Bill Murray's 8 Siblings: All About His Brothers and Sisters

Mar. 15, 2025

Bill Murray with his brothers, Ed, Brian, Andy, John, and Joel.Photo:William Murray Golf Instagram

William Murray Golf Instagram

Bill Murrayand his siblings are a tight-knit bunch.

TheOscarnominee has five brothers, Ed, Brian, Andy, John and Joel, and three sisters, Nancy, Peggy and Laura. Born to Edward J. Murray II and Lucille Murray, the Murray siblings were raised in Wilmette, Illinois.

Over the years, several of the Murray siblings have shared stories about their childhood in Illinois, from perfecting their comedic talents at the dinner table to working at a local country club. Their experiences caddying at the golf course even inspired Bill’s iconic filmCaddyshack.

In 1967, their father Edward II died of diabetes, and Lucille died of cancer two decades later. While the siblings have remained close, Bill toldNBC 5 Chicagoin 2022 that family gatherings haven’t been the same since their deaths. “It’s still hard to believe that your parents are gone,” he said, noting that reunions felt like “someone was missing.”

In 2020, the Murrays suffered another loss whenBill’s oldest brother, Ed, died.

Still, the Murray children have each other to lean on. “It’s been [an] amazing relationship, how a family grows and changes through life events,” Bill’s oldest sister Nancy toldAdrian Dominican Sistersin 2019.

From growing up in Illinois to their careers as actors, business owners and more, here’s everything to know about Bill Murray’s siblings.

They worked on their comedic timing at the family dinner table

Bill Murray with his siblings.Joel Murray Instagram

Joel Murray Instagram

Nancy said in a2018 interviewthat she and her siblings got a crash course in acting when the Murrays ate dinner as a family. “The dinner table was the first stage in our family,” she told StarNews. “The rule was, no bad news at the table. That waited till after dinner. And Billy definitely had a sense of humor, like his dad and grandpa.”

The following year, Joel elaborated on these scenes from the dinner table, tellingThe Standard-Times, “My father was a diabetic, and a really slow eater. The rest of us would eat in a minute-and-a-half, and we’d spend the next 45 minutes trying to make him laugh. You learned a lot about timing at a table with 11 people every night."

When a sibling could make their dad, Edward II, laugh with his mouth full, they’d “really done something,” Joel toldChicagomagazinein 2007.

Four of Bill’s siblings became actors

Bill Murray in ‘The Razor’s Edge’.Columbia Pictures/Getty

Columbia Pictures/Getty

Of the nine Murray children, five — Brian, Nancy, Bill, Joel and John — became actors, with Brian, Bill and Joel all studying at Second City in Chicago.

Nancy, who studied theatre at Barry University, also became an actress, though not in the traditional sense. PerThe IndyStar, she began performing the role of St. Catherine of Siena, a 14th-century teen who was known for her works of charity, in a one-woman play —St. Catherine of Siena: A Woman for Our Times— on Nov. 1, 2000. As of August 2022, she was still traveling the country for the show.

Nancy was also Bill’s first “director.” “It was the Nativity play in the basement,” she toldChicagomagazine, adding, “I was Mary, of course. Billy was St. Joseph.”

John is also a writer and an actor. Hisfirst major acting role was in 1985’sMovingViolations, though he also starred as a caddy in Brian and Bill’s smash hitCaddyshack. He later shared the screen with his two older brothers inScroogedand had a cameo inElf.

The youngest Murray, Joel, followed in his older siblings’ footsteps, attending improv school before starring oppositeJohn CusackandDemi Moorein 1986’sOne Crazy Summer. He has since had starring roles inDharma & Greg,Mad Men,ShamelessandHeels.

The movieCaddyshackwas based on Edward

Bill Murray in ‘Caddyshack’.Orion Pictures/Getty

Orion Pictures/Getty

Ed spoke to theSanta Maria Sunin 2015 about his experiences on the golf course, which included caddying for Bob Hope andBilly Grahamand working at PGA tournaments alongsideJack NicklausandArnold Palmer. “You’re a kid dealing with adults,” he said. “You have to be polite and feel like you’re a partner with the guy you’re caddying for. You’re with him to help him, not to tell him how to play golf.”

Brian changed his last name for his career

Bill Murray and brother Brian Doyle Murray pose backstage at The August Wilson Theatre on August 8, 2017 in New York City.Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Brian has been working under the stage name Brian Doyle-Murray for decades. According toChicagomagazine, he added his grandmother’s maiden name, Doyle, to his surname to avoid being confused with another Brian Murray in the Actors’ Equity Association (a labor union that represents actors and stage managers).

Nancy is a nun

Sister Nancy Murray visits San Clemente High School in Mayfield.Fairfax Media/Getty

Fairfax Media/Getty

Though Nancy was educated in theatre, she became a nun shortly after graduating from high school. “My mother did not like it one bit,” she toldChicagomagazine. “She told me, ‘Nancy, they get up at five in the morning-you’re not on time for the 12 o’clock Mass. You like shopping too much; you like dating too much; you like everything too much. This life is not for you.' "

In her early years as a nun, Nancy was known as Sister Marie Erin and served as a third-grade teacher at St. Norbert Catholic School. “I have been able to do so many things, even missionary work,” she told theDetroit Free Pressin 2007.

