In a twist straight out of a Hollywood script, comedy legends Eddie Murphy and Martin Lawrence are now family. Murphy broke the news during his first appearance on The Jennifer Hudson Show on Thursday, May 29, revealing that his 35-year-old son, Eric Murphy, married 29-year-old Jasmin Lawrence two weeks ago.
A Quiet, no-frills, intimate ceremony
The couple opted for an intimate church ceremony with no guests, an understated affair that flew in the face of expectations for a star-studded bash uniting the offspring of two of Hollywood’s most iconic comics. “Everyone was making big plans for this wedding, and then they decided they wanted something quiet, just the two of them,” Murphy said. “We’re in-laws now,” he added with a grin, joking that his longtime buddy Martin “dodged the bill for a huge wedding.”
According to the Beverly Hills Cop star, only the bride, groom, and a minister were present. Although there was no reception, Murphy hinted that a larger celebration might still be on the horizon.
Their Love Story
The romance went public in June 2021 when Eric shared a carousel of photos with Jasmin on social media, declaring himself “head over heels in love.” While the pair kept most details private, their November 27, 2024 engagement announcement lit up Instagram.
In a tear-jerking video, Eric knelt in a room strewn with petals, candles, and a rose heart, as Eric Benét’s “Spend My Life With You” played softly in the background. “We’re engaged! God blessed us with a love that feels like destiny,” Martin’s daughter wrote at the time. “We’re so excited for this next chapter.”
Contrary to popular belief, their romance didn’t bloom because of their dads’ friendship; Murphy and Lawrence co-starred in Life (1999) and shared the screen in Boomerang (1992). Instead, a Lawrence family uncle introduced them, and, as Jasmin revealed in a 2022 interview, their fathers had nothing to do with that first meeting.
Two tight-knit families
Over the years, the Murphys and Lawrences have grown closer, helped along by the actors’ long-standing professional and personal bond. Murphy rewrote the rules of ’80s comedy on Saturday Night Live and with hits like Trading Places, while Lawrence rose to fame with his sitcom Martin and the Bad Boys franchise alongside Will Smith.
For years, the comedians teased each other about who would foot the bill if their kids ever got married. In 2022, Lawrence joked he’d make Eddie pay, only for Murphy to remind him on a Canadian program that “the father of the bride pays.” The banter revealed just how comfortable the two families have become.
Now that the marriage is official, fans and family alike wonder whether that much-hyped party will materialize. Murphy has already laughed off the idea of singing at the festivities, but he’s left the door open for a comedic duet with his new comedy-in-law.
With this wedding, Eric Murphy and Jasmin Lawrence have not only joined their lives but also sealed, with love, the decades-long friendship of two comedy icons who shaped a generation.