* OldShame: In TheEighties, ''TheGoldenChild''. In TheNineties, his pre-''[[TheNuttyProfessor Nutty Professor]]'' films, particularly ''VampireInBrooklyn'' (also an OldShame of director WesCraven) and ''[[BeverlyHillsCop Beverly Hills Cop III]]''. And in the 2000s, ''Film/TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash''.
* StarDerailingRole: He's had two: First, 1989's ''HarlemNights'', and more infamously, 2002's ''TheAdventuresOfPlutoNash''.
* WhatCouldHaveBeen: The role of Winston Zeddemore in ''Film/{{Ghostbusters}}'' was originally written with him in mind.
** Murphy says he's kicked himself in hindsight for refusing the role, feeling at the time it would be a flop.