Bill Murray is a badass. Though now known for his roles in such classic films as Groundhog Day, Ghostbusters, and Stripes, Murray first got his start as a castmember on SNL. Who could forget his classic Nick The Lounge Singer bit? Some of these Bill Murray stories are legend, and some may have indisputable proof – yet they are all amazing and sound exactly like the kind of awesome thing the most enigmatic celebrity (that we actually like) would do. From stories on the set to sightings in Karaoke clubs and even crashing random house parties, this is a list of the greatest (real) Bill Murray encounters of all time.
For more amazing true Bill Murray facts, check out this list of roles Bill Murray almost played.
The Greatest (Real) Bill Murray Stories Ever Told,
Bill Murray Surprise Bartends at Shangri-La at SXSW
The Story:
The story begins when Bill Murray attends Austin's SXSW festival and hangs out with Wu-Tang clan.
He shows up with them at the bar Shangri-La and insists on bartending, only serving patrons shots of tequila. No matter what they ordered, he pours them a lot of tequila.
Everyone there is Tweeting, Facebooking, and blogging about it, and someone even took a video:
Bill Murray Bartending at SXSW 2010 from Erica Hoerl on Vimeo.
Throughout the rest of the week, Murray is spotted at various parties, including one Redditor's ("one who frequents the popular website, reddit.com") friend's house party:
Believable?
This story is widespread, and there's video to prove its accuracy. It also proves the extent of Murray's awesomeness. Who knows how many of the details and secondhand accounts are true, but the video is pretty indisputable.
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Bill Murray Reads Poetry to Construction Workers Building NY's Poet House
The Story:
During construction of the Poet's House, a library in Manhattan, Bill Murray stops by to read poems to the construction workers who are working on the building. In the middle of reading, he says, "It gets worse. If you want to take a sick day, do it now." Workers laugh and take photos with their cell phones.
Believable?
Indisputably true.
Bill Murray Crashes Engagement Photo Shoot
In May, 2014, wedding photographer Raheel Gauba was out on a photo shoot with Erik Rogers and Ashley Donald, when suddenly the expressions on their faces went from candid to pure shock. Gauba told The Post and Courier: "I thought who the heck is bothering them? I turn around and it's Bill Murray with his shirt up, belly out, tapping his belly and trying to make them laugh."
Gauba invited Murray over to pose with the young couple for a few shots, to which he obliged, and then took off.
BONUS: Bill Murray Throws Bottle, Gives an Offensive Eulogy
Since the story about Bill Murray throwing a bottle that accidentally broke a guy's nose isn't remarkable enough (see the video below, where the victim doesn't only forgive him, but laughs with him – Bill Murray gets a full minute of laughs from a crowd that just saw him split a guy's nose open, Bill Murray is just that awesome) here's a heartwarming story to wrap up this whole thing.
The Story:
Bill Murray was really great friends with comedy great and "Saturday Night Live" star John Belushi (Animal House) at the time of Belushi’s demise due to accidental drug overdose. The man lived in excess and was known for doing a lot of disgusting things– and for making everyone laugh doing them.
So, after Ghostbusters, Bill Murray got the go-ahead to make his pet project– a film called The Razor’s Edge based on W. Somerset Maugham’s 1944 novel. It's about a disillusioned World War I vet, Larry Darrell, who travels the globe to find the meaning of life. Murray says he only really did Ghostbusters so that Columbia Pictures would allow him to make this picture.
He did, and it was met with some critical acclaim, but an overall box office failure–except one gem of a scene where a character is eulogized. Given that this film was made a little after John Belushi’s death, Bill Murray decided to use the eulogy in his film, which he co-wrote, to say goodbye to his dear friend John:
"He was a slob. Did you ever see him eat? Starving children could fill their bellies on the food that ended up on his beard and clothes. Dogs would gather to watch him eat. I never understood gluttony, but I hated it… I hated that about you. He enjoyed disgusting people, being disgusting, that thrill of offending people and making them uncomfortable. He was despicable. He will not be missed."
Murray then explained why he eulogized Belushi in such a fashion, "It comes from this old Persian thing where if somebody dies you tell horrible stories about him. That’s what I did when John died… What it does is remind you not to get sentimental. You say, ‘That guy was a rat,’ and I’m a rat too, and I’d better do something about it rather than weep my life away."
Believable?
True. Check the source, as well as this is a well-known story told about Bill and why that scene exists.
Bill Murray is one of the greatest actors of our time, and rarely do we get someone who is not only that great onscreen, but just as amazing off-screen. Just remember: If you ever run into Bill Murray, treat him like a friend–and he’s likely to do the same to you.
Bill Murray Does Karaoke with Complete Strangers
The Story:
A group of friends go out to have a few drinks at a bar called Karaoke One 7 in New York City. Mike, the guy who reported this story to authorities, notices a couple of women who have just walked in with a guy that looks just like Bill Murray... because he IS Bill Murray.
After they do the good ol' "celebrity confirmation", the group proceeds to invite Bill Murray into their karaoke room.
