Comedian Eddie Murphy’s family heartbreak

Comedy icon Eddie Murphy and his family are in mourning today as the actor and comedian’s brother Charlie passed away at the age of 57.

While it sometimes may have felt that Charlie was in the shadow of his younger brother, he had a successful career as a character actor, comedian, and voice-over artist.

Charlie’s manager confirmed that the star had died due to complications from leukaemia. He died in his sleep at the hospital where he was getting chemotherapy.

The tributes from fellow comics and entertainers have started to roll in.

We just lost one of the funniest most real brothers of all time . Charlie Murphy RIP. pic.twitter.com/AAwItp5AJC

— Chris Rock (@chrisrock) April 12, 2017

Charlie Murphy's True Hollywood Stories are some of the best sketches in the history of the known universe. RIP.CMhttps://t.co/czUsXghFk4

— Taika Waititi (@TaikaWaititi) April 12, 2017

Charlie lost his wife in 2009 to cervical cancer. He is survived by his brother Eddie and his three children.