Eddie Murphy to be father again

Eddie Murphy (Photo from Flickr/David Shankbone)

LOS ANGELES – Veteran comedian Eddie Murphy is preparing to become a father for the ninth time at the age of 54.

The funnyman and his model girlfriend Paige Butcher, 36, are expecting their first child together, his representative confirmed on the show Entertainment Tonight.

Butcher is due to give birth in May next year.

The baby will be her first, while Murphy has five children with his first wife Nicole.

He also has a son by each of his exes Tamara Hood and Paulette MCNeely, in addition to a daughter, named Angel, with former Spice Girls singer Melanie Brown.

The actor has been dating blonde beauty Butcher since 2012.