Image: Columbia Pictures
About This Quiz
Ah, Bill Murray — he's a national treasure. Beloved for his comedic roles in classic films such as "Ghostbusters," "Scrooged" and "Groundhog Day," respected for his dramatic turns in films like "Lost in Translation" and “Get Low," he's one of the country's most adored actors. He's also a cool and quirky dude known for his propensity to crash parties, sing karaoke with strangers and navigate the Hollywood landscape without an agent or manager. He's a celebrity unlike any other, and America loves him for it.
Bill Murray's career spans decades and includes radio, TV shows, movies and many a memorable talk show appearance. This makes for what feels like a never-ending supply of trivia questions about everything from his most famous roles to his wildest off-screen antics. How well do you think you know this living legend? Can you name all of his classic movie characters? Did you see the video of him crashing a stranger's bachelor party? Only real diehard Bill Murray fan will know the answers to the questions in this quiz, and we're dying to know if that's you. Are you ready to test your knowledge of this one-of-a-kind actor's life and times? Put on your mental proton pack and bust out the correct answers to all of the questions below!
Who co-starred with Bill Murray in the 1991 comedy "What About Bob?"
Kevin Kline
Richard Dreyfuss
Both Murray and Dreyfuss have admitted that they did not get along during the filming of "What About Bob?" In a 1993 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Murray noted: "But it worked for the movie. I mean, I drove him nuts, and he encouraged me to drive him nuts."
Robert Shaw
Bob Balaban
Advertisement
Bill Murray provided the voice for which famous feline?
Felix the Cat
Garfield
Murray voiced the computer-animated character of Garfield in two films: "Garfield: The Movie" in 2004 and "Garfield: A Tail of Two Kitties" in 2006. The actor has famously said that he only took the role because he thought Joel Coen wrote the movie of the Coen brothers. (He was mistaken — the screenwriter's name was actually Joel Cohen.)
Heathcliff
Sylvester the Cat
Advertisement
In "Groundhog Day," what song does Phil Connors hear on his radio alarm when he wakes up each morning?
"I Got You, Babe"
Released in 1993, "Groundhog Day" was co-written and directed by Harold Ramis, Murray's long-time friend and co-star in "Ghostbusters." Ramis also directed Murray in the 1980 hit "Caddyshack."
"I Want to Hold Your Hand"
"I Heard It Through the Grapevine"
"I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)"
Advertisement
What was the name of the character Bill Murray played in "Ghostbusters"?
Egon Spengler
Peter Venkman
The character Peter Venkman was originally written for John Belushi, who died of a drug overdose before the script was finished. The character was retooled after Belushi's death, and the part was given to Bill Murray.
Louis Tully
Ray Stantz
Advertisement
What was the name of the goofy groundskeeper Bill Murray played in "Caddyshack"?
Carl Spackler
"Caddyshack" was co-written by Murray's brother, Brian Doyle-Murray. Reportedly, Bill Murray improvised most of his scenes — the role of Carl Spackler was initially a very small one, but the filmmakers were so happy with what Murray was doing that they kept bringing him back to set to film more scenes.
Danny Noonan
Spaulding Smails
Ty Webb
Advertisement
Bill Murray played himself in which of the following films?
"Quick Change"
"Lost in Translation"
"Zombieland"
Released in 2009, "Zombieland" features Murray as a fictionalized version of himself fighting to survive during the zombie apocalypse. The film also stars Woody Harrelson, Jesse Eisenberg and Emma Stone.
"Broken Flowers"
Advertisement
Which of the following SNL characters is Bill Murray famous for playing?
Father Guido Sarducci
Ed Grimley
Samurai Futaba
Nick the Lounge Singer
Bill Murray debuted this iconic character, who sang cheesy renditions of popular songs, in 1977. The character is perhaps best known for the skit in which he sang his own schmaltzy version of the "Star Wars" theme song.
Advertisement
What prestigious prize was awarded to Bill Murray in 2016?
The Nobel Peace Prize
Academy Award for Best Actor
Pulitzer Prize for Drama
The Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
The two-hour special honoring Bill Murray at the Kennedy Center was broadcast on PBS. Famous friends who paid tribute to the honoree included Jane Curtain, Ivan Reitman, Sigourney Weaver and David Letterman. Murray was the 19th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize, which has also been awarded to Steve Martin, Carol Burnett, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Tina Fey.
Advertisement
"Zombieland" isn't the only zombie movie Bill Murray has appeared in. What's the name of the other?
"Walking Dead: The Movie"
"Cargo"
"The Dead Don't Die"
The 2019 zombie comedy "The Dead Don't Die" was directed by Jim Jarmusch, who also directed Murray in two other the films: "Broken Flowers," a 2005 comedy-drama, and the 2003 movie "Coffee and Cigarettes."
