By Salma El-Sakka
Actor Noah Wyle has revealed that Eddie Murphy once bluntly refused to sign an autograph for him when he was nine years old, an encounter that shaped his own approach to fan interactions.
Childhood encounter
During an appearance on Amy Poehler’s “Good Hang” podcast, Wyle, 55, recalled meeting Murphy, then a comedy superstar, and asking for an autograph after praising his work on “Saturday Night Live.” Murphy responded by asking what he was doing up so late, then told him, “F*** off, man.”
Lasting impact
Wyle said the experience inspired him to always make time for fans, particularly children. “Whenever a nine-year-old needs an autograph from me, I sign that so fast,” he said. The anecdote also became a family joke; last year his 10-year-old daughter gave him a framed picture of Murphy with a handwritten note mimicking the rejected autograph.
Recent honor
Wyle was recently named People’s Sexiest Man Alive, a title his children greeted with skepticism. His son warned the honor would make life harder, while his older daughter teased him. Former “ER” co-star George Clooney, a two-time recipient, was expected to be amused, Wyle added.
