The NAACP announced Thursday that Murphy will be inducted during the March 27 ceremony, which will air on CBS. The actor-comedian 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.

Murphy began his career as a stand-up comic while a teenager and eventually joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live." 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" was released on Amazon last week.

"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.

“We are honored to celebrate one of the most influential comedic geniuses in the entertainment industry and an individual who has inspired a generation of Black talent,” said Derrick Johnson, President, and CEO of the NAACP. “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.”

A stand-up comic who rocketed to fame as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, Murphy received the award in recognition of his 40-plus years as a performer. It was at the age of 21 that Murphy starred in box-office smash 48 Hours, and he’s gone to lead more than 70 films, including Trading Places, Beverly Hills Cop, Coming to America, and Dreamgirls.

Recently, Murphy re-entered the spotlight with Coming to 2 America, a long-awaited sequel to his classic 1988 comedy, released by Amazon Studios. This awards season, the tour-de-force performer will also be presented with the Make-Up Artists & Hair Stylist Guild’s Distinguished Artisan honor.

Airing live on BET, the 52nd NAACP Image Awards will be simulcast across ViacomCBS Networks, including CBS, BET Her, VH1, MTV, MTV2, and LOGO on Saturday, March 27th at 8/7c.