Joel Murray

Last updated

Joel Murray
Joel Murray Deauville 2012.jpg
Born (1963-04-17) April 17, 1963 (age 61)
Occupations
  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1986–present
Spouse
Eliza Coyle
(m. 1989)
Children4
Relatives Brian Doyle-Murray (brother)
Bill Murray (brother)

Joel Murray (born April 17, 1963) is an American actor. He is well known for his roles in the television series Mad Men , Grand , Love & War , Dharma & Greg , Still Standing , and Shameless . He has also appeared in films including God Bless America and Monsters University .

Contents

Early life

Murray was born and raised in Wilmette, Illinois, to Lucille (née Collins; 1921–1988), a mail room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray II (1921–1967), a lumber salesman. [1] [2] He grew up in an Irish Catholic family. [3]

One of nine siblings, he is the younger brother of actors Bill Murray, Brian Doyle-Murray, and John Murray. A sister, Nancy, is an Adrian Dominican Sister in Michigan, who toured the U.S. portraying St. Catherine of Siena. [4] His brother Ed died in 2020. [5] Their father died in 1967 at the age of 46 from complications of diabetes. [6] [7]

In high school at Loyola Academy, Murray was captain of the football team and the lead actor in one of the school's musicals. His entertainment career began in Chicago, Illinois, where he performed at various improvisational theaters, including the Improv Olympic, the Improv Institute, and The Second City. [8]

Career

Murray voiced Cheetos mascot Chester Cheetah from the character's inception in 1986 until 1997. He was replaced by Pete Stacker in 1997.

In 1989 Murray performed at Second City (71st Revue) in The Gods Must Be Lazy. [9]

Murray starred in the 1990 television series Grand , the 1991 comedy series Pacific Station , the 1992 comedy series Love & War as Ray Litvak, and the ABC series Dharma & Greg as Pete Cavanaugh. Murray also featured in commercials for First Chicago NBD. He provided his voice for the short-lived 1994 series Beethoven and the TV series 3-South . He played the supporting character "Fitz" on CBS's sitcom Still Standing . He appeared as Eddie Jackson on Showtime's series Shameless in 2011.

Murray's first film role was in the 1986 comedy film One Crazy Summer as George Calamari. His other roles include the 1988 comedy film Scrooged , with his brothers Bill, Brian, and John. He appeared in the 1992 movie Shakes the Clown with One Crazy Summer co-stars Bob Goldthwait and Tom Villard.

In the first, second, fourth, fifth and seventh seasons of the Emmy-winning AMC TV series Mad Men , Murray had a recurring role and appeared in 15 episodes as copywriter, Freddy Rumsen. He has made guest appearances on television shows such as The Nanny , Joan of Arcadia , Two and a Half Men , Malcolm in the Middle , Criminal Minds , and Blossom .

Murray in 2012 Joel Murray at Festival de deauville 2012.jpg
Murray in 2012

In the 2012 film God Bless America he portrays Frank, a man whose contempt for superficiality and meanness in American society sends him over the edge and into a killing spree.

In the 2013 Pixar film Monsters University he provides the voice of Don Carlton, a middle-aged monster who is a college student and salesman.

In April 2014, Murray replaced Chip Esten in the improv-comedy troupe Whose Live Anyway? and performs with Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops and Jeff B. Davis. He also portrayed Ted in the comedy horror film Bloodsucking Bastards . [10]

