Bill Murray Biography

Quick Facts

NAME: William J. Murray
OCCUPATION: Film Actor, Television Actor, Radio Personality
BIRTH DATE: September 21, 1950 (Age: 61)
EDUCATION: George Mason University, Regis University
PLACE OF BIRTH: Wilmette, Illinois

ZODIAC SIGN: Virgo

more about Bill

Best Known For

Comedian and actor Bill Murray is best know for being on the show Saturday Night Live, and for starring in classic comedy films such as Caddy Shack and Stripes.

watch more videos (3)

Print Cite This

Bill Murray

APA Style

Bill Murray. (2012). Biography.com. Retrieved 05:24, May 16, 2012 from http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510

Harvard Style

Bill Murray [Internet]. 2012. http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510, May 16

MLA Style

" Bill Murray." 2012. Biography.com 16 May 2012, 05:24 http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510

MHRA Style

' Bill Murray', Biography.com,(2012) http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510 [accessed May 16, 2012]

Chicago Style

" Bill Murray," Biography.com, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510 (accessed May 16, 2012).

CBE/CSE Style

Bill Murray [Internet]. Biography.com; 2012 [cited 2012 May 16]. Available from: http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510.

Bluebook Style

Bill Murray, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510 (last visited May 16, 2012).

AMA Style

Bill Murray, http://www.biography.com/people/bill-murray-9542510 (last visited May 16, 2012).

Synopsis

Bill Murray was born September 21, 1950 in Wilmette, Illinois. He eventually relocated to New York City where he took his comedic talents on air in National Lampoon Hour. In 1975, he was in an off-Broadway spin-off of the radio show when Howard Cosell recruited him for Saturday Night Live. It was on the set that he created the comedic character that became his calling card for many films to come.

Early Career

Born William J. Murray on September 21, 1950 in Wilmette, Illinois. The fifth of nine children, Murray was a self-proclaimed troublemaker, whether it was getting kicked out of Little League or being arrested at age 20 for attempting to smuggle close to nine pounds of marijuana through Chicago's O'Hare Airport. In an attempt to find direction in his life, he joined his older brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, in the cast of Chicago's Second City improvisational comedy troupe.

He eventually relocated to New York City where he took his comedic talents on air in National Lampoon Hour alongside Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner and John Belushi. In 1975, both Murray brothers were in an off-Broadway spin-off of the radio show when Bill was spotted by sportscaster Howard Cosell, who recruited him for the cast of his ABC variety program, Saturday Night Live With Howard Cosell. On NBC, a program also named Saturday Night Live was creating a much bigger sensation. A year later producer Lorne Michaels tapped Murray to replace Chevy Chase, who had moved on to pursue a film career.

It was on the set of Saturday Night Live that Murray created the sleazy, insincere comedic character that became his calling card for many films to come. He also earned an Emmy for Outstanding Writing for his work on the show. His first major film role was in the 1979 box office hit Meatballs. This was followed by the biography flop Where the Buffalo Roam, where Murray starred as gonzo journalist Hunter S. Thompson. In 1980, he redeemed himself by going back to his comedic roots with the cult classic Caddyshack. The roll continued with the army farce Stripes in 1981, Tootsie in 1982, and Ghostbusters in 1984 with Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. The comedy was one of the decade's biggest hits, spawning a cartoon series, action figures and even a chart-topping theme song.

Murray's next move caught loyal fans off