
James Earl Jones  - As Prince Akeem's micromanaging father, Jones put his stature and iconic voice to great use. The Oscar winner hasn't stopped working since, appearing in dozens of films — from Judge Dredd to The Lion King — and several television shows. On the movie front, he is set to star in the upcoming films Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, Warning Shot and War-Angel: The Awakening, and also took the Broadway stage alongside Cicely Tyson in The Gin Game in 2015.(Photo: Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Madge Sinclair - As Akeem's mother and the Queen of Zamunda, Sinclair's screen time in Coming to America was brief but memorable. She came to the film already an Emmy nominee for her work in Roots, and after the film she starred as Steve Harvey's mother-in-law on the sitcom Me and the Boys. Sadly, Sinclair passed away from leukemia in 1995. (Photo: Ron Galella, Ltd./WireImage)Shari Headley  - Who didn't fall in love with Lisa McDowell, the 'round-the-way Queens girl who captured Akeem's heart? Showbiz became equally smitten with Headley after the film, and the actress has been working steadily in television on shows like New York Undercover, Quantum Leap and Veronica Mars and on the soap operas The Bold and the Beautiful and All My Children. Most recently, she starred as D.A. Jennifer Sallison in the OWN drama The Haves and the Have Nots, but was killed off at the end of season three.(Photo: TRY CW/WENN.com)

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Arsenio Hall - After stealing scenes as Murphy's loyal sidekick Semmi, Hall reunited with his A-list buddy a year later for Harlem Nights. That was right around the time when the powers-that-be took notice of this rising star, and in 1989 Hall began his five-year stint hosting his own late night talk show. Hall got a chance to recreate the magic of the Arsenio Hall Show in 2013, when it was revived to great fanfare. Sadly, the show was canceled after just one season.  (Photo: Mark Davis/Getty Images)

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