Comedian Charlie Murphy Dead at 57

Charlie Murphy speaks onstage at Spike TV's 'Eddie Murphy: One Night Only'
Christopher Polk/Getty Images
Presenter Charlie Murphy speaks onstage at Spike TV's "Eddie Murphy: One Night Only" at the Saban Theatre on November 3, 2012 in Beverly Hills, California.

Charlie Murphy, brother of actor Eddie Murphy, died Wednesday morning following a battle with leukemia. He was 57.

The comedian’s manager revealed t0 TMZ that he had been receiving chemotherapy at a local New York City hospital. Family members were shocked to hear of his passing, because they thought his health was improving.

Murphy co-wrote a few of his movie-star brother’s films, including Vampire in Brooklyn and Norbit. Most recently, Murphy was a part of The Comedy Get Down Tour” along with Cedric the Entertainer, Eddie Griffin, George Lopez and D.L. Hughley.

Murphy appeared in The Boondocks, CB4, and The Players Club, but his recurring role on Chappelle’s Show where he partied with Rick James and Prince was one of his most memorable.

He is survived by two children. Tisha Taylor Murphy, Murphy’s wife, died from cancer in 2009.

Fans and fellow actors took to Twitter to pay tribute to Murphy following news of his death.