Eddie Griffin
A fearless stand-up comic whose rapid-fire, physical style and social commentary made him a 1990s comedy powerhouse.
Born 1968 (age 58)·American actor and comedian·Birthday: July 15·Generation X
Biography
Eddie Griffin exploded onto the comedy scene from Kansas City with an energy that was impossible to ignore. His stand-up, characterized by dynamic impressions, sharp political satire, and unabashed physicality, quickly made him a fixture on HBO specials and Def Comedy Jam. This live-wire stage presence translated to screen success in the late 1990s and early 2000s, where he became a familiar face in ensemble comedies. He headlined the sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie' for four seasons and led films like 'Undercover Brother,' playing a soulful, afro-sporting secret agent. Griffin's comedy often walked a razor's edge, tackling race, relationships, and pop culture with a confrontational glee that cemented his status. While his film choices varied, his stand-up remained his core, a testament to his roots as a performer who thrives on the immediate, unpredictable reaction of a live audience.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Eddie was born in 1968, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Eddie Was Born
The biggest hits of 1968
#1 Movie
2001: A Space Odyssey
Best Picture
Oliver!
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Eddie's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1968Born
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1973Started school
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1981Became a teenager
MTV launches; first Space Shuttle flight; AIDS identified
Gas: $1.31/galHome: $52,300Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Bette Davis Eyes" — Kim CarnesBest Picture: Chariots of Fire
1984Could drive
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1986Could vote
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Turned 21
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1998Turned 30
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 40
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 50
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 58 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred in and produced the UPN sitcom 'Malcolm & Eddie,' which ran for four seasons.
- Ranked #62 on Comedy Central's list of the 100 Greatest Stand-Up Comedians of All Time.
- Headlined the cult spy parody film 'Undercover Brother' (2002).
- Performed multiple stand-up specials for HBO and Comedy Central.
Did You Know?
He is a direct descendant of civil rights activist and educator Booker T. Washington.
He is a skilled impressionist, with his impressions of Sammy Davis Jr. and Michael Jackson being particular fan favorites.
He turned down a role in the film 'Ray' (2004) that was later played by Clifton Powell.
He is a practicing Buddhist.
“I'm not a comedian. I'm a truth-teller. I just make the truth funny.”
