SUBMITTED BY Timbo

November 25, 2003 — USA Today talked to the stars of "The Haunted Mansion" as they attended the premiere of the movie.

Murphy brought three of his kids (he has five), along with their statuesque model mother, Nicole (dressed in knee-high Gucci boots). He defended his many children-targeted film choices (Daddy Day Care, The Nutty Professor, Doctor Dolittle, Shrek and Mulan).

"My family movies have been the most successful," said Murphy, 42. "But I still do stuff like Showtime,Metro, Bowfinger and I Spy to mix it up." His days of raunchy stand-up, however, are probably done.

The two junior actors who play Murphy's Mansion kids said they were treated just like Murphy's own children during the shooting in early 2003.

For Valentine's Day, little Aree Davis received a basket from Murphy filled with candy and teddy bears.

Then last May, Murphy threw 13-year-old Marc John Jefferies a surprise party in the Murphy home, followed by a trip to Niketown to pick out four pairs of shoes and three jumpsuits. Murphy also turned up at Jefferies' stand-up show at an L.A. comedy club on a Saturday night.

Read the rest, including an interview with Jennifer Tilly, at the link below.