Rule #33 Get to Know Bill Murray
As someone who has grown up watching Bill Murray my entire life, it is interesting to see what he’s become. He’s almost like a mythical creature. He’s right up there with Big Foot, aliens, or Donald Trump’s hair. However, in the case of Bill Murray he’s real. He’s very real. Stories abound of his antics. He is known for going up to people in the most random of situations and leaving them with the quip, “They’ll never believe you.”
Those who know him say he is a terribly big hearted and loyal friend. He is one of those rare universally liked individuals save for Chevy Chase who may or may not still dislike Murray. I have a very good second hand account of Murray’s legendary kindness. When I was much younger my Mom’s cousin Tim told me a Bill Murray story. Now understand this story was told during the early 90’s. This was before Murray had become a world renowned semi nihilist enigma with eccentric tendencies. My Mom’s cousin happened to be the mechanical bull operator at Gilley’s during the height of Gilley’s fame. In fact, he was the mechanical bull operator at the time of the filming of the cinematic masterpiece (in the author’s humble opinion) “Urban Cowboy.”
I guess you could say my Mom’s cousin was played by Scott Glenn. During this time one of the stars of the movie, Debra Winger, hosted Saturday Night Live. As such there was a mechanical bull skit. My Mom’s cousin being the mechanical bull operator of the subject location of the movie was invited to come up to SNL and advise on the project. Now let me explain something briefly. Whatever visions you have of a real life mechanical bull operator at Gilley’s, assume all your stereotypes and biases are correct. Tim is exactly what you would expect. And now he was at Rockefeller Center in NYC.
One day he was in the lunchroom at NBC when up walks you guessed it Bill Murray. As Tim describes it Murray proceeded to give him a full tour of the place. He took him to meet David Letterman, had lunch with him and treated him as if he was a paid tour guide. That’s Bill Murray.
The thing I admire most about Bill Murray and tend to admire more and more with each passing year of my life is his ability to live life on his terms. He is a truly free man. The rumors of Bill Murray having no agent or manager are true. He decides on all his projects. Is there really a 1-800 number you call to pitch a project to Bill? Yep. It’s true.Is the number published? Nope. Is it very very hard to get in touch with Bill Murray? Bingo. In fact it took multiple attempts and messages left on Murray’s voice mail from the 800 number before Academy Award winner Sophia Coppola could reach him to discuss her movie “Lost in Translation.”
I think to truly understand or at least start to understand Bill Murray you can start by going to his first movie “Meatballs.” There is a scene where Murray gives his famous “It just doesn’t matter” speech. I encourage you to listen to it. While I’m not a nihilist myself, and I’m not sure Bill Murray is either I do think there is some real gold in the words, “It just doesn’t matter.” At a time when we see everyone making seemingly everything matter so damn much it’s good to step back and discern what does matter. Then again the ultimate advice might be to decide what doesn’t matter.
You Rule!
Jason