Bill Murray no longer wants to hide his true face. The actor indirectly admitted that certain roles help him with this.
As revealed by Variety during Sunday’s invite-only chat, Murray's recent role in the film Riff Raff was especially appealing to him due to its controversial character. At the interview with the critic Elvis Mitchell the actor admitted that there is much of himself in the role.
In Riff Raff Murray plays a character that is deeply layered and morally complex. His role centers on a former criminal who is trying to live a quieter, more reflective life after his past choices have left him with regret and unresolved issues. Murray’s character is a man who once lived on the wrong side of the law, but is now attempting to move forward, possibly seeking redemption or peace in his later years.
“It’s always interesting when you’re playing a guy who has done some damage. I’ve done some damage,” he said without getting into details. “It’s sort of a penance to play them; to show that you’re accepting responsibility for it. It’s certainly always unconscious damage you’re doing, but you are responsible for the damage you’re doing.”
Interestingly, earlier, his colleagues in the industry spoke about his unbearable personality and the toxic atmosphere he created on set.
The actor faced the most significant accusations from his colleagues on the set of Being Mortal (2022), where reports of inappropriate conduct and a toxic environment led to a suspension of production. Actress and producer Kylie Chung was among those expressing concerns. Murray later apologized, acknowledging his actions may have been inappropriate, though details remain vague.
However, his conflicts on set aren’t limited to Being Mortal. In the 2000 action-comedy Charlie’s Angels, Lucy Liu reportedly confronted him after he insulted her, following a scene rewrite that he wasn’t informed about. Meanwhile, Geena Davis accused Murray of harassment during the filming of Quick Change (1990), claiming he attempted to use a massage device on her in a hotel room and then criticized her while on set.