The first time I went to NYC (age 15, mid 70s) I'm eating lunch with my family on the mezzanine level of a large building, Bill Murray and about 20 guys come in, in formation, with a bar tee shirt on singing, they did 3-4 songs, he shook hands (hight of SNL) and they marched out - hillarious.
Bill Murray is loyal to his friends. When he was starting out the two men who actively promoted his career were Harold Ramis and Joe Flaherty. He had a falling out with Ramis after Groundhog Day but repaired the relationship after he found out Ramis was in ill health. Flaherty has retired from show business but he still gets priority when he calls Bill.
Bill Murray can do anything, he was a remorseless mafia don in the under-appreciated Mad Dog and Glory.
Caddy Shack was on TV a couple of weeks ago or so and I had to laugh all over again at Bill Murray.
Wasn't he also in Ghostbusters? Also on TV recently. I know there were a lot of SNL and Second City stars in that movie (Rick Moranis plays the perfect, nerdy accountant).
You're right IV.
Bill Murray is pretty flexible as an actor.
BTW, I reviewed my TIFF programme book and there are a LOT of good movies that will come out in the chains, but I'll restrict my choices to foreign films and obscure documentaries that we don't see in the chain theaters here.
I didn't use Caddyshack as an example since it was the perfect chemistry between Rodney Dangerfield and Ted Knight being the basis for the film's success.
Bill Murray hasn't done many roles where he's the table setter (carry a film but not be the star) but one in particular is noteworthy. Without it he may not have gotten the funding for Ghostbusters.
Looks great but I'll wait for it to come out (Melissa McCarthy is funny and Naomi Watts is so fine!). My TIFF gang have a rule this year. Only foreign films and documentaries.