Personal life

Murray has been married to Eliza Coyle since 1989 and they have four children. He and his brothers own a country club themed restaurant, the Murray Brothers "Caddyshack" (run by his brother Andy), named after the 1980 comedy film Caddyshack that starred his brothers Bill and Brian, located in the World Golf Village resort near St. Augustine, Florida. [11] In 2018, they opened a second location in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois. [12]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1986 One Crazy Summer George CalamariFilm debut
1987 Long Gone Bart PolanskiTV movie
1988 Scrooged Guest
1989Elvis StoriesShopping Elvis / PaulShort film
1990Men Will Be BoysJerryTV movie
1990 Grand Norris WeldonSeries regular, 26 episodes
1991 Shakes the Clown Milkman
1991–1992 Pacific Station Capt. Ken EpsteinSeries regular, 13 episodes
1992 Blossom Doug LeMeureEpisode: "House Guests"
1992 Only You Bert
1992–1995 Love & War Ray LitvakSeries regular, 67 episodes
1994 Beethoven Beethoven (voice)Animated TV series
1995Road WarriorsDick DurkeeTV movie
1995 Partners Ron WolfeEpisode: "Who's Afraid of Ron and Cindy Wolfe?"
1996 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Bob MyersEpisode: "The Bob Episode"
1996Encino WomanMr. JonesTV movie
1996 The Cable Guy Basketball Player
1997 The Nanny Val's DateEpisode: "The Fifth Wheel"
1997–2002 Dharma & Greg Pete CavanaughSeries regular, 119 episodes
2000 The Thin Pink Line Bartender
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Professor Triffid (voice)2 episodes
2000–2002 Baby Blues Carl Bitterman (voice)Series regular, 13 episodes
2001 The Drew Carey Show BobEpisode: "Mr. Laffoon's Wild Ride"; uncredited
2002It's All About YouTaxi Driver
2002–2004 Teamo Supremo Helius Inflato (voice)4 episodes
2002 3 South Various (voice)TV series
2002 John Doe Dante LangenhanEpisode: "Mind Games"
2003TitletownTV movie
2003 Malcolm in the Middle LarryEpisode: "Hal's Friend"
2003Nobody Knows Anything!Robber #1
2003–2006 Still Standing Danny 'Fitz' FitzsimmonsRecurring, 24 episodes
2004 Joan of Arcadia Balloon Sculptor / GodEpisode: "Vanity, Thy Name Is Human"
2005 See Anthony Run Mr. RandallShort film
2006 Hatchet Doug Shapiro
2007 American Body Shop Bank ManagerEpisode: "Shop for Sale"
2007–2013 Two and a Half Men Various5 episodes
2007–2014 Mad Men Freddy Rumsen Recurring, 15 episodes
2008The Tiffany ProblemMr. ReynoldsShort film
2008 Criminal Minds Attorney GeneralEpisode: "Minimal Loss"
2008 Cold Case Bobby KentEpisode: "One Small Step"
2009 Awaydays Rugger Bugger 1
2009 Mending Fences Sam BridgewaterTV movie
2010 Hatchet II ShapiroUncredited
2010 My Boys Crowley2 episodes
2011 Shameless Eddie JacksonRecurring, 9 episodes
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Medical ExaminerEpisode: "Smother"
2011 The Artist Police Officer Fire
2011 God Bless America Frank
2012 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Andrew KaneEpisode: "Frank's Back in Business"
2012 Desperate Housewives AlanEpisode: "With So Little to Be Sure Of"
2013 Monsters University Don Carlton (voice)
2015 The McCarthys RayEpisode: "Sister Act"
2015 Bloodsucking Bastards Ted
2015–2016 Mike & Molly Dr. JeffriesEpisodes: "Pie Fight" and "Cops on the Rocks"
2015–2017 The Leftovers George Brevity2 episodes
2016 Sophie and the Rising Sun Sheriff Cooper
2016 Mr. Pig Gringo
2016 Hidden America with Jonah Ray PeteEpisode: "Chicago: The Second Best City"
2016 Ghostbusters Security GuardUncredited
2016 Killing Reagan Edwin Meese TV movie
2017 Shrink RollieSeries regular, 7 episodes
2017 American Gods Mr. PaunchEpisode: "The Bone Orchard"
2017 The Big Bang Theory DougEpisode: "The Recollection Dissipation"
2017 Curb Your Enthusiasm Bus Driver #1Episode: "Namaste"
2018 Grey's Anatomy Agent Martin FieldsEpisode: "Beautiful Dreamer"
2018 Bobcat Goldthwait's Misfits & Monsters Col. DouglasEpisode: "Patsy"
2019 Lodge 49 Doug FifeEpisode: "The Slide"
2020 AJ and the Queen Motorcycle CopEpisode: "Columbus"
2020, 2024 The Conners Jim Daniels2 episodes
2020 Monuments Steven Lesca
2021-2023 Heels Eddie EarlRecurring [13]
2022-2023 Bob Hearts Abishola Max WheelerEpisodes: "Bibles to Brothels" and "Uncharted Waters of Mediocrity"
2024 Extended Family Danny WalshEpisode: "The Consequences of Being Irish"

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chevy Chase</span> American comedian, writer and actor (born 1943)

Cornelius Crane "Chevy" Chase is an American comedian, actor, and writer. He became the breakout cast member in the first season of Saturday Night Live (1975–1976), where his recurring Weekend Update segment became a staple of the show. As both a performer and a writer on the series, he earned two Primetime Emmy Awards out of four nominations.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bill Murray</span> American actor (born 1950)

William James Murray is an American actor and comedian, known for his deadpan delivery in roles ranging from studio comedies to independent dramas.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Brian Doyle-Murray</span> American actor (born 1945)

