Charlie Murphy Cause of Death, Family, and Final Words

It’s hard to watch a Charlie Murphy sketch on Chappelle’s Show without laughing at his deadpan delivery of stories about Prince or old Hollywood. That makes it all the more sobering to learn that behind the mic, the man telling those tales was quietly fighting a war no one outside his family knew about. This article pieces together what’s confirmed about his final months, his legacy on screen, and the unanswered questions that still hang around his death.

Born: July 12, 1959 ·
Died: April 12, 2017 (age 57) ·
Cause of death: Leukemia ·
Known for: Chappelle’s Show, The Boondocks ·
Children: 2 ·
Sibling: Eddie Murphy

Eight key facts about Charlie Murphy, pulled from verified records and obituaries, show a career that spanned nearly three decades.

What did Charlie Murphy pass away from?

What happened with Charlie Murphy?

• Charlie Murphy died on April 12, 2017 in a New York City hospital after a battle with leukemia (TMZ (celebrity news outlet)).
• He had been undergoing chemotherapy, according to reports (TMZ (celebrity news outlet)).

What was Charlie Murphy known for?

• He rose to fame as a writer and featured performer on Chappelle’s Show (2003–2006) (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• He also voiced characters on The Boondocks and appeared in the film Norbit (IMDb News (film industry database)).

The implication: despite his public persona, Murphy’s health battle was intensely private.

What type of leukemia did Charlie Murphy have?

No official medical statement or family release has ever specified whether Charlie Murphy had acute myeloid leukemia, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, or another subtype. Some unverified online posts refer to acute myeloid leukemia, but those claims lack confirmation (TMZ (celebrity news outlet)).

The implication: without a primary source — a doctor’s statement, autopsy report, or family disclosure — any specific leukemia type remains speculation.

Does Charlie Murphy have any kids?

Yes. Charlie Murphy had two sons with his wife, Tisha Taylor Murphy, whom he married in 1997 (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)). The boys were never thrust into the spotlight, and their names have not been widely publicized.

The pattern: Murphy’s family maintained strict privacy even after his death.

Why didn’t Eddie Murphy go to Charlie Murphy’s funeral?

Eddie Murphy did not attend his older brother’s funeral in April 2017. The family never issued an official explanation. One YouTube commentary channel asserts that Eddie “could not handle it emotionally,” but that claim is from an unverified source and has not been corroborated by any family member or close associate (YouTube (speculative commentary)).

In a 2025 interview with USA Today (major newspaper), Eddie Murphy discussed his own funeral preferences: “When it’s my time, I don’t want a funeral or to be displayed for people to see as they lower me into the ground.” He added, “I plan to be cremated right away. No funeral, no memorial—nothing of that sort. Just keep it moving.” Those remarks suggest a personal aversion to funerals that may have influenced his absence, but the connection to Charlie’s service remains speculative.

The pattern: public curiosity about a family rift, but no hard evidence of a feud. The available data points to personal differences rather than estrangement.

What were Charlie Murphy’s last words?

Charlie Murphy’s final public words came in a tweet sent days before his death: “Release the Past to Rest as Deeply …” (Twitter (public tweet)). Whether he spoke any private last words to his wife or sons is unknown. No family member has shared details.

What this means: the public gets only a glimpse; the rest remains family property.

Timeline

• July 12, 1959: Born in Brooklyn, New York (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• Early 1990s: Began stand-up comedy career (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• 2003–2006: Writer and featured performer on Chappelle’s Show (Wikipedia (open encyclopedia)).
• 2005–2014: Voice work on The Boondocks (IMDb News (film industry database)).
• 2007: Appeared in Norbit alongside Eddie Murphy (IMDb News (film industry database)).
• Early 2017: Diagnosed with leukemia, battle not publicly detailed (TMZ (celebrity news outlet)).
• April 12, 2017: Died at age 57 from complications of leukemia (TMZ (celebrity news outlet)).
• April 2017: Funeral held; Eddie Murphy did not attend (YouTube (speculative commentary)).

The pattern: Murphy’s illness and death unfolded rapidly, leaving little public trace.

What we know vs. what remains unclear

The implication: even after death, key details remain protected by the family.

Quotes

“Release the Past to Rest as Deeply …”

— Charlie Murphy, final public tweet, days before his death (Twitter (public tweet))

“When it’s my time, I don’t want a funeral or to be displayed for people to see as they lower me into the ground. I plan to be cremated right away. No funeral, no memorial—nothing of that sort. Just keep it moving.”

— Eddie Murphy, interviewed by USA Today (major newspaper)

Charlie Murphy’s death closed a chapter in a family that shaped American comedy. His brother’s public stance against funerals suggests the absence may have been personal philosophy, not animosity, but the full story remains private. For anyone following the Murphy family story, the takeaway is that certain questions — leukemia subtype, final words, Eddie’s decision — are still locked behind the family’s discretion.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading: See also Gene Pitney: Cause of Death, Songs, and Legacy and Michael Jackson Death: When He Died and What Caused It for more artist obituaries and legacy analyses.