Hollywood legend Eddie Murphy is offering one of his most personal revelations yet. In the new Netflix documentary Being Eddie, the beloved actor and comedian opens up about living with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) from childhood—an experience he says shaped his early life long before he understood what mental illness even was.

Murphy, now 64, reflects candidly in the film about the repetitive behaviors and intrusive thoughts he experienced growing up in New York. Although fans know him as a comedic powerhouse from hits like Beverly Hills Cop and Coming to America, the documentary reveals a side of the star that audiences have rarely seen.

Eddie Murphy Reveals His First Signs of OCD as a Child

Murphy recalls that his earliest symptoms emerged at a young age—though he had no language at the time to describe what he was going through. He explains that he developed a nightly routine of checking the stove and gas knobs repeatedly, convinced something might go wrong if he didn’t.

“I used to have that OCD when I was a kid. I didn’t know what it was,” Murphy shares in the documentary. “I would go and check the stove in the kitchen and make sure all the gas was off… I’d lay down for five minutes, get back up, and check again. I did that over and over.”

What began as a moment of worry turned into a ritual that consumed nearly an hour each night. Murphy says no one—including his mother—knew he was struggling. To cope, he also developed a repetitive humming sound he’d make unconsciously, something he now recognizes as part of his compulsive behavior.

Realizing It Was a Mental Health Condition

Murphy says the turning point came when he saw a news segment that explained obsessive-compulsive disorder. Hearing the symptoms described for the first time, he recognized himself immediately.

“Then one day I was watching the news and they did something on OCD,” Murphy recalls. “And it was like, ‘Oh—that’s what I be doing.’ I was like, ‘Oh… mental illness?’”

But instead of seeking help—which was far less common during his childhood—Murphy says he attempted to stop the compulsions on his own. Upon realizing that OCD was a mental health condition, he describes forcing himself to resist the behaviors, determined not to let them dominate his routine.

What OCD Really Is

According to the Mayo Clinic, obsessive-compulsive disorder is characterized by unwanted intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and repetitive actions (compulsions) performed to relieve anxiety. These cycles can interfere with daily life and cause significant emotional distress if left untreated.

Murphy’s story mirrors the experience of many people who encounter symptoms early but don’t recognize them until adulthood.

Murphy Says Some Habits Still Remain

Despite overcoming many of his childhood compulsions, Murphy admits that some habits linger even today. The father of ten says he still checks the gas at night—a ritual left over from his early years. But now, he is better able to catch himself before falling back into old patterns.

“Every now and then I’ll check it twice and say, ‘No, you’re not starting that again. Go to bed,’” he jokes during the documentary.

A Rare Look Inside Eddie Murphy’s Life and Career

Being Eddie doesn’t just explore his mental health journey—it also showcases his rise to fame, his creative evolution, and the personal challenges that shaped his iconic 50-year career.

“Through the documentary, people get a better understanding of how I got here,” Murphy explains in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum. “A young person might think I just walked out of heaven into Hollywood, but that’s not how it happened. For the first time, they’re getting a little peek at me.”

Packed with childhood footage and personal reflections, Being Eddie offers one of the most intimate portraits ever released about the Oscar-nominated star.

The documentary Being Eddie is now streaming on Netflix.