Where Are They Now - BEVERLY HILLS COP?!
The greatest moment in the Dennis Pennis series is when he asks Steve Martin completely deadpan; Steve, how come you arent you funny anymore?
I cant help but feel that if Paul Kaye was to ever resurrect his ginger alter ego, hed be asking Eddie Murphy the same question these days. Its hard to believe that the guy churning out risible wank like NORBIT, THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH, HOLY MAN and LIFE is the same guy who brought us the classic 80s concert movies; RAW and DELIRIOUS and arguably the finest action comedy to ever grace the silver screen; BEVERLY HILLS COP. Long before Eddie Murphy sold his soul, he was the hottest star of the 1980s, thanks largely to his tenure on SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, which over time effectively became his show. It was Murphy's performance in 1984s BEVERLY HILLS COP that really launched his star into the stratosphere though. Murphy has never been better than as the fast-talking Axel Foley and filmgoers the world over fell for his foul mouthed, wise-cracking ways. BEVERLY HILLS COP was the highest grossing film of 1984, outgrossing both GHOSTBUSTERS and INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM at the box office which were second and third that year respectively, with its $234 million gross. The success of BEVERLY HILLS COP led to two lesser sequels, the first, in 1987, reuniting most of the original cast and the third, in 1994, saw Eddie Murphy work with John Landis And who can forget gay porn remake BEVERLY HILLS COCK? I know I cant The role of Axel Foley, according to co-producer Jerry Bruckheimer was originally offered to Mickey Rourke, who had initially agreed to do the film until scheduling conflicts meant he left for a different project. With Rourke out of the picture the role was offered to Sylvester Stallone who also agreed to play Foley but eventually departed the project after creative differences. Stallone envisioned a more violent picture with greater action scenes, which the budget didnt allow for, Stallones vision for BEVERLY HILLS COP eventually made it to the screen in some capacity as his 1986 actioner COBRA.
Foul mouthed? Fuck you man
EDDIE MURPHY
AS
DETECTIVE AXEL FOLEY
(1 3)
With 48 HRS and TRADING PLACES behind him, BEVERLY HILLS COP was Murphys first solo starring vehicle. The success of BEVERLY HILLS COP and his subsequent success meant Murphy had done what one of his biggest influences Richard Pryor could never manage; translate massive success as a stand-up comedian into bona fide film success. Although Pryor had a relatively prosperous film career, he never quite reached the upper echelons of stardom, something that Eddie Murphy seemed to do with ease. Murphys Hollywood success paved the way for a whole new generation of black comedians to make the transition from stand-up to Hollywood megastars, without Eddie Murphy thered be no Chris Rock, Dave Chappelle, Chris Tucker or Martin Lawrence Actually given those last two names you start to wonder whether that wouldnt have been such a bad thing Following BEVERLY HILLS COP in 1984, Murphy starred in THE GOLDEN CHILD before returning as Axel Foley in BEVERLY HILLS COP II in 1987. COMING TO AMERICA followed, the first film (0f what would become common place) in which Murphy played several characters, and in 1990 he returned to his first film role in the sequel ANOTHER 48 HRS. After the flops BOOMERANG and THE DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN, Murphy once again dusted off his Detroit P.D. badge to play Axel Foley in BEVERLY HILLS COP III, but the film was met by a less than warm reception, fans missed the likes of Taggart, Bogomil and Jeffrey, none of whom returned for the film, they even killed Inspector Todd! In 1996, Murphy struck box office gold again with THE NUTTY PROFESSOR playing no fewer than eight different characters! Murphys next grown up venture METRO flopped as did the god-awful HOLY MAN. Murphys next family film DOCTOR DOLITTLE proved a success though and when he teamed up with another comic genius who was in a bit of a funk in Steve Martin for BOWFINGER, the result was an underrated comic gem. However when LIFE and a NUTTY PROFESSOR sequel, both of which he produced, struggled at the box office, Eddie Murphy seemed to decide to focus on the family friendly comedies that had been proving to be so successful for him. We were treated to a DOCTOR DOLITTLE sequel, his first outing as Donkey in SHREK and THE ADVENTURES OF PLUTO NASH a bomb the size of which had not been seen since Hiroshima. After by the numbers performances in SHOWTIME and I-SPY, Murphy again did family with DADDY DAY CARE, THE HAUNTED MANSION and two SHREK sequels. His performance as James Thunder Early in the overblown and overrated DREAMGIRLS in 2006 earned him not only a Golden Globe win but an Oscar nomination for Supporting Actor, proving that when he takes on a more serious adult-orientated role Eddie Murphy still has the charisma and star power that made him one of the 80s most bankable movie stars. Despite winning at the Golden Globes and being hot favourite to take the Oscar, Murphy lost out to Alan Arkin for LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE, rumours swirled that the Academy didnt look too favourably on Murphys upcoming NORBIT and for that reason overlooked him for the Oscar.
Theyre not just regular cops okay, theyre super cops. The only thing missing on these guys are capes
JUDGE REINHOLD
AS
DETECTIVE BILLY ROSEWOOD
(1-3)
Judge Reinholds first major starring role was as the fast food employee with modest aspirations Brad Hamilton in FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH in 1982. It is Reinholds Brad whose toilet bishop-bashing session while dreaming about Phoebe Cates Linda leads into the infamous red bikini scene.
