Bill Murray: 9 of His Greatest Roles
Any comedy-nerd worth their weight in Arrested Development references understands the importance of Saturday Night Live to the comedy industry. Since 1975, that franchise has launched an untold amount of film careers for famous funny people, from the curmudgeonly Chevy Chase to so-creepily-talented-she-might-be-an-alien Kristen Wiig. Some careers (Will Ferrell) have been more everlasting and celebrated than others (Victoria Jackson), but one existentially hilarious beacon of brilliance shines brighter than the rest: the eternal flame that is Bill Murray.
Look, I’m not here to pit SNL stars against one another in a Hunger Games style fight-to-the-death for the title of “best career.” Who is anyone to scrutinize the lives of hardworking comedians from different backgrounds who are suddenly thrust into the spotlight? There’s literally no way to compare Gilda Radner to Chris Kattan without sounding cruel (it’s like apples and old yogurt). Not to mention, the competition is pointless since the winner is so clearly Bill Murray. With four decades of success under his belt, no other SNL star has been more everlastingly beloved than Murray, and each chapter of his career has been more entertaining, intriguing, and brilliant than the last.
From Emmy-winning sketch comedy star to Golden Globe-winning dramatic actor, Murray’s career is ever evolving. In celebration of his ability to remain relevant where so many others have fallen, let’s look back and remember the roles that defined each phase of his career. Here are the roles that made Bill Murray into the star that we know and love today.
