Bill Murray, who turns 65 today, has a knack for popping up in unexpected places and to give unsuspecting people stories that will last a lifetime. For instance, there was the time he guest conducted the Cornell Big Red Marching Band, or the (several) times he crashed hipster house parties in Brooklyn.
Even on the red carpet (where he was disappointingly absent during last night’s Emmys), the Groundhog Day star gets a little crazy. He’s arrived in jarring all-plaid ensembles and wore a plastic crown to TIFF. We’re already excited for whatever premiere antics Murray’s new Ghostbusters cameo will bring because no one in Hollywood is better at taking themselves so (delightfully) un-seriously.
In honor of the Saturday Night Live alum’s big day and his newfound ability to get movie tickets on the cheap, here are Bill Murray’s greatest viral moments and instances when only he could get away with something. Let’s hope there’s many, many more to come.
He jumps out of a cake on one of David Letterman’s final shows.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_iN0cFKxqsI
Murray’s final appearance on David Letterman back in May was a true doozy. He arrived on set inside of a giant prop cake and popped out covered in messy frosting, which he proceeded to get everywhere (poor Dave).
He then swigged from a bottle of liquor throughout the interview, which is likely what led to…
Murray drunkenly falls off a chair on MSNBC.
After popping out of the cake, Murray got blitzed and made an unannounced appearance on MSNBC. The star lost his balance and fell out of a chair and onto the ground during The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell. After the drunken topple, he told O’Donnell: “I just did the Letterman show, then went to dinner, had oysters, rosé wine, red wine and duck – and red wine.”
Despite admitting to the wine consumption, Murray still blamed the chair. “The chair was not balanced properly,” he slurred.
He gives a rousing bachelor party speech – to strangers.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YBFvU0YbKTI
No one is more qualified to dispel life’s truths than the man who lived one day over and over again.
Murray was at a restaurant in Charleston over Memorial Day weekend in 2014, the same steakhouse where a bachelor party was also dining. After the men and groom asked the star to join the party, he offered some romantic wisdom – all caught on camera.
In its entirety, here’s some of Murray’s best work:
“If you have someone that you think is The One, don’t just sort of think in your ordinary mind, ‘Okay, let’s pick a date. Let’s plan this and make a party and get married.’ Take that person and travel around the world. Buy a plane ticket for the two of you to travel all around the world, and go to places that are hard to go to and hard to get out of. And if when you come back to JFK, when you land in JFK, and you’re still in love with that person, get married at the airport.”
Murray stars in a short film rather than give an autograph.
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When a group asked Murray for an autograph, he denied and did them one better. He walked down a hallway in slow motion on camera.
Not much more can be said – just watch the clip.
Murray hit the golf course in PBR pants and a self-referential shirt.
https://twitter.com/WJXTElizabeth/status/449204139562926080/photo/1?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Why not tee up in some PBR pants? Last March, the actor hit the golf course repping the party beer in Jacksonville, Florida. While the pants were distracting, it was the Caddyshack “Big Hitter” homage under his zip-up that really stole the show.
His athletic attire impressed at yet another golf tournament this year. The pattern of choice this time around? Go Cubs!
Murray crashes not one but TWO karaoke parties.
Back in January 2011, Murray was at Manhattan’s Karaoke One 7 (obviously) when a group of singers invited him into their private room. When the invite went unanswered, the group continued to poorly perform renditions of Modest Mouse songs. But alas, Murray couldn’t miss an opportunity for new friendship!
Just 15 minutes later, he arrived with a round of drinks and stayed for the next four hours. One of the karaoke revelers said that Murray even dueted with him on some Elvis.
But the Murray karaoke tales aren’t over yet. In March 2014, he performed 45 minutes of sing-a-longs at the Murray Bros. Caddyshack Restaurant in St. Augustine, Florida.
The tunes of choice? “Gloria” and karaoke classic “House of the Rising Sun.”
He shows up at a fan’s unofficial Bill Murray Ice Cream Social.
In July 2014, the owner of Los Angeles ice cream store CVT Softserve decided to throw a “Bill Murray Ice Cream Social” in hopes that the man, the myth, the legend would show up. And he did – obviously.
The owner heard Murray was filming in a nearby neighborhood, so he invited the cast and crew of the film over for some free ice cream.
“Long story short, the guest of honor made it to the party and the rest is history,” Joe Nicchi, the owner, told Gawker. “Like my dad always says, ‘You’ll never dance with the pretty girl unless you ask.'”
Murray rivals Taylor Swift’s award show dancing at a Chris Stapleton concert.
Back in his home of Charleston, Bill Murray likes to partake in Southern outings, like country concerts. Just last month at a Chris Stapleton show at the Charleston Music Hall, Murray lept to his feet and awkward-danced along with the country crooner.
Obviously, everyone else at the Charleston Music Hall was seated. Come for the hand thrusting, stay for the loud (and poor) singing.
