'' The Nutty Professor '' is a 1996 American slapstick science-fiction comedy film starring Eddie Murphy . It is a remake of the 1963 film of the same name , which starred Jerry Lewis , which itself was a parody of Robert Louis Stevenson 's '' Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde '' . The film co-stars Jada Pinkett , James Coburn , Larry Miller , Dave Chappelle and John Ales . The original music score was composed by David Newman . The film won Best Makeup at the 69th Academy Awards . Murphy portrays a university professor , Sherman Klump , a kind-hearted man who is morbidly obese . A research scientist , academic , and lecturer , Klump develops a miraculous , but experimental , weight-loss pharmaceutical , and hoping to win the affection of the girl of his dreams , tests it upon himself . Like the original film 's Julius Kelp , Klump 's vigorous , charismatic , but evil alter ego takes the name " Buddy Love " . Murphy plays a total of seven characters in the film , including Sherman , most of Sherman 's family ( except for his nephew , Ernie Klump Jr. played by child actor Jamal Mixon ) , and an over-the-top parody of Richard Simmons
69th Academy Awards
69th Academy Awards
The Nutty Professor (1996 film)