William James Murray is an American actor, comedian, and writer. He is known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas. He has frequently collaborated with directors Ivan Reitman, Harold Ramis, Wes Anderson, Sofia Coppola, and Jim Jarmusch. He has earned nu ... merous accolades including a BAFTA Award, two Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, and two Independent Spirit Awards, as well as a nomination for an Academy Award. In 2016, Murray was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Murray was born in Evanston, Illinois, to Lucille (1921–1988), a mail-room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray II (1921–1967), a lumber salesman. He was raised in Wilmette, Illinois, a northern suburb of Chicago. Murray and his eight siblings grew up in an Irish Catholic family. His paternal grandfather was from County Cork, while his maternal ancestors were from County Galway. Three of his siblings, John Murray, Joel Murray, and Brian Doyle-Murray, are also actors. Murray attended Regis University in Denver, Colorado, where he studied pre-med for a year. He dropped out after being arrested for marijuana possession. In 1973, he moved to New York City to pursue a career in comedy. He joined the National Lampoon Radio Hour, and later appeared in the National Lampoon stage show Lemmings. In 1977, Murray joined the cast of Saturday Night Live. He quickly became one of the show's most popular cast members, known for his deadpan delivery and his ability to improvise. He left the show in 1980 to pursue a film career. Murray's first major film role was in the 1979 comedy Meatballs. He went on to star in a number of successful comedies, including Caddyshack (1980), Stripes (1981), Ghostbusters (1984), and Groundhog Day (1993). He has also starred in a number of critically acclaimed dramas, such as Lost in Translation (2003) and Broken Flowers (2005). Murray is known for his eccentric and unpredictable behavior. He has been known to disappear from sets and film projects, and he has often been quoted as saying that he doesn't like to work. However, he is also known for his generosity and his willingness to help out his fellow actors.
| Organization | Category | Movie | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin International Film Festival | Best Actor | Lost in Translation | Nominated |
| Venice Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | Lost in Translation | Nominated |
| Berlin International Film Festival | Best Supporting Actor | The Grand Budapest Hotel | Won |
The Now
as Psychotherapist
Episodes: 14
First Aired: Dec 10, 2021
Olive Kitteridge
as Jack Kennison
Episodes: 4
First Aired: Nov 02, 2014
Alpha House
as Senator Vernon Smits
Episodes: 3
First Aired: Apr 19, 2013
Vice Principals
as Principal Welles
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 17, 2016
Angie Tribeca
as Vic Deakins
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 17, 2016
The Movies That Made Us
as Peter Venkman (archive footage)
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Nov 29, 2019
Iron Chef America
Episodes: 205
First Aired: Jan 16, 2005
Entertainment Tonight
Episodes: 91
First Aired: Sep 15, 1981
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Various Characters
Episodes: 82
First Aired: Oct 11, 1975
Getaway
Episodes: 33
First Aired: May 14, 1992
Banzai
Episodes: 26
First Aired: Jan 18, 2001
HBO First Look
Episodes: 25
First Aired: Jun 12, 1992
Saturday Night Live Weekend Update Thursday
Episodes: 9
First Aired: Oct 09, 2008
The Sweet Spot
as Self
Episodes: 6
First Aired: Apr 02, 2002
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Host
Episodes: 5
First Aired: Oct 11, 1975
Saturday Night Live with Howard Cosell
Episodes: 4
First Aired: Sep 20, 1975
SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night
as Self
Episodes: 4
First Aired: Jan 16, 2025
Saturday Night Live
as Self - Cameo (uncredited)
Episodes: 3
First Aired: Oct 11, 1975
Magacine
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Unknown
The Oscars
as Self
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Mar 19, 1953
The View
as Self - Guest
Episodes: 2
First Aired: Aug 11, 1997
E! True Hollywood Story
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Aug 21, 1996
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
as Self - Guest
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 13, 1993
MLB Network Presents
as Himself (Archive Footage)
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jan 13, 2015
Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 14, 2013
Late Night with Seth Meyers
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 25, 2014
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations
as Himself
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 25, 2005
Elvis Mitchell: Under the Influence
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jul 07, 2008
LIVE with Kelly and Mark
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Sep 05, 1988
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 17, 2014
Markus Lanz
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Jun 03, 2008
Reunited Apart
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Apr 27, 2020
The Graham Norton Show
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Feb 22, 2007
Saturday Night Live
as Self
Episodes: 1
First Aired: Oct 11, 1975
Popularity History
| Year | Month | Avg | Max | Min |
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| 2024 | 5 | 41 | 50 | 31 |
| 2024 | 6 | 30 | 41 | 20 |
| 2024 | 7 | 39 | 60 | 21 |
| 2024 | 8 | 33 | 53 | 19 |
| 2024 | 9 | 25 | 43 | 16 |
| 2024 | 10 | 25 | 48 | 15 |
| 2024 | 11 | 29 | 47 | 16 |
| 2024 | 12 | 30 | 46 | 22 |
| 2025 | 1 | 41 | 70 | 26 |
| 2025 | 2 | 29 | 41 | 4 |
| 2025 | 3 | 11 | 47 | 0 |
| 2025 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 2 |
| 2025 | 5 | 5 | 6 | 3 |
| 2025 | 6 | 3 | 5 | 2 |
| 2025 | 7 | 2 | 3 | 1 |
| 2025 | 8 | 6 | 9 | 2 |
Trending Rank
| Year | Month | Avg Rank | Max Rank |
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| 2024 | 5 | 532 | 230 |
| 2024 | 6 | 370 | 97 |
| 2024 | 12 | 853 | 760 |
| 2025 | 1 | 451 | 88 |
| 2025 | 2 | 481 | 94 |
| 2025 | 3 | 211 | 101 |
| 2025 | 5 | 615 | 194 |
| 2025 | 7 | 380 | 64 |
| 2025 | 8 | 313 | 195 |