You probably know the face. That gravelly voice, the deadpan delivery, and that "I’ve seen it all" squint. Brian Doyle-Murray is basically a cinematic legend in his own right, but whenever his name pops up, people immediately pivot to his family tree. It’s hard not to. When you grow up in a house with nine kids in Wilmette, Illinois, and several of them end up being the funniest people in Hollywood, people are going to ask questions.
The Brian Doyle-Murray siblings are a fascinating mix of actors, business owners, and even a nun. Growing up Irish Catholic in the Chicago suburbs wasn't exactly a quiet affair. Money was tight—their dad, Edward Murray II, was a lumber salesman—and the kids were famously packed into a small Cape Cod house where getting a laugh at the dinner table was the ultimate currency. Honestly, it was the best training ground for a comedian.
Meet the Murray Brood: More Than Just Bill
Most folks assume it’s just Brian and his mega-famous younger brother Bill. But there are actually nine of them. Nine! That’s a lot of personalities under one roof.
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- Ed Murray: The eldest. He was actually the inspiration for Danny Noonan in Caddyshack. He was the one who won the Evans Scholarship for caddies, a plot point Brian later wrote into the movie. Sadly, Ed passed away in 2020.
- Bill Murray: You know him. Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and basically being the world’s most interesting man. Brian and Bill have worked together dozens of times.
- Joel Murray: If you’re a fan of Mad Men, you know him as Freddy Rumsen. He’s a powerhouse character actor who also put in years at Second City.
- John Murray: He played Bill’s brother in Scrooged. Seriously, the family resemblance is strong there.
- Andy Murray: He didn’t go the acting route but stayed in the family business of food and golf, running the Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant.
- Nancy Murray: She’s an Adrian Dominican nun. But here’s the kicker—she’s also a performer. She tours with a one-woman show about St. Catherine of Siena.
- Peggy and Laura Murray: They’ve mostly stayed out of the limelight, though Laura still lives in the family’s childhood home in Wilmette.
The Second City Connection
It wasn't just luck that half these kids ended up on screen. Brian was the one who really kicked the door open. He was a pioneer at The Second City in Chicago and later moved to the Toronto ensemble. He was the one who actually invited Bill to join him in Chicago to study improv under Del Close.
Without Brian Doyle-Murray, we might never have gotten the version of Bill Murray we have today. Brian was the writer, the mentor, and the guy who understood how to turn their chaotic childhood into scripts. When you look at Caddyshack, that's essentially a Murray family home movie masked as a sports comedy. Brian wrote it with Harold Ramis and Douglas Kenney, drawing directly from the years he and his brothers spent caddying at Indian Hill Club.
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Why the Murray Siblings Still Dominate the Conversation
There’s something refreshingly normal about them. Despite the fame, they seem to actually like each other. They even started a clothing line together called William Murray Golf. You’ve probably seen the polos with the "Caddyshack" vibes.
They also run the Murray Bros. Caddyshack Charity Golf Tournament. It’s not just a branding exercise; they use it to raise money for various charities, including health-related causes like diabetes research, which hits home since their father died from complications of the disease when he was only 46.
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The "Hidden" Actor: John Murray
People often overlook John. He’s the one who looks the most like a younger version of Bill. In the 1988 classic Scrooged, the family really leaned into the bit. John played Bill’s brother, Brian played their father in the flashbacks, and Joel had a cameo as a guest. It was basically a holiday reunion on a Hollywood set.
Actionable Takeaways for Murray Fans
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of the Murray siblings, don't just stick to the blockbusters.
- Watch "The Sweet Spot": It was a short-lived show on Comedy Central where Brian, Bill, Joel, and John just traveled around playing golf and making jokes. It's the most "real" look at their sibling dynamic you'll ever find.
- Visit the Restaurant: If you're ever near St. Augustine, Florida, the Murray Bros. Caddyshack restaurant is actually a thing. It’s run by Andy and serves as a shrine to the family's history and their love for the game.
- Check out Nancy’s Work: It sounds niche, but Sister Nancy Murray’s performances are highly regarded. It proves that the "performer gene" didn't skip any of them, even the one who took the veil.
The legacy of the Brian Doyle-Murray siblings isn't just about fame. It's about a specific brand of Midwestern, Irish-Catholic humor that changed American comedy. They took a crowded house, a lot of sibling rivalry, and a love for golf, and turned it into an empire.
To explore more about the history of Chicago improv that birthed this dynasty, looking into the early years of The Second City and the National Lampoon Radio Hour provides the essential context for how this family conquered the comedy world.