In her latest memoir, Dying of Politeness, Geena Davis discusses working with Bill Murray on the set of Quick Change (1990). And like many of Murray’s female co-stars, her experience was not a pleasant. Davis wrote that Murray (who starred in and co-directed the film) screamed at her for being late (while she was waiting for costuming) in front of the cast and crew. Murray also used a massager called The Thumper on her when they first met, despite her asking him to stop. “That was bad,” Davis said in an interview with The Times. “The way he behaved at the first meeting… I should have walked out of that or profoundly defended myself, in which case I wouldn’t have got the part.” She added, “I could have avoided that treatment if I’d known how to react or what to do during the audition, … But, you know, I was so non-confrontational that I just didn’t…”
Allegations against Murray have grown in recent years, which range from rudeness to outright cruelty. Seth Green shared an anecdote of meeting Murray backstage at SNL as a child, where he says that Murray picked him up by his ankles and dropped him in a trash can.
Murray was recently accused of behaving inappropriately on the set of ‘Being Mortal’. The film, which is written, directed by, and starring Aziz Ansari, suspended production in light of the complaints. Murray told CNBC host Becky Quick, “I did something I thought was funny, and it wasn’t taken that way.” But new details have surfaced that Murray didn’t just make an off-putting joke. According to Puck News, Murray allegedly straddled a female production assistant and kissed her through face masks. Murray quietly settled the allegation with a $100,000 payment.
Murray’s bad behavior dates back years, to his famous on-set quarrel with Lucy Liu during the filming of Charlie’s Angels (2000). Liu called his language “inexcusable and unacceptable”, with a crew member reporting that Murray made belittling and cruel comments to the actress. Murray has a long history of feuding with co-stars and directors, but it has had little impact on his career. The comedy icon remains a beloved presence onscreen, and given his stature in the industry it’s unlikely that will change. But Murray’s behavior might, now that he is finally being held personally (and financially) accountable.
(via The Times, image: Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images)
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