Eddie Murphy, Sidney Poitier, and Denzel Washington stand as giants in the realm of Black cinema. Murphy, renowned as one of the greatest comedians of all time, initially gained fame through stand-up comedy and was a staple of Saturday Night Live. His transition to Hollywood during the 1980s and 1990s saw him star in numerous blockbuster comedies. Nevertheless, it was not until 2007 that he received an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his role in the musical drama, Dreamgirls.
In contrast, Sidney Poitier holds the historic distinction of being the first African American to win the Academy Award for Best Actor, awarded for his performances in The Defiant Ones (1959) and Lilies of the Field (1964). For nearly four decades, he remained the sole Black actor to achieve this honor until Denzel Washington won for Training Day in 2002. Ironically, Washington received his Oscar on the same night Poitier was honored with an Honorary Oscar. Interestingly, both Murphy and Washington were considered to collaborate on a biopic, but it was Poitier who cautionarily advised against this pairing.
Sidney Poitier’s Advisory on Malcolm X
“You Are Not Denzel [Washington],” He Remarked
During a pivotal conversation, Sidney Poitier dissuaded Eddie Murphy from taking on the role in Malcolm X, stating, “You are not Denzel [Washington].” This iconic film, directed by Spike Lee and based on The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley, showcases Washington in the title role, depicting the extraordinary journey of the African American leader from a life of crime to a powerful minister within the Nation of Islam, ultimately leading to his assassination. The film also features the talents of Angela Bassett, Albert Hall, Al Freeman Jr., and Delroy Lindo.
In a recent Apple TV documentary titled Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood, Eddie Murphy recounted how Poitier advised him regarding the film. Initially, Norman Jewison was set to direct the project—having previously collaborated with Poitier on In the Heat of the Night—and he had approached Murphy about portraying Alex Haley. However, Poitier’s advice had a significant impact, leading Murphy to rethink his potential involvement. Below are Murphy’s poignant reflections on the encounter:
They were talking about doing Malcolm X. Norman Jewison was putting it together. They were gonna use The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley. And they approached me about playing Alex Haley. Around that same time, I bumped into Sidney Poitier at something, and I asked him, “Yeah, I’m thinking about playing Alex Haley!”And Sidney Poitier said, “You are not Denzel [Washington], and you are not Morgan [Freeman]. You are a breath of fresh air, and don’t fuck with that!”
I was in uncharted waters. For Sidney and all those guys, when I showed up, it was something kinda new. They didn’t have a reference for me; they couldn’t give me advice, ’cause I was 20, 21 years old, and my audience was the mainstream — all of everywhere. My movies [were] all around the world, and they had never had that with a young Black person. So nobody could give me advice, really. Everything broke really big and really fast.
Implications of Poitier’s Insight for Murphy
Ambiguity: An Insult or a Compliment?
Eddie Murphy reflects that Poitier’s counsel left him uncertain as to whether it was meant as an insult or a compliment. Notably, at that time, Murphy was not recognized as a dramatic actor, and it wasn’t until 2007 that he garnered his Oscar nomination for Dreamgirls. Notably, Spike Lee’s Malcolm X ultimately did not include Alex Haley as a character, leaving ambiguity as to how Poitier’s advisory may have influenced Murphy’s career choices. Following this pivotal moment, Murphy continued to thrive predominantly in comedic roles for many years.
Malcolm X itself garnered two Oscar nominations: Best Actor in a Leading Role for Denzel Washington and Best Costume Design for Ruth E. Carter, solidifying its impact on cinema.
Source: Number One on the Call Sheet: Black Leading Men in Hollywood