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The Actor Who Drove Bill Murray Crazy: "It Was A Difficult Film To Make"
Bill Murray vividly recalled how Andie MacDowell's presence on set challenged him during the filming, revealing deeper conflicts that arose during production.
One of the most popular films of Bill Murray is Groundhog Day, a film regarded as a beloved comedy classic. However, it was a difficult film to make, and Murray didn’t get along well with both the director and several cast members. But one particular actor drove him absolutely crazy.
Groundhog Day was directed by Harold Ramis, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Danny Rubin. Murray starred alongside Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott. At the time, the film was a commercial success and received positive reviews.
The film tells the story of a cynical TV weatherman who reports on the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and becomes trapped in a time loop, reliving February 2nd repeatedly.
Despite being considered a comedy classic, one of Murray’s most popular films, and a real success for director Ramis, the making of it was so challenging that it eventually led to the end of the friendship between Murray and Ramis.
Fans delving into the behind-the-scenes conflicts of Groundhog Day may feel discouraged, especially if they are fans of the 80s comedies. Murray and Ramis collaborated on genre-defining classics like Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, and of course the Ghostbusters films.
But throughout all those productions, Murray's stubborn behavior repeatedly surfaced, and by the time they started on Groundhog Day, Ramis was likely at his wit's end.
In addition to battling the frigid weather conditions in Woodstock, Illinois, Ramis had to deal with Murray's temper tantrums, his constant lateness to the set, and the fact that they disagreed on nearly every detail.
Reports suggest that at one point, Ramis grabbed Murray by the collar and pushed him against a wall. Once filming wrapped, the two parted ways and only spoke again when Ramis was on his deathbed in 2014.
Murray was a frustrating presence on the set of Groundhog Day, not just for Ramis. He also clashed with co-star Michael Shannon, to whom he ultimately had to apologize in front of the entire team.
However, there was one actor who made him "completely crazy" during shooting, and it wasn’t Shannon; it was his female co-star MacDowell. "Andie MacDowell drove me absolutely crazy during that movie," Murray told Collider in 2021. "We were always waiting on Andie MacDowell's hair."
At first glance, this statement seems like a playful remark from Murray, a humorous distraction suggesting a conflict before he lightly complains about MacDowell's famous, luscious curls that required a lot of time from the hairstylist. But in light of the tense atmosphere on set, and what we know about Murray’s behavior, his comment takes on a different context.
"The fact is: Andie MacDowell has the most beautiful hair you will ever see in your life," Murray continued. "When she finally arrived, you just had to accept it; that hair was truly amazing. But she drove me crazy. I think about it often; I really owe her an apology, because she truly drove me to madness."
Although MacDowell herself has never indicated that she struggled with Murray during shooting, the fact that he expressed a desire to apologize suggests there may have been friction that she never publicly acknowledged.
In fact, Murray hinted that his behavior might have been a reaction to his suspicion that she didn’t like him: "I’m not really a method actor, but I must’ve been incredibly frustrated that she still hadn't fallen in love with me. We were shooting for seventeen weeks, and she still didn't like me. I was probably holding onto that."
The longer Murray spoke about MacDowell, the clearer it became that this was more than just a friendly joke about her hairstyle. It sounded more like she became one of his targets during shooting and that he later realized he could have behaved better.
"That was a difficult film to make," he concluded. "It was just as hard for her, and then she also had that hair to deal with."
Groundhog Day was directed by Harold Ramis, based on a screenplay he co-wrote with Danny Rubin. Murray starred alongside Andie MacDowell and Chris Elliott. At the time, the film was a commercial success and received positive reviews.
End of Friendship
The film tells the story of a cynical TV weatherman who reports on the annual Groundhog Day event in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, and becomes trapped in a time loop, reliving February 2nd repeatedly.
Despite being considered a comedy classic, one of Murray’s most popular films, and a real success for director Ramis, the making of it was so challenging that it eventually led to the end of the friendship between Murray and Ramis.
Behind-The-Scenes Conflicts
Fans delving into the behind-the-scenes conflicts of Groundhog Day may feel discouraged, especially if they are fans of the 80s comedies. Murray and Ramis collaborated on genre-defining classics like Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, and of course the Ghostbusters films.
But throughout all those productions, Murray's stubborn behavior repeatedly surfaced, and by the time they started on Groundhog Day, Ramis was likely at his wit's end.
Drifting Apart
In addition to battling the frigid weather conditions in Woodstock, Illinois, Ramis had to deal with Murray's temper tantrums, his constant lateness to the set, and the fact that they disagreed on nearly every detail.
Reports suggest that at one point, Ramis grabbed Murray by the collar and pushed him against a wall. Once filming wrapped, the two parted ways and only spoke again when Ramis was on his deathbed in 2014.
Driven Crazy
Murray was a frustrating presence on the set of Groundhog Day, not just for Ramis. He also clashed with co-star Michael Shannon, to whom he ultimately had to apologize in front of the entire team.
However, there was one actor who made him "completely crazy" during shooting, and it wasn’t Shannon; it was his female co-star MacDowell. "Andie MacDowell drove me absolutely crazy during that movie," Murray told Collider in 2021. "We were always waiting on Andie MacDowell's hair."
Beautiful Hair
At first glance, this statement seems like a playful remark from Murray, a humorous distraction suggesting a conflict before he lightly complains about MacDowell's famous, luscious curls that required a lot of time from the hairstylist. But in light of the tense atmosphere on set, and what we know about Murray’s behavior, his comment takes on a different context.
"The fact is: Andie MacDowell has the most beautiful hair you will ever see in your life," Murray continued. "When she finally arrived, you just had to accept it; that hair was truly amazing. But she drove me crazy. I think about it often; I really owe her an apology, because she truly drove me to madness."
Frustrated
Although MacDowell herself has never indicated that she struggled with Murray during shooting, the fact that he expressed a desire to apologize suggests there may have been friction that she never publicly acknowledged.
In fact, Murray hinted that his behavior might have been a reaction to his suspicion that she didn’t like him: "I’m not really a method actor, but I must’ve been incredibly frustrated that she still hadn't fallen in love with me. We were shooting for seventeen weeks, and she still didn't like me. I was probably holding onto that."
Difficult Film
The longer Murray spoke about MacDowell, the clearer it became that this was more than just a friendly joke about her hairstyle. It sounded more like she became one of his targets during shooting and that he later realized he could have behaved better.
"That was a difficult film to make," he concluded. "It was just as hard for her, and then she also had that hair to deal with."