Brian Murray, known professionally by his stage name as Brian Doyle-Murray, is an American actor and screenwriter. He has appeared with his younger brother, actor/comedian Bill Murray, in several films, including Caddyshack, Scrooged, Ghostbusters II, Groundhog Day, and The Razor's Edge. He co-starred on the TBS sitcom Sullivan & Son, where he played the foul-mouthed Hank Murphy. He also appeared in the Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants as The Flying Dutchman, the Cartoon Network original animated series My Gym Partner's a Monkey as Coach Tiffany Gills, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack as Captain K'nuckles, a recurring role as Don Ehlert on the ABC sitcom The Middle, and Bob Kruger in the AMC dramedy Lodge 49.

<i>Caddyshack</i> 1980 American sports comedy film by Harold Ramis

Caddyshack is a 1980 American sports comedy film directed by Harold Ramis, written by Brian Doyle-Murray, Ramis and Douglas Kenney, and starring Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, Michael O'Keefe and Bill Murray with supporting roles by Sarah Holcomb, Cindy Morgan, and Doyle-Murray. It tells the story of a caddie, vying for a caddie scholarship, who becomes involved in a feud on the links between one of the country club's founders and a nouveau riche guest. A subplot involves a greenskeeper who uses extreme methods against an elusive gopher.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Phil LaMarr</span> American actor (born 1967)

Phillip LaMarr is an American actor. He was one of the original featured cast members on the sketch comedy television series Mad TV, where he stayed for five seasons. His voice acting roles in animated series include the title character of Samurai Jack, both John Stewart / Green Lantern and Virgil Hawkins / Static in the DC Animated Universe Hermes Conrad in Futurama, and Wilt in Foster's Home for Imaginary Friends. LaMarr has also provided voices for video game franchises including Metal Gear, Jak and Daxter, Darksiders, Final Fantasy, Infamous, Dead Island, Kingdom Hearts, and Mortal Kombat. He also voiced Browntooth the Goblin Rogue in the Critical Role episode "The Goblins".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Harold Ramis</span> American actor, comedian, and filmmaker (1944–2014)

Harold Allen Ramis was an American actor, comedian, and filmmaker. His film acting roles include Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters (1984) and Ghostbusters II (1989), and as Russell Ziskey in Stripes (1981); he also co-wrote those films. As a director, his films include the comedies Caddyshack (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), Groundhog Day (1993), Analyze This (1999) and Analyze That (2002). Ramis was the original head writer of the television series SCTV, on which he also performed, as well as a co-writer of Groundhog Day and National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). The final film that he wrote, produced, directed, and acted in was Year One (2009).

<i>Dharma & Greg</i> American television sitcom (1997-2002)

Dharma & Greg is an American television sitcom that originally aired on ABC from September 24, 1997, until April 30, 2002, for 119 episodes over five seasons.

<i>Caddyshack II</i> 1988 film by Allan Arkush

Caddyshack II is a 1988 American sports comedy film and a sequel to the 1980 film Caddyshack. Directed by Allan Arkush and written by Harold Ramis and PJ Torokvei, it stars Jackie Mason, Robert Stack, Dyan Cannon, Dina Merrill, Jonathan Silverman, Brian McNamara, Marsha Warfield, Paul Bartel, and Randy Quaid with special appearances by Chevy Chase and Dan Aykroyd. It tells the story of a wealthy and widowed real estate developer who goes up against Bushwood County Club's snobbish president in a golfing tournament.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Stephen Root</span> American actor (born 1951)

Stephen Root is an American actor. He has starred as Jimmy James on the NBC sitcom NewsRadio (1995–1999), as Milton Waddams in the film Office Space (1999), and voiced Bill Dauterive and Buck Strickland on the animated series King of the Hill (1997–2010).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Del Close</span> American actor, writer, and teacher (1934–1999)

Del Close was an American actor, writer, and teacher who coached many of the best-known comedians and comic actors of the late twentieth century. In addition to an acting career in television and film, he was one of the influences on modern improvisational theater. Close was co-founder of the ImprovOlympic (iO).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">David Koechner</span> American actor and comedian

David Michael Koechner is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for playing roles such as Champ Kind in the Anchorman films and Todd Packer on The Office series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Walsh (comedian)</span> American comedian and actor (born 1964)

