The award show season has arrived, bringing with it the usual swirl of nominations, recognitions, and overlooked talents that ignite endless debates. A recent guest on Variety’s Awards Circuit podcast, Ryan Reynolds, sparked a fresh discussion over an iconic comedic performance by Eddie Murphy that, according to Reynolds, was unfairly ignored by The Academy.
During the episode, Reynolds expressed his desire for more comedies to gain recognition at the prestigious award show. When questioned about the biggest ever Oscar snub, the star of Deadpool responded, “The fact that Eddie Murphy doesn’t have an Oscar for The Nutty Professor is one of the greatest injustices.” You can listen to the full episode below.
The Nutty Professor, a 1996 science fiction comedy film, featured Eddie Murphy as the lead actor. The film, a remake of the 1963 movie starring Jerry Lewis, tells the story of an obese university professor named Sherman Klump (played by Murphy). Striving to lose weight and win over his love interest, Klump develops a weight-loss drug. However, the drug is experimental, and the audience is taken on a roller-coaster ride as Klump experiences its unpredictable side effects.
Although Murphy didn’t clinch an Oscar for his role in the film, The Nutty Professor did win in the Best Makeup category at the 69th Academy Awards. At the 54th Golden Globe Awards, Murphy also received a nomination for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy for his performance as Sherman Klump. Murphy’s sole Oscar nomination to date is for Best Supporting Actor for his role in Dreamgirls in 2007.
Despite the Oscar overlook, Murphy, known for his role in Norbit, holds his performance in The Nutty Professor as the crowning achievement of his career. In a conversation with The New York Times, he explained his viewpoint, stating, “There’s no comparison for me. I like Bowfinger, but The Nutty Professor — that’s genuine. The makeups that Rick Baker created transformed me completely, making me unrecognizable. I could walk into a room, and nobody would know it was me.
He further elaborated, “Let’s put it this way: I like Bowfinger, but I can think of 20 other actors who could have played that role. I can’t think of anyone else who could pull off The Nutty Professor.”
FAQs
What is The Nutty Professor about?
The Nutty Professor is a 1996 science fiction comedy film that tells the story of an obese university professor named Sherman Klump who develops a weight-loss drug to slim down and win his love interest.
Did Eddie Murphy win an Oscar for The Nutty Professor?
No, Eddie Murphy did not win an Oscar for his role in The Nutty Professor. However, the film did win the Best Makeup category at the 69th Academy Awards.
What other recognition did Eddie Murphy receive for his role in The Nutty Professor?
Murphy was nominated for Best Actor in a Musical/Comedy at the 54th Golden Globe Awards for his performance as Sherman Klump in The Nutty Professor.
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