How we work: Bill Murray, actor

Bill Murray has replaced an agent with a freephone number and an insistence upon asynchronous communication. From The Times (link may expire so here we are):

By definition, Hollywood stars must have agents and publicists. Not Bill Murray. He has never had a publicist and, five years ago, he fired his agents. "I said I didn’t ever want to speak to them again, and I never did," he says. "I like to cut my own lawn now. I don’t need a landscaper."

Now Murray’s only contact with the film business is through a freephone number. If people need to talk to him - perhaps producers who want him to star in a film - they have to call the number and leave a message. (Of course, they have to find the number first.) If he feels like it, he will call back. Often, he doesn’t. Sometimes, he’ll go for weeks without even listening to the messages. It took Sofia Coppola hundreds of phone calls and seven months to get him to look at the script for Lost in Translation. Even then, she wasn’t sure he was going to make the film until he appeared on the set on the first day of the shoot in Tokyo. Other directors have apparently been told to leave scripts in a phone booth somewhere near his home outside New York, up the Hudson River. On a recent film, a production assistant who needed to contact him was told to call his freephone and leave a number for a phone that she would not pick up, so he could call her back without having to talk to her. Of course, he doesn't see this as strange or eccentric. He likes to be accessible, he says, but on his own terms.

Also: The New Yorker's Anthony Lane on Murray in Rushmore (from Nobody's Perfect):

If you want to pick one shot from this year's movies, try the look on Bill Murray's face as he shakes hands with Fischer senior: puzzlement, disbelief, a speck of outrage, the quiet rush of truth, and, last of all, a gentle settling of kindness. The entire thing takes maybe four seconds: this is known as acting.

More how we work. (Want to contact Murray? Click here.)

Comments

[Joshua Wright]

Hi Bill Murray I always wanted to meet you because you are a great actor. I am so exited to talk to you this is my message:I love the movie Ghostbusters and Ghostbusters 2 you were a great ghostbuster playing Dr. Peter Venkman. Ghostbusters 2 is awesome I like the titanic part and when Dan Aykroyd and Ernie Hudson sprayed slime all over the statue of liberty to make it come to life. You are a great actor.Bye Bill I llooooooovvvvvvvvveeeeeeee YOU! bye.

[horhay]

Hello Bill. I'm writing you to thank you for all the great films you've made and those groundbreaking years at Saturday Night Live. Lost in Translation was spectacular, you deserved the Oscar for sure.

But, that isn't why I'm writing. You starred in Where the Buffalo Roam many years ago. You were perfect for the role of Hunter S. Thompson. I saw the movie when it first came out, I think I was 12. It was before I had actually read Hunter's books. When I finally read Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, I knew there was something amazing about him. Then I started reading Hell's Angels, Generation of Swine, etc. It became an obsession.

But more than that the man was brilliant, a literary genius, a mentor to many of us. It seemed as if he was fearless, he would write things most of us would be scared to write about for the rest of our lives. He was a self professed adrenaline junkie, a political junkie, a gun nut, a sports nut, the man was pretty insane. He was notorious for binge drinking and drugs. But he was a genius too.

I don't like the way his final chapter ended, but it was his story. I knew I would be sad when he died, but I didn't think it would be so suddenly. And now, why now. But by the time I had a chance to ask that question, Dr. Gonzo was gonzo.

After that last awful election in November, I felt hopeless, so I went to the bookstore and bought, Hey Rube. His writing always seemed to help, here was a man that felt the same way as I did. He was wise, enlightening, he dug through the bullshit and found the truth. Now he is gone and there will never be anyone like him.

Maybe he was trying to get us all to wake up, stop being such pussies, take the power back. Our democracy is on wobbly legs right now, and W is telling Russia-"you need more democracy". They think Iraq can become a democracy, while billions of dollars a day is sent over there. We really need Hunter right now.

I'm sorry I'm rambling on and on. I don't even know if you're going to read this.

I guess my point is that, I miss Hunter already. There is a huge void that can't be filled.

I read the ESPN.com article where he called you at 3 in the morning. Then I realized, you where the first person to bring this legend to life for me(in the movie). You were also one of the last people that talked with him before he left in such a hurry. You knew the man, I only new the legend. I'm sure you're even sadder than I am.

I love all your movies, Bill. You always make me laugh, and that's important in these somewhat gloomy times. I just wanted to thank you for all those laughs. I also want to thank you for giving me my first glimpse at the late great Hunter S. Thompson.

