Eddie Murphy mocks Bill Cosby in first stand-up act in 28 years

He was accepting the Mark Twain award for American Humour when he impersonated the ex-comedian

Eddie Murphy (Getty Images)

While Eddie Murphy may have featured in numerous comedic films, he hasn’t told a joke to a live audience in 28 years - his last tour being Raw, in 1987.

Accepting the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour, the comic unexpectedly decided to break his silence by mocking Bill Cosby.

“Bill has one of these. Did you all make him give it back?” he said as he received his bust of Twain's head at The John F. Kennedy Center for Performing Arts in Washington, according to The Washington Post.

Murphy proceeded to do a Cosby impression: "You may have heard recently that I allegedly put the pill in the people's stomach. If I ever see or meet this Hannibal Buress in person I am going to try and kill this man!"

Cosby had received the same award in 2009, but has since been embroiled in sex-abuse allegations. The ex-comedian strenuously denies the allegations and has not been charged of any wrongdoing.

Murphy has previously turned down the opportunity to mock Cosby on Saturday Night Live, saying that he found “nothing funny about it.”

At Murphy’s ceremony, comedians Kathy Griffin, Kevin Nealon, Trevor Noah, Joe Piscopo, Chris Rock, and Tracy Morgan all saluted the Beverly Hill Cops actor.

Fellow Saturday Night Live alumni Morgan reportedly told the audience: "He's the reason I'm in comedy. He's the reason I have a job. He's the reason I have a career.”

The tribute will be broadcast in the US on 23 November on PBS.