BEVERLY HILLS COP was Reinholds next big role, playing the somewhat naïve Detective Billy Rosewood, that same year Reinhold also starred in another of the years big hits; GREMLINS. Following GREMLINS and BEVERLY HILLS COP in 1984 Reinhold starred in a string of movies including the black comedy RUTHLESS PEOPLE, before he rejoined most of the cast of the original by reprising his role as Billy Rosewood in BEVERLY HILLS COP II in 1987.
In the years after BEVERLY HILLS COP II, Reinhold spent a number of years starring in low budget indie films before returning to mainstream attention in 1994 with an Emmy nominated guest role on SEINFELD as Aaron the low talker. 1994 also saw Reinhold star in THE SANTA CLAUSE opposite Tim Allen as well as returning to his role as Billy for BEVERLY HILLS COP III.
Following his roles in films that featured him less prominently on the poster than a dog, in BEETHOVENS 3rd and BEETHOVENS 4th, Reinhold reprised his role in both SANTA CLAUSE sequels. 2006 saw Reinhold make an inspired guest appearance on the criminally cancelled sitcom ARRESTED DEVELOPMENT appearing as himself, in a sense, as the Judge on a Judge Judy-esque reality show.
JOHN ASHTON
AS
SERGEANT JOHN TAGGART
(1 & 2)
Ashtons screen career began in 1974 and the usual round of TV guest starring credits ensued, including appearances on M*A*S*H, STARSKY & HUTCH and a recurring role on DALLAS. His performance as Taggart in BEVERLY HILLS COP was his first major film role and Ashton reprised his role as the Gerald Ford look-alike Taggart in BEVERLY HILLS COP II. A year later in 1988, Ashton starred as Marvin Dorfler a rival bounty hunter to Robert De Niros Jack Walsh in another classic 80s action comedy MIDNIGHT RUN. John Ashton didnt return for BEVERLY HILLS COP III, reportedly due to scheduling conflicts, although several series stars were also absent from the third outing so how much credence that rumour holds is debatable. Ashton instead starred in the Nicolas Cage comedy TRAPPED IN PARADISE that year, after a plethora of TV movie roles in the preceding years.
A banana in your tailpipe? How could you not notice a man sticking a banana in your tailpipe?
RONNY COX
AS
LIEUTENANT ANDREW BOGOMIL
(1 & 2)
Ronny Cox is an accomplished singer/songwriter and guitar player, a talent he was able to put to good use in his first major screen role; in 1972s masterpiece DELIVERANCE. In the famous scene, his character; the ill-fated Drew, plays Duelling Banjos against a young boy who outplays him. Cox went onto appear in a number of TV roles as well as roles in killer car horror THE CAR and the award winning biography BOUND FOR GLORY. His role as Bogomil in BEVERLY HILLS COP was Coxs first hit movie of the 80s but he would go on to star in several other 80s hits; ROBOCOP, TOTAL RECALL and BEVERLY HILLS COP II, reprising his role as Lt. Bogomil. Cox returned to TV in the early 90s before playing the President of the United States in the Wesley Snipes political thriller MURDER AT 1600, back when Wesley still paid his taxes. In 1998, Cox began his recurring role as Senator, and eventually Vice-President, Robert Kinsey on STARGATE SG-1 and in 1999 he appeared in the saccharine Affleck-Bullock romcom FORCES OF NATURE.
PAUL REISER
AS
DETECTIVE JEFFREY FRIEDMAN
(1 & 2)
Paul Reisers career began as a stand-up comedian on the New York circuit, but after unexpectedly landing a role in Barry Levinsons 1982 feature DINER, Reisers acting career took off. After landing the role of Axel Foleys bumbling Detroit P.D. colleague Jeffrey Friedman, Reiser went on to appear in another 80s mega hit playing a typically untrustworthy Weyland-Utani corporate lawyer in ALIENS. The following year, Reiser reprised his role as Jeffrey in BEVERLY HILLS COP II, this time in a more prominent role. In 1987, Reiser made the switch from big screen to small with a starring role in the sitcom MY TWO DADS which ran for three seasons. Reisers greatest success though came in 1992 when MAD ABOUT YOU debuted, a sitcom he not only co-created and produced but also starred in alongside future Academy Award winner Helen Hunt, the show was hugely popular and for the shows final season Reiser and Hunt were commanding $1 million per episode.
BRONSON PINCHOT
AS
SERGE
(1 & 3)
Prior to his most memorable role as Serge, the camp art gallery employee with a flare for making Espressos in BEVERLY HILLS COP, Bronson Pinchot had starred as Tom Cruises buddy in 1983s RISKY BUSINESS. While his performance as Serge led to Pinchot winning a lot of fans it also led to him being horribly typecast for many years; playing foreigners with funny accents, something he did for eight years on sitcom PERFECT STRANGERS, a role which did however earn him an Emmy nomination. In 1993, Pinchot took on his other big role to date playing aspiring actor turned snitch Elliot Blitzer in TRUE ROMANCE. Pinchot went on to appear in COURAGE UNDER FIRE and THE FIRST WIVES CLUB as well as returning to his role as Serge for an appearance in BEVERLY HILLS COP III, where Serge had somewhat inexplicably become a glamour weaponry salesman. In 1999 Pinchot earned critical praise for his stellar Stan Laurel impersonation in THE ALL NEW ADVENTURES OF LAUREL & HARDY: FOR LOVE OR MUMMY.