"This is a special moment. I wish you could all feel what I feel, see what I see. Seeing my whole family, all my children, my beautiful wife and all the people I've worked with almost makes me cry," Murphy said, visibly emotional, from the stage at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
Murphy, 64, began his career as a young stand-up sensation, had his breakthrough on "Saturday Night Live" and is best known for films such as "Beverly Hills Cop", "Trading Places", "Coming to America" and the "Shrek" series.
"Eddie has made us laugh and made our nation feel better," said Spike Lee, who presented the award to Murphy.
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