EDDIE MURPHY might play animal-loving DR DOLITTLE at the movies but in real life he's terrified of most creatures.

The funnyman admits that playing Dolittle was a huge challenge because he was so afraid of his co-stars - so much so that the scenes of him talking to the animals was really just Eddie talking to tennis balls and blue screens.

And when director STEVE CARR asked Eddie to film a scene with CROCODILE HUNTER STEVE IRWIN and an alligator, the actor refused. He says, "I said, 'Hey man, I'm not doing anything with an alligator. ' I mean what's Steve Irwin going to do if the alligator jumps on me - narrate while I'm getting ripped?" (KL/WNV/PDD)

Source: WENN