Eddie Murphy portrays Prince Akeem, the overly pampered prince of the African kingdom of Zamunda. The prince has literally everything done for him by his servants, including having his shoes tied. Facing an arranged marriage, Akeem longs for true love and woman who will arouse his intellect. He rejects his life of indulgent luxury and decides to head to America in search of a bride. Of course, the best place to search for a prince to search for a bride is Queens, New York.
Semmi, Prince Akeem's best friend and confidante, is played by Murphy's off-screen friend, Arsenio Hall. Hall is probably best known for his '90s late-night TV talk show. Semmi is confused and taken aback by the prince's decision to leave his well-appointed life behind and search for true love in a foreign land. He's particularly appalled by Akeem's decision to room at a seedy, Queens hotel. However, despite his bewilderment, he remains loyal to the prince and aids in his quest. However, when he requests more money from home, he unintentionally nearly subverts Akeem's plans. Hall also plays several other small roles in the film, including a woman that Akeem and Semmi encounter in a singles' bar.
King Jaffe Joffer is the father of Prince Akeem, played by veteran stage and film actor James Earl Jones. Jones may be best known as the voice of Darth Vader in the "Star Wars" films and for his role in "Field of Dreams." The king is angry that his son has left Zamunda and turned his back on the kingdom's longstanding traditions. He heads to America to find Akeem in an effort to talk some sense into him and bring him back home. Of course, in the end, in true Hollywood fashion, the king realizes the error of his ways when he ultimately discovers that Akeem has found true love.
Lisa, played by Shari Headley, becomes the object of Prince Akeem's affection. She is beautiful and headstrong with mind of her own -- just the type of woman the prince seeks. She is the daughter of a fast food franchise owner (played by John Amos). She meets the prince when Akeem and Semmi find employment at the restaurant. They fall in love, but when she discovers the prince's true identity, she is angry over being lied to and refuses to marry him. Akeem returns to Zamunda heartbroken. Of course, in the final scene of the movie, we discover that Lisa has had a change of heart.