"Life After Beth"
Advertisement
With what comedy troupe did Bill Murray get his start?
Upright Citizens Brigade
The Groundlings.
Actors Improv Studio
The Second City
Inspired by his older brother Brian, Murray joined The Second City in Chicago and graduated to the improv group's main stage in 1973. A year later, he moved to New York City and appeared on "The National Lampoon Radio Hour."
Advertisement
Which of the following restaurants does Bill Murray co-own?
The Stripes Diner
The Meatballs Cafe
Murray Bros. Caddyshack
Owned by Murray and his five brothers, this golf-themed restaurant first opened in St. Augustine, Florida in 2001. A second location was opened in 2017 Rosemont, Illinois, just a few miles from Chicago’s O'Hare International Airport.
What About Chef Bob?
Advertisement
During what season did Bill Murray join the cast of "Saturday Night Live"?
Season One
Season Five
Season Two
Bill Murray was brought onboard the "Saturday Night Live" bandwagon in 1977 during the show's second season after Chevy Chase left to concentrate on his movie career. Chase and Murray later appeared together in the classic 1980 comedy "Caddyshack."
Season Three
Advertisement
Bill Murray reportedly broke Robert De Niro's nose during the filming of which film?
"Wild Things"
"With Friends Like These..."
"Little Shop of Horrors"
"Mad Dog and Glory"
Don't worry, it was an accident! Playing against type, Billy Murray starred as a mob boss in the 1993 film. He accidentally injured De Niro when he got a bit overzealous during a fight scene.
Advertisement
At the 50th anniversary of the Chicago Air & Water Show in 2008, what did Bill Murray do?
Piloted a fighter jet
Jumped out of a plane
Bill Murray enjoyed a tandem skydive with the help of the U.S. Army Parachute Team, nicknamed the Golden Knights. After making the jump to support the USO Illinois, a group that helps wounded war veterans, Murray landed safe and sound on North Avenue Beach, to onlookers' delight.
Swam a mlie
Waterskied
Advertisement
What was the name of Bill Murray's 2015 Christmas special?
"Scrooged Live"
"Bill Does Christmas"
"A Very Murray Christmas"
Murray's musical comedy special, "A Very Murray Christmas," was released by Netflix and directed by Sofia Coppola (who also directed Murray in "Lost in Translation"). It featured a score of celebrity guests, including Miley Cyrus, Amy Poehler, Chris Rock and George Clooney.
"Tis the Season to Be Murray"
Advertisement
Which of the following presidents has Bill Murray portrayed on the big screen?
Bill Clinton
Theodore Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Bill Murray played FDR in the 2012 film "Hyde Park on Hudson," which also starred Laura Linney and Olivia Colman. The role earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actor in a Motion Picture: Musical or Comedy.
John Adams
Advertisement
What was the name of Bill Murray's character in the movie "Rushmore"?
Herman Blume
Murray won a number of awards for his 1998 portrayal of the wealthy Herman Blume, including an Independent Spirit Award for Best Supporting Male and a New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Ernie McCracken
Raleigh St. Clair
Bob Harris
Advertisement
Murray made his debut as a dramatic actor in which of the following films?
"Lost in Translation"
"Get Low"
"The Razor's Edge"
Bill Murray co-wrote "The Razor's Edge," which was based on the 1944 novel of the same name by W. Somerset Maugham. Though it came out after "Ghostbusters," it was actually filmed before the hit comedy.
"Hyde Park on Hudson"
Advertisement
Bill Murray owns a baseball team — what's it called?
The Akron Rubberducks
The Chattanooga Lookouts
The Charleston RiverDogs
The Charleston RiverDogs are a Class A team in the South Atlantic League, which means they're a minor league team. According to the team's web site, Bill Murray's official title is "Director of Fun." Murray was inducted into the South Atlantic League Hall of Fame in 2012.
The Greensboro Grasshoppers
Advertisement
Bill Murray made a cameo in the 1986 film "Little Shop of Horrors." Who did he play?
A sadistic dentist
A masochist dental patient
Murray took a four-year break from acting in 1984, after the lackluster response to his film "The Razor's Edge." The only job he took until 1988's "Scrooged" was this small part as Arthur Denton, the chatty, pain-loving dental patient.
A fun-loving DJ
The grumpy shop owner
Advertisement
Bill Murray played guitar onstage with which legendary musician?
Eric Clapton
In 2007, Murray hosted the Crossroads Music Festival at the Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois. At the beginning of the show, he introduced Clapton and played a version of the Van Morrison song "Gloria" with him.
Jimmy Page
Keith Richards
Slash
Advertisement
Bill Murray was the first guest on which of the following talk shows?