Nancy switched her ministry focus to the stage in 2000 when she took on her role as St. Catherine of Siena.

Andy is a chef and restaurateur

Unlike the majority of his brothers, Andy, who was born after Laura and before John and Joel, became a restaurateur.

Andy told theChicago Tribunethat his love affair with the kitchen began at a young age. “My love of food — and family — came from my mother,” he said. “Everybody felt at home when they sat at her table.”

He also cultivated an appreciation of restaurants early on, working as a busser for the Indian Hills Club, where he and his brothers caddied. “I fell in love with restaurants that first day,” he told the publication. “They gave me food. And that beat the hot dogs and drinks we had to pay for ourselves at the golf course.”

According to theChicago Sun-Times, Andy earned a management degree from the New York Restaurant School in the late ‘80s. He then worked as a sous-chef at the city’s well-known Mortimer’s, where he cooked for the likes ofJackie KennedyandFrank Sinatra.

In June 2001, he opened the firstMurray Bros. Caddyshack restaurantin St. Augustine, Florida. He later opened a second location in Rosemont, Illinois.

The other Murray siblings also contributed to the project, sharing their collective favorite meals, tales and photos with readers.

John played Bill’s little brother inScroogedand Brian played his dad

Bill Murray in ‘Scrooged’.FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives/Getty

FilmPublicityArchive/United Archives/Getty

Bill’s second-youngest brother John didn’t have to stretch the truth too far for his role in the 1988 Christmas classicScrooged.John played James Cross, the younger brother of Bill’s character, Frank Cross.

Brian and Joel also had roles in the film. Brian, who is four years older than Bill, played Frank and James’ fictional father, Earl Cross, while Joel had a cameo as a guest.

Joel once voiced Chester Cheetah

Bill Murray and his brother Joel Murray pose on the 18th hole during the Pro Am at the 2012 Irish Open.Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty

Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty

Though he’s better known for his roles inMad Men,Dharma& GregandShameless,Joel revealed toThe Boston Globein 2019 that he once voiced the iconic Cheetos mascot.

“I’ve had some goofy gigs,” the actor, who also voiced Don inMonsters University, said. “I was the voice of Chester Cheetah for Cheetos. I was the righteous kitty in the heart of hip city. Cheetos. It was a good gig. Bought my first house.”

The Murray brothers were all inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame

In 2015, all six Murray brothers were inducted into the Caddie Hall of Fame, a group which honors those who “promote the role of caddies in the game of golf.”

Edward spoke to theSanta Maria Sunabout the bond the caddying experience helped him forge with his younger siblings. “It was not about me, it wasn’t about Billy either. Usually he’s the headline … It was the fact that all six of us caddied.”

Brian dropped out of college to help his mother at home

Bill Murray and Brian Murray attend Casey Lee Ball Classic Charity Golf Tournament on May 17, 1999 in Thousand Oaks, California.Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

Ron Galella, Ltd./Ron Galella Collection/Getty

When their father died in 1967, Brian left school at St. Mary’s College in California to help out their mother. “He dropped out to come home and try to help mom out,” Ed toldChicagomagazine.

Brian’s collegiate absence eventually led to his career in film, as he joined the Second City improv troupe in 1973. “If Dad hadn’t died we might all be working at the lumberyard,” Joel toldChicago. “But because he had, Brian was freed up to chase this dream he had of joining The Second City.”

Laura lives in the Murray childhood home

As of 2005, Bill’s younger sister Laura and her husband Robert were living in the Murrays’ childhood home in Wilmette, whichChicagomagazine reported that Laura purchased from her older siblings.

Brian voices The Flying Dutchman onSpongeBob SquarePants

Brian Doyle-Murray in ‘The Middle’.Michael Ansell/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty

Michael Ansell/Disney General Entertainment Content/Getty

Joel isn’t the only Murray to have voiced an interesting children’s character. From 1999 to 2012, Brian was a recurring guest voice in the first eight seasons of Nickelodeon’sSpongeBob SquarePantsas The Flying Dutchman.

He reprised his role in season 11 of the show in 2017 and also lent his vocal talents to the Dutchman for several SpongeBob video games, including 2023’sSpongeBob SquarePants: Battle for Bikini Bottom — Rehydrated, as well as the upcoming SpongeBob filmThe SpongeBob Movie: Search for SquarePants.

The Murray brothers have a clothing company

Bill Murray takes his second shot on the 17th hole on Day Three of the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship in 2022.Richard Heathcote/Getty

Richard Heathcote/Getty

“We decided to do this a few years ago,” he said in 2019. “Billy and I and the brothers are in on the design.”

source: people.com