Eddie Murphy recently opened up about a conversation he had with Sidney Poitier regarding a role in Malcolm X.

Murphy was approached to play Alex Haley in the film adaptation of The Autobiography of Malcolm X by Alex Haley.

While considering the role, Murphy met Sidney Poitier, who gave him career advice that left him feeling puzzled.

Poitier told Murphy, “You are not Denzel, and you are not Morgan. You are a breath of fresh air. Don't mess with that!”

Murphy wasn’t sure if Poitier’s comment was a compliment or an insult, as he admired both Denzel and Morgan Freeman.

Ultimately, Denzel Washington was cast as Malcolm X in the 1992 film directed by Spike Lee, which was a huge success.

Murphy later realized that Poitier saw him as a unique Hollywood figure, different from other leading Black actors.

He admitted that at the time, he was navigating uncharted territory, achieving mainstream success in his early 20s.

Murphy also revealed that James Brown once gave him career advice, telling him to stop using curse words in his work.

Looking back, Murphy appreciates Poitier’s wisdom and understands how it shaped his career into something truly unique.