*Dave Chappelle honored the memory of his friend and “Chappelle’s Show” writer Charlie Murphy during a surprise appearance at a John Mayer concert Wednesday in Chappelle’s home state of Ohio.
“Today I got some terrible news. My good friend Charlie Murphy passed away this morning, and everybody in comedy is heartbroken,” he said from the stage of the Schottenstein Center in Columbus.
Chappelle called Mayer, his longtime friend, a “sight for sore eyes” on such a difficult day. He said Mayer’s song “You’re Gonna Live Forever in Me” reminded him of “my friend Charlie Murphy — our friend Charlie Murphy.”
“Much more than a friend,” Mayer said, “and author of my favorite phrase, ‘habitual line-stepper.'” That was Murphy’s line to describe Rick James on the “Chappelle’s Show” segment, “Charlie Murphy’s True Hollywood Stories.”
“Oh my God, John, I remember when we did those sketches,” Chappelle said. “I remember calling Prince and asking him to do the sketch, and Prince just being like, ‘No.’ That was the whole conversation.”
Chappelle ended up playing Prince in the sketch, while Murphy played himself hilariously recounting the true story of their pickup basketball game. Prince later regretted turning down the offer, Chappelle said.
“He told me after the fact, he said, ‘I wished I had done the sketch,'” Chappelle told the audience.
At Chappelle’s request, Mayer played “Your Gonna Live Forever in Me” in honor of Murphy.
Murphy died suddenly on Wednesday morning after receiving treatment for leukemia.
Watch Chappelle and Mayer below:
