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The Ultimate Honor - Veteran actor and comedic genius Eddie Murphy has had a vastly successful career in entertainment, making viewers both laugh and think through his performances. From his early days as a teenager on SNL to now being honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center Honors, Murphy has left an indelible mark on the world of entertainment. Here is a look at his impressive work in film to date.(Photo: Christopher Polk/Getty Images)

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48 Hrs. (1982) - In his big screen debut, Murphy plays a convict who is teamed up with a cop (Nick Nolte) in order to track down a cop killer within — you guessed it — forty-eight hours. The film was a massive hit, earning Murphy a Golden Globe nomination and spawning the genre of "buddy cop" movies.(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Trading Places (1983) - This film about a wealthy commodities broker (Dan Ackroyd) and a homeless street hustler (Murphy) who trades places as part of a bet is Murphy's second big hit in a row. In addition, Trading Places marks the first of his many collaborations with director John Landis.(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Delirious (1983) - A bona fide movie star by now, Murphy returned to his stand-up roots with this live television special. Mick Jagger, Stevie Wonder, Michael Jackson and James Brown were among the targets of Murphy's sharp tongue.(Photo: HBO)

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Beverly Hills Cop (1984) - Playing a street smart Detroit cop who comes to Beverly Hills to solve a murder (a role originally intended for Sylvester Stallone), this is Murphy's first full-fledged starring vehicle. It became one of the highest-grossing R-rated comedies of all time, securing his place on the A-list. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Raw (1987) - Murphy's second concert film is even more, well, raw than the first. This time, Murphy takes aim at Bill Cosby, Italians, white men who can't dance and the women of the 1980s. Raw also holds the distinct record of dropping more F-bombs than any other film in history at the time, including Scarface. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Coming to America (1988) - The film stars Murphy as an African prince searching for a humble bride in Queens, New York. Regarded as one of the greatest Black ensemble comedies of all time, Coming to America is also the first film in which Murphy plays multiple roles, a tactic that would become a career staple for him. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Harlem Nights (1989) - Murphy starred in, directed, wrote and produced this crime comedy about a father and son running a nightclub in 1930s Harlem. He uses his influence behind the camera to cast his mentor Richard Pryor and his brother Charlie Murphy in key roles. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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Boomerang (1992) - A slight departure from his usual slapstick characters, Murphy plays a suave ladies man who meets his match in this romantic comedy. He also assembled some of the best established and up-and-coming Black talent of the 1990s into one film, including then-newcomers Halle Berry and Chris Rock. (Photo: Paramount Pictures)

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The Nutty Professor (1996) - In this remake of the 1963 Jerry Lewis classic about an overweight man who invents a weight loss potion so he can win the heart of a woman, Murphy plays a record seven parts, including heavyset professor Sherman Klump and most of the members of Sherman's family. The film earned Murphy a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor, and launched the career of his protégé Dave Chappelle.  (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Universal Pictures

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Dr. Dolittle (1998) - This film about a doctor (Murphy) who discovers he can talk to and understand animals becomes a worldwide hit and spawned four sequels. The film featured an emsemble cast including Ossie Davis, Kyla Pratt and Raven-Symoné.(Photo: Twentieth Century Fox)

Photo By Photo: Twentieth Century Fox

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Life (1999) - Bringing together two of the biggest names in comedy at the time, Murphy and Martin Lawrence (who got his break in Boomerang) starred as two men wrongly convicted of murder. The film was a box office smash with a soundtrack (featuring the Maxwell track "Fortunate") that went platinum. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

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The Nutty Professor II: The Klumps (2000) - In this sequel to Murphy's 1996 hit, Sherman Klump dealt with his latest invention — the fountain of youth — gone awry while trying to hold on to his girlfriend Denise (Janet Jackson). The film became a global hit and even inspired a parody by Jack Black in Tropic Thunder. (Photo: Universal Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Universal Pictures

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Shrek (2001) - This film about a loveable ogre and his fairytale friends (including Murphy's character, Donkey) wins the first-ever Academy Award for Best Animated Feature, and launches one of the most successful film franchises of the decade.(Photo: DreamWorks SKG)

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Dreamgirls (2006) - Nearly 15 years after his big screen debut, Murphy is nominated for an Oscar for his role as R&B singer James "Thunder" Early, his first dramatic role, in this musical drama loosely based on the rise of Motown Records and The Supremes. The musical blockbuster hit brought it droves of supporters due to its A-list cast, which included Beyoncé, Jamie Foxx and Jennifer Hudson.(Photo: Paramount Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Paramount Pictures

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Norbit (2007) - Once again playing multiple characters, Murphy starred as a mild-mannered guy who attempts to ditch his monstrous wife to be with the woman of his dreams. The film became his fourteenth number one at the box office.(Photo: DreamWorks SKG)

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Tower Heist (2011) - Murphy teamed up with Ben Stiller and director Brett Ratner (Rush Hour) for this heist comedy about a group of employees at a New York City high rise who aim to steal $20 million from a wealthy business man after losing all their money in his Ponzi scheme. The movie was a hit and continued to prove Eddie Murphy is a living legend.(Photo: Universal Pictures)

Photo By Photo: Universal Pictures