LOS ANGELES, April 19 -- Eddie Murphy received the American Film Institute's (AFI) Life Achievement Award on yesterday night in Los ‌Angeles, honouring a career that has shaped comedy and film for more than five decades.

Accepting the trophy with his trademark humour, Murphy joked about its size. "Have these always been this size? It seems like this one is smaller," he said, drawing laughter from the crowd.

Murphy, who turned 65 on April 3, said he was grateful to receive the honour while he was still young enough to enjoy it.

"Sometimes they make you wait until you're real old to get this award," he quipped, noting that Mel Brooks and Francis Ford Coppola were honoured in their 80s, while Lillian Gish received the accolade at 90...