Bill Murray stories have circulated the internet for years.
Whether he’s popping up at a wedding or commandeering a golf cart or eating fries off of someone’s plate, many people know about the urban legend that is Murray.
But he’s no longer going to perform like such a character.
“I’m probably a little tentative about the same nature of engagement, but I don’t feel like I’m afraid to go outdoors,” he tells The New York Times’ David Marchese.
For every fun story about Murray, however, fans have come to learn about some not so pleasant legends as well.
On Set Issues Brought to Light
Marchese doesn’t mince words when it comes to asking Murray about what happened on past projects that have painted the actor in a not-so-good light.
He refuted stories that came out about him like throwing a glass at Richard Dreyfus’ head while shooting “What About Bob” and a story in Gina Davis’ memoir. There’s also how Lucy Liu was treated during the production of “Charlie’s Angels,” which caused the actress to call Murray out.
Then there’s what happened on the set of Aziz Ansari’s “Being Mortal.” Murray was accused of misconduct, forcing the movie to be suspended. Although, it’s apparent Murray constantly relives the actions that led to the suspension.
“I don’t go too many days or weeks without thinking of what happened on Being Mortal,” he tells Marchese. “I tried to make peace.”
Marchese sparked this part of the conversation when he pointed out the parallels between his character, Walter, and what happened while filming the movie.
“It was COVID, we were all wearing masks, and we were all just stranded in this one room, listening to this crazy scene,” Murray continues. “And I don’t know what prompted me to do it. It’s something that I had done to someone else before, and I thought it was funny. And every time it happened, it was funny.”
The actor is referring to the moment when he kisses another actor unprompted.
“…It wasn’t like I touched her,” Murray elaborates. “I gave her a kiss through a mask, through another mask – to another person. She wasn’t a stranger.”
The situation still bothers Murray because there were constraints he didn’t know about including “pre existing conditions” – possibly referring to risk factors surrounding COVID-19 and certain medical conditions.
Marchese took the chance to ask if Murray learned anything from the “Being Mortal” experience.
“I think so,” Murray starts. “You can teach an old dog new tricks. But I just thought it was a disappointment. It was a great disappointment because I thought I knew someone and I did not. And I thought it was, I certainly thought it was light. I thought it was funny. And to me, it’s still funny.”
Murray continues on about the situation, saying he wanted to keep the mood light onset due to the dark subject matter of the material. He then speaks on how he goes through a world that expects so much from him.
“I’m not complaining about it because I hate people who complain about it. But I don’t walk down the street the way that you can walk down the street,” Murray tells Marchese. “I walk down the street and people go, ‘Hey, you’. And I miss walking down the street like you walk down the street. I miss it. But it’s never [coming] back.”
Learning From the Past
Murray also dives into how all the talk surrounding his onset behaviour over the years has been on his mind. He also manages to use what he’s learned in order to make himself a better actor along with the people who share the screen with him.
“…The penance is like having to live and be the part of that person that you really have to make people uncomfortable,” Murray says about how he approaches bad characters. “You really have to make people uncomfortable. And even though it’s only acting, and even though it’s only for a minute – it’s real.”
He continues, adding: “…You have to be unrelenting. And when you really bear down on someone, if you’re doing it well enough, it really hurts someone. It really hurts. They really feel the hurt because you’re doing it to enable them to express the hurt for the camera, you know? So it’s rough. It’s rough stuff.”
Murray is quick to note that method actors aren’t his bag. He implies he knows where the line is.
“And you’ve got to take a deep breath and exhale afterwards and like, get over here, you know? That was just, that wasn’t us. That was that,” Murray tells Marches.
The most important note comes when Murray is asked if he grows from the experience of accepting what he’s done in the past connects to who he is now.
“When you performed as a horrible creep, you know that, ‘Hey, I have been that horrible creep,’” he says. “I have been that horrible creep and not seen it and not been aware of it.”
“And if you’re really seeing it, and if you’re doing it in the scene, you’re really… you’re doing it well, you’re seeing it.”
Comments
Bill Murray on Growing From Past On-Set Provocations: ‘I Tried to Make Peace’