'When I first came out of my coma, I spoke to Eddie on the phone, and he was the first one to make me laugh,' said Morgan.
- October 19, 2015
AceShowbiz -
Making a triumphant comeback on "Saturday Night Live" more than a year after a fatal car accident in summer 2014, Tracy Morgan owes it all to fellow comic star Eddie Murphy. He admitted during Sunday's taping of the 18th Annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor ceremony honoring Murphy that he is his "comedic hero."
"When I first came out of my coma, I spoke to Eddie on the phone, and he was the first one to make me laugh," Morgan recalled, adding, "and that's why I love you." He continued saying, "He's the reason why I'm in comedy, he's the reason why I have a job, he's the reason why I have a career."
Even greater, Morgan credited Murphy for having influenced his style choices. "My first time on stage, I wore a red leather suit - actually I couldn't afford red leather," he quipped, a nod to Murphy's "Delirious" comedy special wardrobe. He then jokingly added that fake leather doesn't breathe: "I almost passed out."
Morgan paid tribute to Murphy just one day after returning to host "SNL", his first appearance since the tragic 2014 accident that left him severely injured and in a coma. During his monologue, he poked fun at himself and brought out his "30 Rock" co-stars for a TV reunion.
