Mike Myers Shrek AFI tribute stole the entire ceremony, arriving in full green prosthetic makeup to honour Eddie Murphy’s 51st AFI Life Achievement Award in the most iconic way possible. Here’s everything that happened.
The Mike Myers Shrek AFI tribute was the moment nobody saw coming and nobody will stop talking about. On April 18, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, Myers walked the red carpet in a classic black tuxedo looking perfectly unremarkable, then took the stage in full green prosthetic Shrek mask to honour his longtime collaborator Eddie Murphy. Here is how one ogre mask turned a prestigious awards night into a moment nobody will forget.
The Mike Myers Shrek AFI Tribute Nobody Saw Coming
In the now-viral Mike Myers Shrek AFI tribute, Myers walked the red carpet without a hint of what was coming. Black suit, black tie, completely composed. Then he stepped up to the podium and the green mask appeared.
The contrast between red carpet Mike and podium Mike made the moment even more dramatic. The crowd, packed with comedy royalty, lost it immediately.
It was a full commitment. Green face, ogre ears, the whole thing. Myers did not hedge.
What Mike Myers Said About Eddie Murphy on Stage
Source: Photo by David Shankbone / Licensed under CC BY 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The Mike Myers Shrek AFI Tribute Speech That Balanced Comedy and Reverence
Myers delivered his entire tribute in character behind the podium. He did not break. He did not wink at the audience. He played it completely straight, which made it funnier and more moving at the same time.
“None of the Shrek success could have happened without Eddie Murphy,” Myers said. “Eddie’s character, Donkey, is a masterpiece, as is every character Eddie has created over the years. Lovable, hilarious, joyous, vulnerable, and loyal.”
He went further: “Eddie combines all of those in a tour de force, and plainly put, Eddie is one of the greatest. It is my absolute honour to be able to tell my kids that I got to work with Eddie Murphy.”
Why the Words Landed So Hard
Myers has kept a deliberately low profile since 2022. This AFI appearance marks one of his most significant public moments in years, which gave every word extra weight.
The speech felt personal and completely unscripted in tone. A room full of people who have spent their careers making others laugh went genuinely quiet for parts of it.
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The Shrek Connection: Why This Tribute Made Perfect Sense
Myers voiced Shrek and Murphy voiced Donkey across four films beginning in 2001. Their chemistry became the defining quality of the franchise and one of the most beloved partnerships in animation history.
The Shrek series became one of the highest-grossing animated franchises of all time. That did not happen in spite of Murphy. It happened because of him.
Shrek 5 is now confirmed for June 30, 2027, with Myers, Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all returning to their original roles. The AFI moment doubled as a playful, unspoken preview of what is coming.
Eddie Murphy’s 51st AFI Life Achievement Award: The Full Night
A Room Full of Legends
Spike Lee presented the award, telling the audience: “Eddie and I have Brooklyn in our blood. Eddie made us laugh and made our nation feel better. I took a camera and told stories about how our nation could be better. We both pushed culture forward.”
Chris Rock delivered the evening’s most resonant line: “There is no us without you.” Dave Chappelle recalled studying Murphy’s stand-up special Raw as a teenager, watching it every day after school as if he were taking a class.
Kevin Hart, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Arsenio Hall, Kenan Thompson, Bill Burr, Robert Townsend, Judge Reinhold, Eva Longoria, and Da’Vine Joy Randolph all paid tribute across the night. Jennifer Hudson delivered a live Dreamgirls medley backed by a house band led by Rickey Minor. Stevie Wonder described Murphy as “a universal reminder” that laughter can make life livable, and joked about Murphy’s early SNL impressions of him: “He made fun of a blind man.”
The gala raised over $2.5 million for AFI’s nonprofit education programs.
What Murphy Said When He Accepted
Murphy, 65, took the stage to a standing ovation. He held up the silver star trophy and immediately got a laugh: “Have these always been this size? It seems like this is small. Is it?”
Then he got real. “Seeing all of my family, all my kids, my beautiful wife, and seeing all the different people I worked with, I’m just really filled up. This is a special moment. I almost teared up. I’m going to get backstage and cry.”
He noted the timing felt especially meaningful. He recently turned 65, welcomed his first grandson and third granddaughter, and said he felt like it was “raining blessings.”
Where Has Mike Myers Been?
Myers’ last on-screen role was David O. Russell’s Amsterdam in 2022. The same year, he created and starred in the Netflix series The Pentaverate.
Since then he has lived a deliberately quiet life with wife Kelly Tisdale and their three children. Austin Powers 4 rumours continue to circulate, and Myers has responded to every question about it the same way, telling The Jess Cagle Show in 2022: “I can neither confirm nor deny the existence or non-existence of such a project, should it exist or not exist.”
This AFI appearance is one of his most significant public moments since that interview.
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FAQs: Mike Myers Shrek AFI Tribute and Eddie Murphy Award
Why did Mike Myers wear a Shrek mask at the AFI Awards?
To honour Eddie Murphy, his co-star across four Shrek films, in a playful and deeply personal tribute that only the two of them could have pulled off.
What did Mike Myers say about Eddie Murphy at the AFI ceremony?
He called Murphy’s Donkey portrayal a masterpiece, said Murphy was one of the greatest to ever do it, and told the crowd it was an honour to be able to tell his children he got to work with Eddie Murphy.
When was the 51st AFI Life Achievement Award ceremony?
April 18, 2026, at the Dolby Theatre in Hollywood, California.
Who else attended the Eddie Murphy AFI tribute?
Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, Kevin Hart, Spike Lee, Jennifer Hudson, Stevie Wonder, Martin Lawrence, Tracy Morgan, Arsenio Hall, Bill Burr, Kenan Thompson, Robert Townsend, and many more.
Is Mike Myers returning for Shrek 5?
Yes. Shrek 5 is confirmed for June 30, 2027, with Myers, Murphy, and Cameron Diaz all reprising their original roles.
When will the Eddie Murphy AFI tribute special air on Netflix?
May 31, 2026, marking the first time the AFI special has ever streamed on Netflix.
Has Mike Myers made many public appearances recently?
No. He has kept a very low profile since 2022, making this AFI tribute one of his most notable public moments in years.
The Bigger Picture
The Mike Myers Shrek AFI tribute was not just a joke—it was a defining moment of the night. It was a genuine expression of gratitude between two people who made something that will outlast both of them, delivered in the only language that felt right for the moment.
Hollywood does not always get these nights right. This one it did. Stay tuned for full Shrek 5 updates and more award season coverage as it drops.
Sources:
Media Credits: Featured Image Composite by Clip Cinema Hub. (Original Photo by Anthony Quintano / Licensed under CC BY 2.0 via Wikimedia Commons.)
Primary Industry Reporting: Variety (Eddie Murphy Honored with 51st AFI Life Achievement Award), The Hollywood Reporter (Inside the Star-Studded AFI Gala Tribute to Eddie Murphy).
Official Press & Broadcast: AFI.com (Official Press Release: Eddie Murphy Honored at AFI Life Achievement Award Gala), PBS NewsHour (Eddie Murphy Receives AFI Honor Amidst Career-Spanning Tribute).
Viral Moments & Cultural Impact: TMZ (Mike Myers Crashes Ceremony in Full Shrek Regalia), BET (Eddie Murphy Celebrated as a Trailblazer for Black Excellence in Comedy).
