Eddie Murphy: Oh, very much. We all know people like that. Maybe they have a physical problem or are just very insecure. They are always taking abuse, and laughing it off -- not because it doesn't hurt, but because they don't know what else to do. I liked Sherman very much, and I respected him. He was a good man, with more courage and dignity than most of us have.
Stoner: Do you think you're an observant person?
Murphy: Absolutely. I started out as an impressionist, and that's all about observing -- how people move, their voice quality, their attitudes and quirks. I haven't been able to do much of that because ... well, success is strange. You do something people like, and then everyone -- the studios, the people around the artists -- they all want you to milk it for all that's it worth. Pretty soon, you're not the artist anymore; you're the painting, and it may not be the only view you would like to show the world. But you have to, or the audience feels cheated. Then, they think they know what to expect out of you, and that's death.
Stoner: So, how do you get around that?
Murphy: You find a project that lets you give them the Eddie they know -- the one they grew to like -- but also has other characters that allow you to stretch. So, you keep your base, but you aren't limited to it. At least, that's what you try to do.