"Late Night with David Letterman"
During his famous first appearance in 1982, Murray performed a hilarious rendition of the Olivia Newton-John hit "Physical." Eleven years later, Murray was Letterman's first guest once again when the talk show moved another network. He was also the last guest on the show in 2015 when Letterman retired.
"The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson"
"The Arsenio Hall Show"
"Jimmy Kimmel Live!"
Advertisement
What year was Bill Murray born?
1946
1955
1950
Bill Murray was born on September 21, 1950, in Evanston, Illinois. He grew up in the Northern Chicago suburb of Wilmette and took part in high school and community theater performances when he was a teen.
1948
Advertisement
In which movie did Bill Murray have his first starring role?
"Caddyshack"
"Tootsie"
"Meatballs"
Released in 1979, "Meatballs" was a Canadian comedy directed by Ivan Reitman. The movie was about a group of counselors-in-training at a summer camp, and it spawned three sequels, though neither Murray nor Reitman were involved in them.
"Stripes"
Advertisement
How many times has Bill Murray been nominated for an Oscar?
One
Bill Murray was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor in 2003 for his role as Bob Harris in "Lost in Translation." While he lost to Sean Penn, who won for "Mystic River," Murray did receive a Golden Globe award for his performance.
Two
Three
Zero
Advertisement
Bill Murray's brother Joel appeared on which of the following TV shows?
"Lost"
"Mad Men"
The youngest of the nine Murray siblings, Joel Murray played copywriter Freddy Rumsen on "Mad Men." He's also appeared in scores of movies and TV shows, including "Shameless," "Two and a Half Men" and "The Big Bang Theory."
"Game of Thrones"
"Breaking Bad"
Advertisement
How many times has Bill Murray appeared on "Saturday Night Live" as a host?
One
Three
Five
Murray first hosted "SNL" in 1981, a year after he left the show as a featured player. He hosted again eight months later in December of 1981, then took a break and came back in 1987, 1993 and 1999.
None
Advertisement
What's the name of the whiskey Bill Murray's character is in Japan to promote in "Lost in Translation"?
Suntory
Released in 2003, "Lost in Translation" was nominated for four Academy Awards, including Best Picture, Best Actor for Bill Murray and Best Director for Sofia Coppola. It was also nominated for Best Original Screenplay, which Coppola won.
Old Crow
Whiskers Whiskey
Old Vic
Advertisement
Bill Murray wrote a book in 1999. What was it called?
"My Brothers and Me"
"From Ghostbusters to Garfield"
"Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf"
Written with author George Peper, "Cinderella Story: My Life in Golf" details Murray's love for and experience with the sport, from his early days as a caddy to his experiences on the Pro-Am golf circuit.
"The Tao of Bill Murray"
Advertisement
What character did Bill Murray voice in "Fantastic Mr. Fox"?
Mr. Fox
Coach Skip
Clive Badger
This stop-motion animated comedy, which came out in 2009, was based on the children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. Other notable actors who voiced characters in the film included Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Jason Schwartzman and Willem Dafoe.
Kristofferson Silverfox
Advertisement
Which of the following films did Bill Murray co-direct?
"What About Bob?"
"The Razor's Edge"
"Quick Change"
Murray co-directed this 1990 comedy with screenwriter and producer Howard Franklin. Also starring Geena Davis, Randy Quaid and Jason Robards, it follows the antics of a bank-robbing escape gone wrong.
"The Man Who Knew Too Little"
Advertisement
In the movie "Kingpin," how many strikes in a row does Bill Murray's character get?
Five
Two
Three
According to on-set reports, Bill Murray actually bowled those three consecutive strikes while filming this scene — the reaction of everyone watching is genuine astonishment and excitement.
None
Advertisement
What was Bill Murray arrested for when he was 20 years old?
Indecent exposure
Drug smuggling
In 1970, Bill Murray was arrested at Chicago O'Hare International Airport for trying to smuggle 10 pounds of weed onto a plane. He was charged with possession of marijuana and given five years of probation.
Aggravated assault
Public intoxication
Advertisement
How many Wes Anderson movies has Bill Murray been in?
Eight
Murray has appeared in "Rushmore," "The Royal Tenenbaums," "The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou," "The Darjeeling Limited," "Fantastic Mr. Fox," "Moonrise Kingdom," "The Grand Budapest Hotel" and "Isle of Dogs."
Five
Two
Four
Advertisement
How many siblings does Bill Murray have?
One
Three
Eight
Bill Murray is one of nine children, three of whom are also actors. In fact, you may recognize Brian Doyle-Murray, an actor and writer who has appeared alongside his younger brother in a number of films, including "Scrooged," "Groundhog's Day" and "Caddyshack."
Five
Advertisement
You Got:
/35
