Eddie Murphy is set to become a father for the ninth time. The 54-year-old actor and his Australian model girlfriend Paige Butcher are expecting their first child together, his representative has confirmed to Entertainment Tonight.The Oscar-nominated actor has five children – Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola and Bella – ranging in age from 26 to 13, with his ex-wife Nicole Murphy, whom he divorced in 2006 after 22 years of marriage.
© Photo: Getty ImagesEddie and Paige Butcher
The Beverly Hills Cop star also has three other children – a son Eric, 26, by Paulette McNeely; a son, Christian, 25, by Tamara Hood; and eight-year-old Angel, by former Spice Girl Melanie Brown.Paige, 36, is due to give birth next May. This is the beauty's first child.Eddie, meanwhile, "couldn't be happier." A source told Mail Online: "Eddie really is a family man and loves all of his children, so he's so excited about having another one on the way.""Even though he has eight children by four different women, they all come together on holidays and for sporting events and hang out at his mansion as one big blended family. "They added: "All of the children love each other dearly and the women, having all moved on with their own relationships, co-exist very well together."
© Photo: Getty ImagesEddie has been with Paige for three years
Eddie split from Melanie B in 2006 and requested a paternity test on hearing the news of Melanie's pregnancy. After confirmation that he was the father, the pair have since become good friends.He started dating the Australian model in 2012, following his break-up with HLN anchor Rocsi Diaz earlier that year.Paige is credited with sparking the comic's desire to want to return to stand-up comedy. In October, the comedian performed his first stand-up routine in decades as he accepted the coveted Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and delivered his much-talked about Bill Cosby impression.
