During the early 1980s, Eddie Murphy’s performances on Saturday Night Live revitalized the show, with his Eddie Murphy Buckwheat character emerging as a standout favorite among viewers. Buckwheat, originally from the Our Gang comedies, made his SNL debut in October 1981 and quickly became one of Murphy’s most requested and popular portrayals. However, by 1983, Murphy decided to retire the character, expressing frustration over its overwhelming demand.
The Rise of Eddie Murphy’s Buckwheat on SNL
Throughout Murphy’s four-year tenure on Saturday Night Live, his impersonations of famous figures such as James Brown, Muhammad Ali, and Stevie Wonder were widely celebrated. Yet, it was his comic transformation into Buckwheat—the now-grown version of the child actor from The Little Rascals—that won the hearts of audiences. Production assistant Robin Shlien recalled vividly how the first Buckwheat sketch had everyone laughing uncontrollably, especially because the script cleverly included deliberate mispronunciations like
“Untz, tice, fee times a nady.”
Executive producer Dick Ebersol later confirmed that Buckwheat was among the hottest characters on television late at night during that period. Murphy’s portrayal captivated audiences, turning the character into a cultural moment on SNL.
Eddie Murphy’s Decision to End the Buckwheat Character
Despite the character’s fame, Murphy grew restless with the constant pressure to perform as Buckwheat. One evening in 1983, he confronted Ebersol in his office and bluntly said, “I want to kill Buckwheat.” Murphy admitted he could no longer tolerate the relentless requests from fans to reprise the role, stating,
“Everywhere I go people say, ‘Do Buckwheat, do this, do that,’”
he explained. I want to kill him.
Respecting Murphy’s wishes, Ebersol sent Murphy to collaborate with writers Barry Blaustein and David Sheffield to devise a fitting and definitive end for the character. Together, they crafted a two-part episode titled The Assassination of Buckwheat. The first segment, filmed twice with and without blood effects, depicted Buckwheat being shot just outside 30 Rockefeller Plaza. The following week, Murphy returned as the assassin, John David Stutts, who was ultimately assassinated in turn.
The Legacy of Buckwheat and Eddie Murphy’s Tribute
Though Murphy grew weary of the Buckwheat character and its demands, he held deep respect for Billie Thomas, the original actor who played Buckwheat on screen. In his 2025 documentary Being Eddie, Murphy disclosed that he personally funded a tombstone for Thomas, who had passed away in 1980, honoring the man who originally brought the character to life.
This moment highlights the complicated relationship Murphy had with the Buckwheat character—while eager to move on from its public presence, he remained mindful of its roots and the legacy of those who came before him. The ending of Buckwheat also marked a turning point in Murphy’s evolving career, allowing him to expand beyond the iconic role that had brought him early fame.
