Pete Davidson‘s early fascination with Eddie Murphy became a guiding force during one of the hardest periods of his childhood, demonstrating the powerful Pete Davidson Eddie Murphy connection. After Davidson lost his father, a New York City firefighter who responded to the September 11 attacks, comedy offered much-needed relief during his time of grief.
Discovering Eddie Murphy’s Influence at a Young Age
Long before Pete Davidson would step onto the Saturday Night Live stage, he was already an admirer of Eddie Murphy’s work. Davidson, like Murphy, began his SNL journey barely old enough to legally drink, but his bond with the legendary comedian started years earlier.
In the Netflix documentary Being Eddie, Davidson detailed how, at just eight years old, he found Murphy’s iconic comedy special at a mall during one of his family’s outings. Davidson recounted seeing the striking cover of Murphy’s 1983 stand-up, noting its magnetic appeal.
“My mom took me to the store in the mall that had DVDs and CDs, and Eddie Murphy Delirious was there, and I was like, ‘What’s this? He looks really cool, and this could be fun,”
Davidson recalled of that moment, noticing Murphy’s signature red leather suit.
Having already enjoyed Murphy’s performances in family-friendly films like Shrek and Dr. Doolittle, Davidson expected more of the same. However, as soon as he started watching Delirious in the backseat on the way home, he was in for a surprise.
Davidson remembered,
“Immediately, you know, ‘F— this, suck this, f— you,’ and my mom’s like, ‘Whoa, what, what’d you get?”
His reaction was laughter, though his mother was clearly caught off guard.
“I was dying laughing, and she was like, ‘You can’t watch this or any of that.’”
A Parent’s Understanding and a Pivotal Bond
Despite her initial reluctance, Davidson’s mother eventually relented when she realized how comedy was helping her son during a painful time.
“I was like, ‘Please!’ I’m laughing, and I think she saw I was enjoying myself and at a time where I really wasn’t,”
he explained.
“And she was like, you could watch this stuff as long as you don’t repeat it or tell anybody, and it was a kind of a little pact we made, and that opened me to everything.”
Davidson’s Path Mirrors Murphy’s Career
About ten years later, Davidson’s journey came full circle as he joined Saturday Night Live at just 20—only slightly older than Murphy was during his own SNL debut in 1980. The connection between them grew when, in 2019, Davidson was part of the cast that welcomed Murphy back to the show after more than three decades away.
The admiration didn’t stop there. In 2020, Davidson paid homage to Murphy in his stand-up special, Pete Davidson: Alive From New York, featuring Murphy’s hit “Party All the Time” as the introduction music, underscoring the inspiration he drew from the comedy veteran.
Working Together and Building a Friendship
Recently, Davidson and Murphy starred together in the film The Pickup, strengthening their bond both on and off set. Both actors shared the unique experience of losing their fathers as children—Davidson’s father passed away during 9/11, and Murphy lost his dad in 1969. This personal connection helped them form a rapid friendship during filming.
“We got along real fast, and we both have a lot in common,”
Davidson shared with Entertainment Weekly.
“We were always the young guy amongst a bunch of older dudes. We got along really, really, really well.”
Murphy echoed this sentiment:
“We hit it off famously, and it was really great working with him,”
Murphy told EW.
“I’d love to work with him again.”
The Lasting Impact of the Pete Davidson Eddie Murphy Connection
The ongoing relationship between Davidson and Murphy highlights how moments and mentors can change the course of a person’s life. From a childhood introduction at a DVD store to sharing the big screen, Pete Davidson’s journey reflects the far-reaching impact of comedic icons. With Being Eddie now available on Netflix, audiences can glimpse more of what makes this connection between generations of comedy so uniquely powerful.
