Eddie Murphy has revealed he slipped out of the 2007 Oscars early to avoid becoming “the sympathy guy,” not because he was bitter about losing Best Supporting Actor to Alan Arkin.
Speaking to ew.com, the Dreamgirls star recalled well-wishers repeatedly patting his shoulder after the announcement.
“Clint Eastwood came and rubbed my shoulder. I thought, ‘I’m not gonna be this guy all night,’ so we left. I didn’t storm out.”
Murphy, who had been favourite for the prize, said he always rated Arkin’s turn in Little Miss Sunshine. “I told Jeff Katzenberg six months earlier, ‘That performance will steal somebody’s Oscar.’ Then he stole mine – but I don’t feel robbed.”
•Featured image: Eddie Murphy/Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images
