Charlie Murphy Dies at 57

LOS ANGELES - Charlie Murphy, the older brother of Eddie Murphy and a comic performer who was known for his work in sketches poking fun at Rick James and Prince on “Chappelle’s Show,” has died at the age of 57. He reportedly was battling leukemia and was undergoing chemotherapy when he died.

In the show’s popular segment Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories, Murphy recalled how his brother’s fame brought him into contact with some of the entertainment industry’s biggest stars. The sketches featuring him, Chappelle and others, became popular with audiences. In one sketch, Prince is at first mocked for his frilly shirt but then shows his athletic skills on the basketball court to everyone’s shock. The music superstar then serves everyone pancakes.

Charlie served in the U.S. Navy for six years before starting out as a comedian. He made his feature film debut with brother Eddie in 1989’s “Harlem Nights,” then appeared in “CB4” and “Night at the Museum,” both in 2006. Former L.A. Lakers’ star Magic Johnson tweeted: “I haven’t seen anything as funny as Charlie Murphy & Dave Chappelle’s skits on Chappelle’s Show!”, while the Hamilton’s Lin-Manuel Miranda said that Murphy’s “storytelling was hilarious and unforgettable.”