Keke Palmer may be Hollywood royalty in her own right, but even she had a fangirl moment when she met the king of comedy himself, Eddie Murphy.
In a heartfelt new interview with PEOPLE, Palmer opened up about her long-standing friendship with Murphy’s daughters—long before she ever got the chance to meet their iconic dad. What she didn’t expect was that her first encounter with the Coming to America legend would feel straight out of a movie.
“I Forgot for Five Seconds That Your Daddy Is Eddie Freaking Murphy”
“I had never met their dad, so they were like, ‘Yo, you want to come to our dad’s for dinner?’” Palmer recalled. “And I’m like, ‘I forgot for five seconds that your daddy is Eddie freaking Murphy. What the hell?’”
But the moment that stuck with her forever? Murphy casually descending the stairs—barefoot and in pajamas—strumming a guitar like a true rockstar.
“He was coming downstairs in his pajamas, and he was just playing a guitar, which is the sickest thing that he could play,” Palmer gushed. “I remember thinking to myself like, ‘Damn, he really is about that life.’”
From Dinner Guest to On-Screen Partner
Fast forward more than 15 years, and that same young woman sitting at Eddie Murphy’s dinner table is now sharing the screen with him. Palmer and Murphy both star in The Pickup, the new Prime Video action-comedy that also features Pete Davidson.
The full-circle moment wasn’t lost on the Nope star.
“Working with him, I had that in the back of my mind, and I was like, he probably doesn’t remember that,” Palmer said. “But I just want to make sure I’m professional and enjoy this moment, because this is a dream come true for me — to get to this point in my career, where I get to share the screen with Eddie freaking Murphy.”
Inside The Pickup
Released on August 6 on Prime Video, The Pickup is a high-stakes thrill ride packed with laughs, chaos, and unexpected chemistry. According to the official synopsis:
“A routine cash pickup takes a wild turn when two mismatched armored truck drivers get ambushed by ruthless criminals. As chaos unfolds around them, the unlikely duo must navigate high-risk danger, clashing personalities, and one very bad day that keeps getting worse.”
With Murphy’s legendary comedic timing, Palmer’s commanding screen presence, and Davidson’s unpredictable energy, The Pickup is already drawing buzz as a late-summer must-watch.
A Moment 15 Years in the Making
For Keke Palmer, the project is more than just another credit—it’s a major milestone.
“I’ve worked my whole life for opportunities like this,” she shared. “To go from being that girl at his dinner table to being his co-star? It’s surreal.”
STREAM NOW: The Pickup is available exclusively on Prime Video.
SHARE THIS: Who else would you love to see Keke Palmer team up with next? Drop your dream co-stars in the comments!