Mahalo, Doc. Thank you, Bill. Peace to you and your family.

[Marshall]

Bill:

I too was inspired by your work in Where the Buffalo Roam. I respectfully request that you provide your support to the Legalization of POT.

Contact MPP or DPP or NORML

Thanks

ME

[Travis Carpenter]

yo bill wut up u r a good actor.

[Dianna Blaze]

Dear Bill,

If the Mistress Castlereagh expressed her wish it would be to discuss the Visual Spatial children the creative thinkers of the world in a sport mad aggresive world.

Yes I too have a pitch or two and the music is always extremely important.

We need to talk

Dianna
Avalon Australia

[GTGreenough]

See the URL attached for an excellent spec Screenplay in which Bill Murray would have a perfect role.

Does anyone have a number or address for contact purposes?

[Chaya]

Hi Bill, This will sound strange, and I have no idea if you will ever read this message. And even if you do.. i know this is a very vague shot. I do not know if you have a dream/soulmate. It just happens that even before i knew your name as an actor, you had become my soulmate. I liked you in the elephant movie very much. It was only a reiteration that you were the kind of person I had visualised as my dreamsoulmate. You have been a great friend, always appearing when I needed someone, thanks for being there for me. I was in a bad shape tonite, and you were there again. I tried to look for info on the real life you. And i got goose pimples when I saw that you shared my birthday - 21st September. Just to give you some more info -- I live in India, and am was born in 1968. Thanks and I am sure you are a very good person, and I wish you (called Joe in my day dreams) a very good life and happiness always.

[john boynton]

Bill,
You want to get involved in a project that could get thousands of kids started (the right way) playing golf?
Let me hear from you.
JB

[Kevin McDermott]

Mr. Murray: I'm an optioned screenwriter with a script that I think you'd find interesting, and for which I believe you'd be perfect. It's a courtroom drama in which the protagonist is an aging (sorry) local prosecutor who, 25 years earlier, had served in World War Two with the unenviable task of helping clean up the carnage at a liberated Nazi concentration camp. The experience has haunted his life and shaped his stubborn obsession with justice -- a belief that is tested when he comes across a murder victim so despicable that no one else is interested in getting to the bottom of the crime.

``Inquest'' was a quarterfinalist in the Nicholl Fellowship (the Academy's amateur screenplay competition), and can be read on-line at:

http://inquestscreenplay.bravehost.com/inquestsynopsis.html

I admire your movies (and your choices). Thanks for your time. km

[L. Brant Dalton (Last Decent Descendant of the Dalton Gang)]

Dear Bill Murray,

First I wood like to say that I enjoyed LOST IN TRANSLATION, But I can't. That baby blew toofoo out my nose (during the snoring). And yes I like wood, especially morning wood (if it is my own).

Remember that 13 year old girl who beat you in front of the school at your senior prom? I went to the old folks home and whipped her ass good for you. What kind of date is that anyway? You should have taken your grandma like you did the year before when you didn't did'nt graduate, again.

The more we talk the more pissed off I get!

No, That does it, I'm not going to offer you the lead in My next two blockbuster hits. I'm moving the Cable guy up from a supporting role as your Comedy companion and giving him the lead. Just stay away and stop calling me. Your Not getting in "INCEST (The night he came at Home)"
or "The Dalton Gang takes over New York".

Larry

[Gloria Mack]

We are having our annual auction on May 6, 2006. We are hoping you will help us out in any way you can. It is for a great cause-tuition assistance for underprivileged. Anything autographed would be great.Send to:
Gloria Mack
Loyola Academy
1100 Laramie Avenue
Wilmette, Il 60091

[R Higgins]

Dear Bill,

Can you please email me for payment details such that you can return to me the $20 I spent taking my wife to see Broken Flowers. If I had been hit by a bus and been in the Intensive Care Unit of my local hospital it would have been a more pleasurable 2 hours for myself and my wife. I look forward to hearing from you.

Yours sincerely

Rodney

PS loved Groundhog Day

[Felicitas Rossi Anastasi]

Hello! Somebody know the freephone number to send a message to Bill Murray?
Thanks.

Felicitas Rossi Anastasi
independent film producer
Argentina

[Joe Daddy]

Yes, I would like to know the phone number too. Although, he might change it from all the calls. I can imagine all the calls he gets.

