Eddie Murphy Books ‘SNL’ Hosting Gig After 35 Years Away

Eddie Murphy (Credit: Shutterstock)

It’s been a minute since Eddie Murphy visited Saturday Night Live. Now the comedian is set to return to Studio 8H in December for his first SNL hosting gig in 35 years.

The SNL alum made a brief appearance on the NBC sketch series in 2015, for the show’s 40th anniversary special. Otherwise, he’s been absent since he finished his run as a series regular in 1984.

On Monday, SNL announced on Twitter Murphy will be returning for the holiday episode on Dec. 21. Other stars booked for hosting gigs on the upcoming 45th season include Woody Harrelson, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, David Harbour and Kristen Stewart.

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Murphy was an SNL cast member from 1980 to 1984, and kept the audience laughing with his Buckwheat and Stevie Wonder impersonations.

He went on to star in hit films, including The Nutty Professor, Beverly Hills Cop, and Coming to America.

The comedian is currently shooting the sequel to Coming to America, along with original stars Arsenio Hall, James Earl Jones, Paul Bates, Shari Headley, John Amos and Vanessa Bell Calloway. The sequel titled Coming 2 America will arrive in theaters in December 2020.

Murphy will headline the Netflix biopic Dolemite Is My Name later this year.