US stand-up comedian and actor Charlie Murphy has died in New York at the age of 57 after a long battle with leukaemia.
Murphy, the older brother of Eddie Murphy, was best known for his time as a regular on Chappelle's Show.
His stories on Chappelle's Show about he and Eddie's encounters with legendary US musicians Prince and Rick James have been remembered as iconic sketches.
The comic's death is believed to have come just four hours after a poignant tweet quoting Abraham Lincoln was sent from his account, urging his followers to "release the past as deeply as possible".
Murphy was also known for his proficiency as an actor, particularly thanks to his role as a fake kidnapper in 2005's King's Ransom and an appearance in 1993's CB4, in which he played the villain, Gusto.
His co-star in the latter, fellow comedian Chris Rock, tweeted his sadness at Murphy's death, calling him "one of the funniest, most real brothers of all time".
Murphy also served for six years in the US Navy, but was discharged shortly after witnessing the Beirut barracks bombing in 1983, in which 307 died.
Murphy's wife Tisha Taylor died after her own battle with cancer in 2009.
Newshub.