Like to get him to star in a spoof on the movie "The Smurfs" I think he would be great for "Gargamel"

More like a dream than reality he's probably in Hawaii. I would be there too. :)

[Jake Iacono]

Hello, Bill Murray are you going to be in another movie soon? I am writinig this for my 9 year old son who loves watching you in Ghostbusters. Every night we watch movie 1 or 2. No were not freaks he just loves the fact that in the movie you are normal guys that turn into super heros in the end, and the movie would not be the same with out you in it. I hope you consider being in #3. Love Ben Stiiler but he is a far cry from you.

Thanks
Love Jake Iacono (and mom)

[joe gautier]

Hey, Bill. Thanks for cutting a path for all the off-centers of this world. You and Jesus.

[Westbury Hotel AM Hostess, former]

Bill, I received your messages. Thank you for looking for me. I finished grad school am no longer at the Westbury. You are dearly missed.

Lost in transation, I fully enjoyed.

[Chip R.]

Hope this somehow get to Bill. Bill this is kind of weird, grown man trying to get in touch with an actor, but this has been on my mind since watching "A New Leaf" with Walter Matthau. I think you would be perfect in his role. How about a re-make of it?

Thanks for your time,

Chip in Colo. Springs

[Dianne Morris]

I don't know who screens these letters, but I really hope Bill Murray reads this eventually.
Everyone in my family loves you, Bill...or at least they love your down-to-earth characteristics.
Both of my daughters (age 23 and 20) would be overwhelmed if they could see/meet you in person. I am trying to arrange this for them as a surprise....a surprise to me too, if it happens! Is this even a possibility? I would be willing to bring them to New York...or wherever else.
I would never have to buy them any birthday presents EVER AGAIN if I accomplish this meeting. Ha!
Thanks.
Dianne Morris,
Maryland

[Robert Blenker]

Dear Mr. Murray,

I don't know you, or who you are as a person outside of your public persona. However, that being said, over the past couple of weeks I've watched four of your films (I don't have a TV and watch them on my computer on the plane) - the films included "Lost City", "Lost in Translation", "Broken Flowers", and "Life Aquatic". While you didn't write them, all were both insightful and wonderfully acted.

I am writing to say thank you for the insightful and thought-provoking performances. You've brought to life a number of convincing characters.

My Grandfather always encouraged me to put money in the insturment cases of the street musicians we would pass on the streets of Chicago, saying that they enriched our lives with their art. This leter is my quarter in your insturment case.

Sincerely,

Robert L. Blenker

PS - I wrote you a real letter, but could find no address to which I could send it.

[Kevin Labriola]

I'm sure you get a lot of these requests, but I'm Caddie Master at Olympia Fields Country Club (south of Chicago) - & woud love to have you come out for our Caddie Banquet....all costs covered of course.
Carl Spackler, continues to be, the most quoted individual in and around the Caddie Shack (for obvious reasons).
I was a caddie myself - an Evans Scholar at University of Illinois - lived with a few caddies at U of I who caddied at Indian Hill (your old looping grounds)....
I know its a shot in the dark, but why not try, huh?
Kevin Labriola

[Gregory Alan Elliott]

Hi Mr. Bill Murray,

When my coworkers heard about your golfcart episode recently, they all laughed and looked at me. As teenagers, a few friends and I had taken a few golfcarts from St. Georges Golf Course in the mid-north west corner of Toronto and drove them downtown and back. Sure, we were drunk too. I got ratted out to the police by some pals whose party (and front lawns) we crashed with the carts. At one point I was "side-sliding" out onto a quite middle-of-the-night throughfare. Side-sliding is when you as going so fast on a corner that your golfcart tips onto its flat side, 90 degrees to the road, and you have to hold on tight and not laugh too much. when the cartrt slows down it usually falls back onto its wheels. Good times. My favourite movie of yours is Groundhog Day. Assholes and idiots should be forced to watch it until they understand the message within the movie. Next time you're in Toronto, look me up. Cheers!

[Mike]

We should hang out some time.

[DACRoss]

Hi Bill,

I have been telling my girlfriends for years that I would love to meet you, so here goes. Would you be interested in being our guest at the Delaware Make-A-Wish Golf Outing? I can guarantee you great golf for the one day event and I'll get you on another course that is VERY challenging.

D. Ross
dross@mcconnelljohnson.lcom

[Rod McLaren]

People are reminded that "Murray’s only contact with the film business is through a freephone number" apparently, so, as entertaining as these comments are, you're pretty unlikely to get hold of him on this site!