MovieChat Forums > Bill Murray Discussion > Richard Dreyfuss talks about the time Mu...

Richard Dreyfuss talks about the time Murray attacked him...

posted 3 years ago by Otter (24464)
19 replies | jump to latest

... and he talked about it well before this kerfuffle. This is an interview from 2019, where Dreyfuss talks about the time Murray yelled at him, threw a heavy ashtray at him, and tried to punch him. He missed with both the fist and the ashtray, so do you think he might have had a drink or ten?

https://www.mercurynews.com/2019/06/27/lovable-comedy-icon-bill-murray-was-an-abusive-drunken-bully-on-film-set-claims-richard-dreyfuss/

Anyway, I once saw a co-worker be fired on the spot for throwing a stapler at someone and missing, I wonder if Murray did something like that on the set... and found that Hollywood is no longer willing to tolerate that shit.

[–] Indiscipline (737) 3 years ago

I love reading stuff like that lol. There are so many Bill Murray stories and since he's a public person, I don't mind wondering just what he did this time around.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

Seriously, the last time I heard of a set being shut down was on "Top Gear", when after many warnings from the BBC, Jeremy Clarkson (allegedly) punched a production assistant.

So what did Murray do this time? Hit someone? Maul some girl? Throw a heavy ashtray and not miss?

[–] rootvegetables (1668) 3 years ago

You are living in fantasy land, Otter. There is no way in hell, an ashtray would be found on any Hollywood set in this day and age. That said, perhaps he just threw another heavy and cumbersome object. We may never know the truth.

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[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

I see you didn't read the story above, about Murray throwing a heavy ashtray at someone, and missing.

[–] rootvegetables (1668) 3 years ago

That was back in 1990/1991. No ashtray would be available nowadays.

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[–] Jes' Sayin' (6349) 2 years ago

It could be a prop.

[–] Redsfan001 (6144) 3 years ago

The beef sounds like some sort of sexual harassment issue.

If it was something else, we would have been given details.

The identity and specific complaint from the harrassed are protected by law now.

Some beautiful women are now much more uncomfortable with the standard "flirting and touching, pestering" from men that they are not attracted to. It used to be common in the workplace and in life....not so long ago.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

Honey, the women were always uncomfortable with being pestered by men they weren't attracted to! But in the Good Old Days, they were just afraid to speak up.

As for the Murray flap, they won't release any details, because some people involved can afford good lawyers and publicists and fixers, not because of which laws protect whom.

[–] Redsfan001 (6144) 3 years ago

Well... it's a weird world where one women who is "uncomfortable" can shut down a entire production.

I'm pretty sure that is unprecedented for a movie.

🤔 The only thing similar I can think of is the Charlie Rose and Bill O'Reilly show.

[–] Otter (24464) 3 years ago

What this reminds me of, is when the BBC car show "Top Gear" was shut down, because star Jeremy Clarkson allegedly punched a production assistant. Apparently he'd been repeatedly warned about being a dick on set, he ignored the warnings, and ramped up the bad behavior. After the lalleged punch, the Powers That Be realized they'd look dickless if they didn't fire him, so they fired him and recast the show.

I suspect something similar happened here, that Murray was given warnings and ignored them. People on Murray's level are rarely called to account for anything, and definitely don't get penalized without warnings.

[–] ebhaynz (3688) 2 years ago

I think you're right, Murray is finally being held accountable for his bad behavior. Remember, back around 1978 he attacked Chevy Chase on SNL right before Chevy went on stage..In 1987 he feuded with director Richard Donner during the filming of Scrooged, so much so he seemed to phone it in, especially during the last scene..in 91 he barely missed Richard Dreyfuss with a heavy ashtray, around 2000 he insulted Lucy Liu on the set of Charlies Angels, which caused her to flip out. Around 2005 he couldn't take a joke when he lost at the Oscars. Later his wife divorced him accusing him of domestic abuse, excessive drinking/drug use, etc. Oh yeah, Murray got mad at his best friend Harold Ramis during the filming of Groundhog Day and barely ever spoke to him again, except with the poor guy was near death.

Murray seems like a real winner doesn't he?

[–] javie (2216) 2 years ago

1the Church eventually did a number of exorcisms.

[–] jk90us (7143) 2 years ago

Your coworker wasn’t a popular sought after actor who made millions for studios.

[–] brux (14724) 2 years ago

I can't stand Bill Murray. I used to like him, and those original SNL'ers, but they all have such rotten characters they can fade away and die for all I care. I will not pay money to see anything he is in. I do hope he gets cancelled. I already have.

[–] Burk48917 (11356) 2 years ago

I'll bet Dreyfuss is a pompous, wormy dick. He's always bugged me. As an actor himself who's had a reputation for being difficult, it's a pretty bitch move to talk shit about someone 20 years later.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

If Dreyfuss is a pompous, wormy dick, that doesn't make him wrong about the incident, and it doesn't make it okay to physically attack him.

And FYI that's one reason not to be the kind of dickhead who throws things and hits people - because the people you attack will still be talking shit about you 20 years later, and they'll have every right to. And maybe, someone important will listen.

Don't make enemies if you can help it. No matter who you are, no matter how famous, powerful, or popular, the consequences can still come back and bite you in the ass.

[–] BOandBarbecue (2264) 2 years ago

Yes it is true. in great film Jaws, roberts shaw hate richard dreyfuss, always fight at him because he annoy.

if there is record of people who hate dreyfuss, first roberts shaw then bill murray, then it show track records of dreyfuss being nerd who annoy people, under the skin.

murray right to throw paper ashtrays at dreyfuss. he annoy him greatly.

[–] Ticketsplease (4024) 2 years ago

We need a system to fine actors and not fire them for things like this. Tennis players get huge fines for bad behavior.

[–] Otter (24464) 2 years ago

A system? We already have a system, it's called the "justice system", with police and courts and judges and jails! And believe me if you or I threw something at someone and then tried to hit them in public, we'd be arrested, and given the choice of a trial or a plea bargain, and we'd consider ourselves grateful if we got off with a fine, community service, and a conviction where anyone who did a background check could find it. We'd be afraid our lives would be ruined, but they wouldn't be as badly ruined as a fucking jail stay would ruin things!

No, what we need to do is stop letting the rich and famous defy the law, which if the story is true, is what happened here. The police didn't arrest Murray because it was rich and famous, Dreyfuss wouldn't press charges because he knew he'd never work again in Hollywood if he got someone further up the food chain jailed, or if he interrupted the filming schedule of their movie. Don't make me go on my rant about how bad for society it is to let the rich and famous defy the law, you have been warned...