Matthew Paul Walsh is an American comedian and actor. He is best known for his role as Mike McLintock in Veep for which he received two Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He is a founding member of the Upright Citizens Brigade sketch comedy troupe, with which he co-starred in its original television series and the 2015 reboot. He also previously starred in short-lived comedy programs such as Dog Bites Man and Players, and was a correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He has also appeared in films such as Road Trip (2000), Bad Santa (2003), School for Scoundrels (2006), Role Models (2008), The Hangover (2009), and The Do-Over (2016).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dermot Mulroney</span> American actor (b. 1963)

Dermot Patrick Mulroney is an American actor. He is known for his roles in romantic comedy, western, and drama films.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ike Barinholtz</span> American actor and comedian (born 1977)

Ike Barinholtz is an American actor and comedian. He is best known for his starring roles in the comedy series MADtv (2002–2007), Eastbound & Down (2012), The Mindy Project (2012–2017), Bless the Harts (2019–2021), The Afterparty (2022), and History of the World, Part II (2023). In February 2023, he won the inaugural primetime season of Celebrity Jeopardy!, winning US$1,000,000 for charity and placed as a semifinalist in the 2024 Tournament of Champions.

The Improv Institute was an improvisational comedy company in Chicago from 1984 until 1994. The mainstage show was improvised following audience suggestions. The troupe had two storefront-theaters, both on West Belmont Avenue on Chicago's North side, first at 2939 W. Belmont (1984–1990), and later at 2319 W. Belmont (1991–1994).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Craig Robinson (actor)</span> American actor and comedian (born 1971)

Craig Robinson is an American actor and comedian. The accolades he has received include nominations for five Screen Actors Guild Awards, an Independent Spirit Award, and a Daytime Emmy Award.

G-Fest, often typeset as G-FEST, is an annual convention devoted to the Godzilla film franchise and other kaiju franchises such as Gamera and the Ultra Series. G-Fest is staged by Daikaiju Enterprises, Ltd., and G-Fan magazine. It regularly features panels, contests, and theatrically screened films of interest to fans of Japanese monsters.

Jessica R. Lundy is an American actress. She began her career appearing in films Bright Lights, Big City (1988), Caddyshack II (1988) and Madhouse (1990), before regular roles in the short-lived police drama Over My Dead Body (1990–91) and six-episode revival of The Carol Burnett Show (1991). She starred as Gloria Utz in the NBC sitcom Hope & Gloria from 1995 to 1996, and the comedy films The Stupids (1996) and RocketMan (1997). From 2015 to 2019, Lundy starred as Amanda Wainwright in the CBS crime drama series, The Inspectors.

Patrick Cassidy Finn is an American film and television actor.

<i>Bloodsucking Bastards</i> 2015 American film

Bloodsucking Bastards is a 2015 American comedy horror film directed by Brian James O'Connell, written by Ryan Mitts and Dr. God, O'Connell's comedy group. The film stars Fran Kranz, Pedro Pascal, Emma Fitzpatrick, and Joey Kern. The film was limited released on September 4, 2015, and through video on demand by Scream Factory.

References

  1. "Bill Murray profile". Film Reference. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  2. "Bill Murray Family Tree". Ancestry.com. Archived from the original on December 27, 2007. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  3. Elder, Sean. "Brilliant Careers: Bill Murray". Salon.com. Archived from the original on March 29, 2009. Retrieved November 12, 2007.
  4. "Bill Murray's Sister to Portray Saint at Local Churches" [ dead link ], The Macomb Daily, May 13, 2010; retrieved June 26, 2010.
  5. Seemayer, Zach (November 24, 2020). "Bill Murray's Brother Ed, Inspiration Behind Film Caddyshack, Dies". Entertainment Tonight . Retrieved November 24, 2020.
  6. White, Timothy (November 20, 1988). "The Rumpled Anarchy of Bill Murray". The New York Times. Retrieved June 6, 2013.
  7. Bill Murray profile at Yahoo! Movies Archived January 14, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  8. Hanson-Firestone, Dana (August 11, 2017). "Five Things You Didn't Know About Joel Murray". TVOvermind.
  9. "English: The 1989 stagebill from Second City". March 15, 1989 via Wikimedia Commons.
  10. "Slamdance 2015: Shout! Factory Nabs Bloodsucking Bastards". January 29, 2015.
  11. "About Murray Bros. Caddyshack". Archived from the original on November 22, 2015. Retrieved November 22, 2015.
  12. Hernandez, Joseph (April 13, 2018). "Bill Murray, brothers to open 2nd Caddyshack restaurant Tuesday in Rosemont". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved April 6, 2024.
  13. Petski, Denise (December 15, 2020). "'Heels': David James Elliott & Joel Murray To Recur In Starz's Wrestling Drama Series". Deadline.com. Retrieved March 19, 2024.