| Net Worth: | $ 142 Million |
|---|---|
| Source of Wealth: | Actor |
| Born: | September 21, 1950 |
| Age: | 69 |
| Spouse: (Divorced) | Jennifer Butler, Margaret Kelly |
| Children: | 6 (Luke, Homer, Cooper, Jackson, Lincoln, Cal) |
| Birth Name: | William James Murray |
| Height: | 6 ft 1 in (1.86m) |
Bill Murray is a successful American actor, comedian, filmmaker, and writer. His fortune increased from his notable and box office hits movies plus the hotel Murray Bros. Caddy Shark.
Early Life
Bill Murray was born on September 21, 1950 in Evanston, Illinois but grew-up in Wilmette. He has eight siblings aside from the several miscarriages her mother had. His mother is a mailroom clerk while his father is a lumber salesman. Three of his brothers are actors while one of his sisters is a nun.
Murray studied at St. Joseph’s grade school and Loyola Academy. He worked as a golf caddy to sustain his studies at the Jesuit high school. In his teenage years, he is the lead singer for Dutch Masters and part of high school and community theater. He attended Regis University, Denver and took-up pre-medical courses, but later dropped out. In 2007, he received an honorary Doctor of Humanities degree from the University.
On his 20th birthday, he got arrested, convicted, and sentenced to probation for possessing 4.5kg of cannabis.
Early Acting Career
Murray became part of The Second City in Chicago, the first ongoing improvisational theater troupe. To try his luck, he moved to New York City in 1974, where he was a featured player on The National Lampoon Radio Hour.
Saturday Night Live
Murray’s big break on his career came when he became part of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 1977. He replaced Chevy Chase who left the show in November of the second season. SNL is an American late-night live television variety show and sketch comedy aired on NBC. A celebrity guest hosted each episode and performed in sketches along with the casts. It also features performances from a musical guest. Murray stayed on the show until 1980. The show gave him a Primetime Award for Outstanding Writing.
Movies
Murray debuted his movie career in Canadian comedy film Meatballs in 1979. He starred as Tripper Harrison, the head counselor of a new counselors-in-training (CITs) group at Camp North Star. The movie focuses on his efforts to help the campers enjoy the summer camp through his sense of humor. He was challenged on how to handle one camper with self-esteem problem. The role earned him a Genie Award nomination for best performance.
In 1980s, Murray have been part of several box office hit movies. He starred as Carl Spackler in Caddyshack, which earned $40 million worldwide. The movie focuses on the happenings at an exclusive golf club with a new member and a destructive gopher. He is also part of Ghosbusters, which earned approximately $653 million. Murray played as Peter Venkman, one of three doctors of parapsychology on the Ghostbusters team. The movie focuses on the three former parapsychology professors and their paranormal business.
His American buddy military comedy film Stripes in 1981 was also a hit ending with a total gross of $85 million. He played as John Winger, a cab driver in Louisville who lost everything in a span of hours and decided to join the Army. The movie is about the Army training journey of Winger and Russell Ziskey (Harold Ramis).
He took a short break from acting after The Razor’s Edge failed in 1984, but still appeared in cameo roles.
He lends his voice to Garfield in Garfield: The Movie in 2004 and Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties in 2006. He also voiced Mr. Badger in the animated film Fantastic Mr. Fox in 2009. His other movies include the Darjeeling Limited, Get Smart, and Zombieland.
Aside from being an actor, Murray and his brothers owned a hotel called Murray Bros. Caddy Shark in St. Augustine, Florida.
Relationship
His success in his career does not transpire in his married life. Murray first married renowned celebrity Margaret Kelly in Las Vegas on January 25, 1980. They remarried in Chicago on March 21, 1981. They had two children: Homer born in 1982 and Luke born in 1985. The pair divorced in 1996.
In 1997, he married costume designer Jennifer Butler. They have four children: Caleb, Cooper, Jackson, and Lincoln. The couple split in 2008.
