Photo of Charlie Murphy, courtesy Getty

Charlie Murphy, comedy great and Chappelle's Show star, died Wednesday, his publicist has confirmed. He was 57.

His rep said Murphy, the older brother of Eddie Murphy, had been battling leukemia. Additional information was not immediately available.

Murphy made his film debut in 1989's Harlem Nights, which was directed by Eddie. After subsequent big screen roles, he nabbed the spotlight on Chappelle's Show, helping turn skits about Rick James and Prince into must-see TV.

His last work included an appearance in the 2016 film Meet the Blacks, as well as a voice role in the animated series Black Dynamite. He was also featured in last year's Comedy Get Down tour alongside the likes of Cedric The Entertainer, D.L. Hughley and George Lopez. 

"We just lost one of the funniest most real brothers of all time," Chris Rock wrote on Twitter today. Hughley tweeted, "Rest in Paradise my brother."