Joel Murray

Not to be confused with animator Joe Murray or English boxer Joe Murray.
Joel Murray

Born (1963-04-17) April 17, 1963
Wilmette, Illinois, U.S.
Occupation Actor
Years active 1986–present
Spouse(s) Eliza Coyle (1989–present)
Children 4

Joel Murray (born April 17, 1963) is an American actor. He has had prominent roles in television series such as Mad Men, Grand, Love & War, and Dharma and Greg. He has also appeared in films such as God Bless America and Monsters University.

Early life

Murray was born and raised in Wilmette, Illinois, the son of Lucille (née Collins), a mail room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray II, a lumber salesman.[1][2] He grew up in an Irish Catholic family.[3] He is the brother of actors Bill Murray, Brian Doyle-Murray, and John Murray. His sister Nancy is an Adrian Dominican Sister in Michigan, who travels around the U.S. portraying St. Catherine of Siena.[4]

In high school at Loyola Academy, Murray was captain of the football team and the lead actor in one of the school's musicals. His entertainment career began in Chicago, Illinois, where he performed at various improvisational theaters, including the Improv Olympic, the Improv Institute, and The Second City.

Career

Murray starred in the 1990 television series Grand, the 1991 comedy series Pacific Station, the 1992 comedy series Love & War as Ray Litvak, and the ABC series Dharma & Greg as Pete Cavanaugh. Murray also featured in commercials for First Chicago NBD. He provided his voice for the short-lived 1994 series Beethoven and the TV series 3-South. He played the supporting character "Fitz" on CBS's sitcom Still Standing. He appeared as Eddie Jackson on Showtime's series Shameless in 2011.

Murray's first film role was in the 1986 comedy film One Crazy Summer as George Calamari. His other roles include the 1988 comedy film Scrooged, with his brothers Bill, Brian, and John. He appeared in the 1992 movie Shakes the Clown with One Crazy Summer co-stars Bob Goldthwait and Tom Villard.

In the first, second, fourth, fifth and seventh seasons of the Emmy-winning AMC TV series Mad Men, Murray appeared in 15 episodes as copywriter Freddy Rumsen. He has made guest appearances on television shows such as The Nanny, Joan of Arcadia, Two and a Half Men, Malcolm in the Middle, Criminal Minds, and Blossom.

Murray in 2012.

In the 2012 film God Bless America he portrays Frank, a man whose contempt for superficiality and meanness in American society sends him over the edge and into a killing spree.

In the 2013 Pixar film Monsters University he provides the voice of Don Carlton, a middle-aged monster who is a college student and salesman.

In April 2014, Murray replaced Chip Esten in the improv-comedy troupe Whose Live Anyway? and performs with Whose Line Is It Anyway? cast members Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops and Jeff B. Davis. He portrayed in the same year Ted in the comedy horror film Bloodsucking Bastards.[5]

Personal life

Joel has been married to Eliza Coyle since 1989 and they have four children; three sons (Hank, Gus, and Louie) and one daughter (Annie). He and his brothers own a country-club themed restaurant, the Murray Brothers "Caddyshack" (run by his brother Andy), named after the 1980 comedy film which starred his brothers Bill and Brian, located in the World Golf Village resort near St. Augustine, FL,[6] He uses his free time writing, playing golf and coaching his sons in baseball and basketball.

Filmography

Year Title Role Notes
1986 One Crazy Summer George Calamari
1987 Long Gone Bart Polanski TV movie
1988 Scrooged Guest
1989 Elvis Stories Shopping Elvis / Paul Short film
1990 Men Will Be Boys Jerry TV movie
1990 Grand Norris Weldon 26 episodes
1991 Shakes the Clown Milkman
1991–1992 Pacific Station Capt. Ken Epstein 13 episodes
1992 Blossom Doug LeMeure Episode: "House Guests"
1992 Only You Bert
1992–1995 Love & War Ray Litvak 67 episodes
1994 Beethoven Beethoven (voice) TV series
1995 Road Warriors Dick Durkee TV movie
1995 Partners Ron Wolfe Episode: "Who's Afraid of Ron and Cindy Wolfe?"
1996 Mr. & Mrs. Smith Bob Myers Episode: "The Bob Episode"
1996 Encino Woman Mr. Jones TV movie
1996 Cable Guy, TheThe Cable Guy Basketball Player
1997 Nanny, TheThe Nanny Val's Date Episode: "The Fifth Wheel"
1997–2002 Dharma & Greg Pete Cavanaugh 119 episodes
2000 Thin Pink Line, TheThe Thin Pink Line Bartender
2000 Buzz Lightyear of Star Command Professor Triffid (voice) Episode: "Little Secrets"
Episode: "Dirty Work"
2000–2002 Baby Blues Carl Bitterman (voice) 13 episodes
2001 Drew Carey Show, TheThe Drew Carey Show Bob (uncredited) Episode: "Mr. Laffoon's Wild Ride"
2002 It's All About You Taxi Driver
2002 3 South Various (voice) TV series
2002 John Doe Dante Langenhan Episode: "Mind Games"
2003 Titletown TV movie
2003 Malcolm in the Middle Larry Episode: "Hal's Friend"
2003 Nobody Knows Anything! Robber #1
2003–2006 Still Standing Danny 'Fitz' Fitzsimmons 24 episodes
2004 Joan of Arcadia Balloon Sculptor / God Episode: "Vanity, Thy Name Is Human"
2005 See Anthony Run Mr. Randall Short film
2006 Hatchet Doug Shapiro
2007 American Body Shop Bank Manager Episode: "Shop for Sale"
2007 Two and a Half Men Petey Episode: "Mr. McGlue's Feedbag"
2007–2015 Mad Men Freddy Rumsen 15 episodes
2008 Tiffany Problem, TheThe Tiffany Problem Mr. Reynolds Short film
2008 Criminal Minds Attorney General Episode: "Minimal Loss"
2008 Cold Case Bobby Kent Episode: "One Small Step"
2009 Awaydays Rugger Bugger 1
2009 Two and a Half Men Petey Episode: "Baseball Was Better with Steroids"
2009 Mending Fences Sam Bridgewater TV movie
2010 Hatchet II Shapiro (uncredited)
2010 My Boys Crowley Episode: "My Men"
Episode: "Extreme Mike-Over"
2011 Shameless Eddie Jackson 9 episodes
2011 Criminal Minds: Suspect Behavior Medical Examiner Episode: "Smother"
2011 Artist, TheThe Artist Police Officer Fire
2011 Two and a Half Men Doug Episode: "Nice to Meet You, Walden Schmidt"
2011 God Bless America Frank
2012 It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Andrew Krane Episode: "Frank's Back in Business"
2012 Two and a Half Men Nick Episode: "Give Santa a Tail-Hole"
2013 Monsters University Don Carlton Voice
2015 The McCarthys Ray Episode: "Sister Act"
2015 Bloodsucking Bastards Ted
2015–2016 Mike & Molly Dr. Jeffries Episodes: "Pie Fight" and "Cops on the Rocks"

References

External links

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