Eddie Murphy and Trek IV

[DestinyCaptain]

So, the story goes that Murphy was in talks with the producers about appearing in TVH. Murphy eventually chose to do the Golden Child, instead. I have heard, over the years, that he did appear in a cameo of some kind. At one point, I heard he was one of the Klingon escourts that accompany the Ambasador. I also have seen a picture of an unnamed Efrosian from the FASA Trek IV Sourcebook that looks like the actor portraying him is Arfican-American. This made me wonder if this was him.

Did Murphy appear in the film? If so, where?

 

[DestinyCaptain]

So there is this....

http://i53.photobucket.com/albums/g60/tam-tam_photos/Tony/EddieMurphySNlSkit.jpg

I found the photo of the Efrosian extra and I put it up with a still of Eddie from the SNL skit "White like me". Eddie was in heavy make-up in the skit and had contacts. The extra playing the Efrosian is believed to have heavy orange make-up. It's hard to tell in black and white. He also has white tribal paint, and white contacts. Both have a similar wig. Now, I am not saying this is the same man in each. I am asking IF this looks like it might be him. If it were him as the Efrosian, it might explain the white tribal markings. This would he to conceal his identity abit. We know the helmsman of the Saratoga from earlier in the film was also supposed to be Efrosian, he had the same make-up, but not the markings. So, does anyone know for sure?

 

[sbk1234]

From what I understand, Murphy was under contract with Paramount, and he is a Trek fan. The role considered for him would have been some type of 20th century scientist or something who believed the aliens were coming. He would have gotten caught up in Kirk and co's adventure. Ultimately, he went onto other Paramount films, and his role was largely rewritten into Gillian Taylor's character.

 

[ThePlumsofWrath]

Nimoy's updated biography 'I am Spock' covers this - the decision taken in the end was NOT to combine the two biggest properties that the studio had at the time, namely, Trek and Murphy.

The damage if it all went wrong was considered too much of a risk.

 

[Piper]

Thank goodness this didn't happen - TVH would have been the poorer if Murphy had come along and taken some of the spotlight off Kirk and Co. This was the Trek Comedy Film, so it's only right that our heroes were the ones getting the laughs, rather than a guest star.

 

[DestinyCaptain]

Nimoy's updated biography 'I am Spock' covers this - the decision taken in the end was NOT to combine the two biggest properties that the studio had at the time, namely, Trek and Murphy.

The damage if it all went wrong was considered too much of a risk.

Clearly, the downside of this kind of equation is Superman III. I am quite sure that gave everyone a fair amount of pause. In the end, I am glad they didn't do it. Although, Golden Child was a big flop for Eddie. He was able to rebound with Beverly Hills Cop II. It did VERY well. I remember going to see it in at the discount theatre well after it had run it's course that fall, and the audience was packed. This was amazing considering how rundown the place was.

Anywho.... does anyone know the answer to what I said about his having a cameo? Anyone?

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

The role considered for him would have been some type of 20th century scientist or something who believed the aliens were coming.

Specifically, the Klingon vessel would be seen uncloaking right in the middle of the Super Bowl halftime show. Murphy's character would be a college prof who is the only one who thinks it's real and not some halftime special effect.

 

[Alrik]

Some think he went uncredited as one of the clones in TNG's 'Up The Long Ladder'. A Google search has it going either way. The one guy sure does look like him though.

 

[Kirby]

If Murphy really was a big Trek fan why wouldn't he ever mention it somewhere?

I remember seeing news releases when Mick Fleetwood and John Tesh were given bit roles in TNG. Imagine how many more people would have gone to see TSFS if they were told that Eddie Murphy had a 5 second cameo in the film. Hell, Entertainment Tonight probably would have done a 5 minute story on that. And hey, if the film flopped you can't blame it on a glorified extra.

 

[Mysterion]

I think this would have been as big a mis-step as it was to shoe-horn Richard Pryor into Superman III.

 

[Bones2]

I never knew Mick Fleetwood was in TNG. Never even heard the Rumours (ahahaha!). Now I've looked it up, I'm even more surprised.

Any other surprising cameos I don't know about? Was Roger Waters one of the Nausicaans in Tapestry?

 

[Mysterion]

^^^
Well, there's Christian Slater in TUC.

 

[Mr. Laser Beam]

And King Abdullah of Jordan in VOY's "Investigations." (He wasn't king when the episode was made, though, he was Crown Prince at the time)

 

[Bones2]

I remember seeing on Voyager's credits that Jesus used to work on the show. That's quite impressive.

 

[Therin of Andor]

I also have seen a picture of an unnamed Efrosian from the FASA Trek IV Sourcebook that looks like the actor portraying him is Arfican-American.

Actually, I have a strong suspicion that the b/w pic of the Efrosian UFP Council Room usher is a Photoshopped mock-up for inclusion in the FASA Sourcebook. I've seen a colour shot of a caucasian human (wearing the jacket) that looked very much like the same shot. The white hair and the white makeup face markings seem to be added later.

does anyone know the answer to what I said about his having a cameo? Anyone?

IIRC, he met with William Shatner prior to the lensing of ST V, but it was for Shatner to beg the production team of "Coming to America" not to have the huge sets for their ballroom pulled down. Shatner had the opulent, real gold-leaf wall decorations painted over - to create the shuttlecraft deck of the USS Enterprise, a set he'd been told would be way too expensive to build from scratch.