Hollywood legend Eddie Murphy has revealed that his stunt-performing days are firmly behind him. The 64-year-old actor, famed for his roles in classics like Beverly Hills Cop, Trading Places, and The Nutty Professor, is back on screen in Prime Video’s new action-comedy The Pickup. In the film, Murphy plays Russell, an armoured truck driver who, alongside colleague Travis (Pete Davidson), gets caught in a criminal plot to ambush their vehicle during a routine cash pickup.
While The Pickup features plenty of high-octane action sequences, Murphy says audiences shouldn’t expect him to risk life and limb for the sake of a stunt anymore. Speaking to Collider.com, he admitted, “I’m not doing any stunts. People come to see me to laugh, so it’s not important that I really jump out the window. You get the stuntman to do it. I’ll do fight scenes and the physical stuff that ties me into the stunt, but I’m not trying to get f***** up on a set.”
Murphy explained that after decades in Hollywood, he’s mastered how to make a fight scene look convincing without putting himself in unnecessary danger. However, even carefully choreographed action can go wrong. While filming The Pickup, Murphy accidentally injured a stuntman during a scene.
“There was a scene where I’m fighting a guy with a helmet on,” Murphy recalled. “I snatched his helmet off, and he had his earring in. I ripped it out. His ear was bleeding, but he said, ‘Keep rolling.’” The incident left Murphy shaken, reinforcing his decision to avoid stunts. “If that had happened to me, production would have been shut down. I’d be flown to a hospital by helicopter and on an IV drip for a month,” he joked.
Murphy’s approach reflects a shift seen in many veteran actors, prioritizing safety while still delivering entertaining performances. With The Pickup blending comedy and action, fans can expect Murphy’s trademark humor and screen charisma—just without him leaping out of windows.
The Pickup is now streaming on Prime Video, offering audiences a chance to enjoy Murphy’s latest performance, where the laughs remain front and center, and the stunt work is left to the professionals.
