Names and faces
■ Comedian and actor Eddie Murphy will be inducted into the NAACP Image Awards Hall of Fame this month. The NAACP announced Thursday that Murphy will be inducted during a March 27 ceremony that will air on CBS. Murphy, 59, will be presented the award by his longtime friend and “Coming 2 America” co-star Arsenio Hall. The hall of fame induction is bestowed on an individual who is viewed as a pioneer in their respective field and whose influence shaped the “profession for generations to come.” Previous inductees include Oprah Winfrey, Stevie Wonder, Spike Lee, Ray Charles and Sidney Poitier. The most recent honorees to be inducted were Cheryl Boone Isaacs and Paris Barclay in 2014. “To this day, Eddie Murphy’s work continues to bring joy and laughter to individuals around the world, and he is an amazing example of Black excellence, creativity, and artistry,” said Derrick Johnson, the president and CEO of the NAACP. Murphy began his career as a stand-up comic while a teenager and eventually joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” at 19 in 1980. He starred in the box office hit “48 Hours” and made his mark in a slew of films such as “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Coming to America,” “The Nutty Professor,” “Dr. Dolittle” and “Dolemite Is My Name.” His latest film “Coming 2 America” released on Amazon last week.
■ Ken is turning 60, two years after his best friend Barbie did. Mattel launched a reproduction of the original Ken doll on Thursday to commemorate his 1961 debut. That slender doll with blond felt hair wears a red bathing suit and comes with red sandals and a yellow towel. The original Barbie, who debuted in 1959, also came in a bathing suit, a minimalist strategy to encourage consumers to buy outfits and accessories. Over the years, Ken’s body type, hair textures and fashion choices have become more diverse. The company said it is working with several fashion designers to celebrate Ken’s birthday and showcase him as an influencer. The designs will be viewable on Instagram with the handle BarbieStyle. “Ken, much like Barbie, has always been a reflector of the times that he lives in,” said Robert Best, Barbie senior director of design at Mattel. The original, clean-cut ’60s version of Ken became much groovier over that first decade. “I would say Ken is a good friend and a best friend, a supportive best friend to the Barbie doll,” Best said. Barbie and Ken were named after the children of Mattel founders Elliot and Ruth Handler. Best said Mattel sold 76 million dolls last year, numbers that “show Ken is an important part of that world and contributes to Barbie’s success.”