Who is Bill Murray? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: William James Murray

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Jennifer Butler (m. 1997–2008), Margaret Kelly (m. 1981–1996)

father: Edward Joseph Murray II

mother: Lucille Murray (née Collins)

siblings: Andy Murray, Brian Doyle-Murray, Edward Murray III, Joel Murray, John Murray, Laura Murray, Nancy Murray, Peggy Murray

children: Cal Murray, Cooper Murray, Homer Murray, Jackson Murray, Lincoln Murray, Luke Murray

Born Country: United States

Actors Comedians

Height: 6'2" (188 cm), 6'2" Males

Notable Alumni: Regis University

Ancestry: Irish American

City: Evanston, Illinois

U.S. State: Illinois

More Facts

education: Regis University

Recommended For You

1

Is Bill Murray retired from acting?

No, Bill Murray is not retired from acting. He continues to take on various film and television projects.
2

Has Bill Murray ever won an Oscar?

No, Bill Murray has not won an Oscar. He has been nominated once for Best Actor for his role in the film "Lost in Translation."
3

Does Bill Murray have any social media accounts?

No, Bill Murray does not have any official social media accounts. He prefers to keep a low profile and stay away from social media.
4

What is Bill Murray's most iconic role?

One of Bill Murray's most iconic roles is his portrayal of Phil Connors in the film "Groundhog Day." The film has become a classic and is often cited as one of his best performances.
5

Is Bill Murray known for improvising in his roles?

Yes, Bill Murray is known for his improvisational skills in many of his roles. Directors and co-stars have often praised his ability to ad-lib and bring spontaneity to his performances.

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Childhood & Early Life

William James "Bill" Murray was born on September 21, 1950, to Lucille Collins, a mail room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray II, a lumber salesman. Murray had eight siblings.

He attended St. Joseph grade school and Loyola Academy. In order to fund his education at the Jesuit high school, he worked as a golf caddy in his teens.

As a teen, he was the singer of a band called the Dutch Masters and performed in high school and community theatre. He attended Regis University, Denver but dropped out and returned to Illinois.

In 1970, he was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare Airport for trying to smuggle cannabis. He was convicted and sentenced to probation.

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Career

He joined his brother in the cast for the improvisational comedy ‘The Second City’ in Chicago and got to study under Del Close. This gave direction to his life and he took up acting.

In 1975, he was cast in the short-lived ABC variety show, Saturday Night Live. Two years later, NBC invited him to their Saturday Night Live. He was with it for three seasons.

In 1979, he landed his first movie role in the box-office hit, ‘Meatballs’. It was followed by ‘Where the Buffalo’s Roam’ in which he portrayed Hunter S. Thompson. However, the movie flopped.

In 1980, he restored his image as an actor with the cult classic ‘Caddyshack’. The following years saw him act in box-office hits such as ‘Stripes’, and ‘Tootsie’.

In 1984, he co-wrote and acted in ‘The Razor’s Edge’. The movie did not do very well and he was so disappointed that he took four years off, appearing in only cameo roles.

He took time off from movies, except for a cameo appearance in ‘Little Shop of Horrors’ in 1986, to be with his family and to study philosophy and history at the Sorbonne.

In 1988, he returned to movies with ‘Scrooged’. It was followed by the sequel ‘Ghostbusters II’, the next year. He even co-directed the movie ‘Quick Change’ with Howard Franklin.

In 1999, he wrote a semi-autobiographic book ‘Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf’, explaining his love for the game of golf.

Once he decided to take up dramatic roles, his career started sky-rocketing with roles in ‘Wild Things’, ‘Cradle Will Rock’, ‘Hamlet’, and in the 2001 critically acclaimed movie ‘The Royal Tenenbaums’.

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In 2004, he provided the voice-over for the cartoon character Garfield in ‘Garfield: The Movie’ and two years later for ‘Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties’.

In 2004, he worked in Wes Anderson’s ‘The Aquatic Life’. He also starred in Jim Jarmusch's ‘Broken Flowers’. The next year, he appeared in cameo roles in ‘The Darjeeling Limited’ and ‘Get Smart’.

After a break from acting, he appeared in a notable role in the movie ‘City of Ember’ in 2008. In the next year, he appeared in a cameo role in the comedy ‘Zombieland’.

In 2012, he took up the role of President Franklin D. Roosevelt in the movie ‘Hyde Park on Hudson’. He also starred in Wes Anderson’s ‘Moonrise Kingdom’.

He starred alongside Johnny Depp and Jude Law in Wes Anderson’s next film ‘The Grand Budapest Hotel’, which released in 2014. He is also renonwed for his voicing work that include 'The Jungle Book,' 'Garfield: The Movie,' 'Isle of Dog,' 'Fanatstic Mr. Fox,' and more.

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Major Works

In 1984, he made a deal with Columbia Pictures to star in ‘Ghostbusters’. Murray stars as one of the three eccentric ghost-catching parapsychologists. ‘Ghostbusters’ was a huge hit.

The early 1990s, saw him act in movies such as ‘What About Bob?’ and ‘Groundhog Day’. He won critical acclaim for both movies which went on to become box-office hits.

Awards & Achievements

In 1998, for his role in Wes Anderson's ‘Rushmore’, he won Best Supporting Actor awards from the New York Film Critics Circle, National Society of Film Critics, and the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.

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In 2003, he acted in Sofia Coppola's ‘Lost in Translation’. He won a Golden Globe Award, a BAFTA Award, and an Independent Spirit Award. He lost the Academy Award to Sean Penn.

He bagged in a 'Primetime Emmy Award' for his role in 'Olive Kitteridge.' In 2016, he also earned the 'Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.'

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1981, he married Margaret Kelly on Super Bowl Sunday. They had a marriage ceremony later in church with family on March 25. They had two sons, Homer and Luke.

Murray and Kelly divorced after Murray’s affair with Jennifer Butler came to light. He married Butler in 1997. They had four sons: Caleb, Jackson, Cooper and Lincoln. Butler filed for divorce on the grounds of domestic violence, infidelity and addiction to sex, marijuana and alcohol. They were granted divorce in 2008.

Facts About Bill Murray

Bill Murray is known for his love of spontaneous adventures and has been known to crash weddings, parties, and even random kickball games.

He once worked as a ticket taker at a minor league baseball stadium just for fun, without revealing his identity to fans.

Murray is a talented golfer and has been known to surprise fans by participating in amateur golf tournaments.

He is a part-owner of several minor league baseball teams, showcasing his passion for the sport.

Murray is also a skilled pianist and has occasionally surprised audiences by performing impromptu piano gigs in bars and restaurants.

2015	Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited Series or a Movie	Olive Kitteridge (2014)
1977	Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series	Saturday Night Live (1975)

Bill Murray Biography

You wanted to know

Is Bill Murray retired from acting?

Has Bill Murray ever won an Oscar?

Does Bill Murray have any social media accounts?

What is Bill Murray's most iconic role?

Is Bill Murray known for improvising in his roles?