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Eddie Murphy, 54, is going to be a dad again. The Oscar-nominated actor and his girlfriend, Paige Butcher, 36, will welcome a newborn in May 2016. This will be the comedian's ninth child, his first with Butcher.

'He couldn't be happier. Eddie really is a family man and loves all of his children, so he's so excited about having another one on the way,' a source close to the entertainer exclusively told Daily Mail Online.

Murphy fathered five children - Bria, Myles, Shayne, Zola and Bella - ranging in ages from 26 to 13 with his ex-wife Nicole Murphy, whom he divorced in 2006 after 22 years of marriage.The 'Dreamgirls' star also had three children outside of the marriage – a son Eric, 26, by Paulette McNeely; a son, Christian, 25, by Tamara Hood; and a daughter, Angel Iris, 8, by former Spice Girl singer Melanie 'Mel B' Brown.

'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. 

'All of the children love each other dearly and the women, having all moved on with their own relationships, co-exist very well together,' the source said.

Murphy started dating the Australian model Butler in 2012, following his breakup with HLN anchor Rocsi Diaz earlier that year.

Following his divorce from his wife, Murphy also dated 'Access Hollywood' anchor Shaun Robinson, 'Entertainment Tonight' correspondent Nischelle Turner and former Pussycat Dolls member Melody Thornton.

'It's no secret that Eddie has a way with the ladies and dated around. From the early days of being with Whitney Houston, he's always loved beautiful high-profile women who had their own thing going on,' the source said.

In 2006, Murphy started dating TV and film producer Tracey Edmonds. The couple wed in a private ceremony in Bora Bora on January 1, 2008, but ultimately ended their relationship due to a blow-up with Edmonds and Murphy's mother while on the island. 

Two weeks later, the couple released a statement saying: 'After much consideration and discussion, we have jointly decided that we will forgo having a legal ceremony as it is not necessary to define our relationship further.'

The statement called the Bora Bora wedding a 'symbolic union'.

'That's the time in his life that no one likes to talk about. People act like that moment never happened for all of the obvious reasons. 

'She's the one ex that he left on bad terms,' explained the source.

Known as a recluse, Murphy became more outgoing when he started dating Butcher in 2012. The couple is regularly photographed on coffee outings and she is credited with sparking the comic's desire to want to return to stand-up comedy.

While the two are expecting next spring, there is no word on whether they intend to marry.

The Australian has previously dated Russell Simmons, the 58-year-old hip hop tycoon, who has an estimated net worth of $325 million, and the model Tyson Beckford.