Eddie Murphy says Sidney Poitier advised him against playing Alex Haley in an early version of Malcolm X, warning him not to give up the distinctive, escapist appeal audiences expected from his films. Murphy recalled the conversation in a 2021 interview and retold it in the 2025 documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood.
What did Sidney Poitier tell Eddie Murphy?
In a 2021 interview with the Los Angeles Times, Murphy recalled asking Poitier about the possibility of taking a role in an early Malcolm X project. Murphy recounted Poitier saying: “You are not Morgan. And you are not Denzel. You are a breath of fresh air. Don’t ‘f—’ with that.”
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Murphy said he initially could not tell whether to take the remark as an insult or a compliment. He explained that he understood Poitier’s point to be that audiences came to his films for fun and escapism, and that he should not take a heavier role simply for the sake of it. This is Murphy’s recollection of the exchange; the reports do not offer separate confirmation from Poitier.
Was Murphy supposed to play Malcolm X?
No. Murphy said he had been approached to play Alex Haley, the author of The Autobiography of Malcolm X, in an early version of the project. He recalled that Norman Jewison was assembling that version and that the book was to be its source material.
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That proposal was distinct from the finished film. Spike Lee directed the 1992 Malcolm X, with Denzel Washington playing Malcolm X. Haley’s character did not appear in the released film, according to The Independent. The available accounts establish that Murphy said he was approached; they do not establish that he formally accepted the role or signed on to the project.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Why is the story being discussed again?
Murphy retold the anecdote in Apple TV+’s 2025 documentary Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood. TheWrap and The Independent reported on that account on April 1, 2025. The later coverage revisits the same personal recollection; the earlier Los Angeles Times interview includes Murphy’s fuller explanation of what he thought Poitier meant.
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