15 minutes later, Bill Murray knocks on their door.
Bill Murray and the girl he's with – notably from Amsterdam – sing a bunch of French songs and buy everyone these weird green drinks made with Chartreuse. After these, Bill Murray himself sings an Elvis song with Mike – and the group, of course, takes a bunch of photos.
Believable?
The photos are pretty irrefutable, but the verdict is still vague. There have been a few discrepancies, first being exactly when this incident took place. It was also first reported that he showed up at Karaoke One with a group of women, then later corrected that it was one Dutch woman. The details aren't 100% clear; however, Murray is known for randomly crashing strangers' parties, so there's a good chance this one is true. And it is probably the realization of every Bill Murray fan's biggest dream.
Amazing.
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Bill Murray Dances to "Turn Down For What" at a Birthday Party
Marvin Larry Reynolds, of Jedburg, South Carolina, invited Murray to his 64th birthday party in September 2014. Of course, Murray showed up. But he didn't just sit quietly in the corner. Chef Brett McKee, a friend of Murray's, was catering the party and blessed the internet with some fantastic pictures from the party, and even video of Murray and other attendees dancing to classic tracks like "Turn Down For What."
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Bill Murray Accidentally Stars in Garfield
The Story:
Bill Murray sees the name "Joel Cohen" (THIS Joel Cohen) attached to the Garfield script, believing it's the famed director of Fargo, The Big Lebowski, Barton Fink, and No Country for Old Men – Joel Coen... as in THIS Joel Coen (no H, you see). Academy Award-winning Joel Coen.
According to Esquire magazine, Murray says: "I looked at the script, and it said, 'So-and-so and Joel Coen.' And I thought: Christ, well, I love those Coens! They're funny. So I sorta read a few pages of it and thought, Yeah, I'd like to do that."
Then he saw the movie. And only AFTER that did he realize that it wasn't Joel Coen, but Joel Cohen. No Fargo, No Country for Old Men or Big Lebowski – no, this one was Daddy Day Camp (the sequel to Daddy Day Care), Evan Almighty, and Cheaper By the Dozen Joel Cohen.
"I kept saying, 'Who the hell cut this thing? Who did this? What the f**k was Coen thinking?' And then they explained it to me: It wasn't written by that Joel Coen."
Believable?
Although this might be the actor-celebrity version of sleeping with someone questionable and then claiming you were drunk, there's obviously no doubting the accuracy of the interview. It's just a shame that it took the movie being finished before Murray realized his mistake. But hey, every paycheck helps - even someone like Bill Murray, so why the hell not?
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Bill Murray Pairs Up with Blonde Girl in Foreign Country... Goes to Party
... kind of like in Lost in Translation.
The Story:
One evening after a golf tournament in St. Andrews, Bill Murray decides to go out and explore the city.
He's out for drinks with fellow golfers when he meets young a beautiful blonde Nordic woman named Lykke Stavnef, who is there with her friend Marie Bergene –and who, naturally, invites him to a party.
Bill Murray says yes.
When they show up, no one can believe that 22-year-old Stavnef has brought him to a house party. She's concerned that there are not enough clean dishes there, so Bill Murray actually decides to start washing dishes. Everyone is amused when he cleans some dishes so that people can drink, but even more charmed when he happily accepts drinking vodka out of a coffee mug.
Before he leaves, he finishes cleaning the feet-high dishes pile left by the college students, then heads back to his hotel.
Believable?
Well, it was reported by telegraph.co.uk, which has a slight problem with credibility... However, there were also over a dozen eye witnesses. This is not only believable, but it is absolutely awesome how humble, nice, and cool Bill Murray was.
New Rule: if you meet Bill Murray somewhere and he seems relaxed and in a good mood, and it's late enough, invite him to a party.
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Bill Murray Thinks Autographs Are Boring, Films Slowmo Walk
The Story:
Like most celebrities, Bill Murray isn't a fan of being bothered for his autograph. Unlike most celebrities, it's because he finds it too impersonal.
One day, Bill Murray is doing a shoot for a guy, and that guy's friend asks him for an autograph. Instead of just writing his name on a piece of paper, Bill gives them something better. He films a slow motion walk down the hall with all the guys à la Wes Anderson.
Proof!
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Bill Murray Crashes a White House Press Conference to Rep the Cubs
On October 21, 2016, Bill Murray took the stage in the White House briefing room to announce the Chicago Cubs will make it to the World Series in 2016. A life-long time Cubs fan, Murray wore a beautiful, understated Cubs pullover to drive his point home.
"I feel very confident that Clayton Kershaw is a great, great pitcher, but we've got too many sticks," Murray said. Reporters, playing along, referred to the actor as Mr. President, and nodded along as he offered his analysis as to why it's more appropriate a team from Chicago play in the fall classic than a team from LA.
"We also have a little bit of autumn in Chicago. You don't get that in Los Angeles. Trees just die in Los Angeles. In Illinois, they flourish." Murray was at the White House to receive the Mark Twain Prize from President Obama, and stopped by the briefing room moments after a press conference wrapped.