In her new autobiography, Geena Davis describes how Bill Murray terrified her right from the start of their time together on the set of Quick Change.
starring Bill Murray and Geena Davis, Quick Change
On the set of Quick Change, Geena Davis says she was intimidated by Billy Murray.
In 1990, Murray directed and starred in the film Quick Change starring Viola Davis.
Critics were divided on the film, although they did agree that Bill Murray turned in among of his finest performances.
Despite this, Quick Change was a financial failure at the box office, grossing only $15.3 million worldwide on a budget of $17 million.
Actors and staff members have been coming out with allegations of Murray's alleged abusive behavior on set for years.
Richard Dreyfuss has referred to Murray as a "drunken bully," while his co-star in Ghostbusters, Harold Ramis, has described him as "irrationally cruel."
Murray and Chevy Chase, his Saturday Night Live co-star at the time, got into a heated debate that escalated into a fistfight in 1978.
A worrisome altercation between Lucy Liu and Murray on the set of Charlie's Angels was rumored to have occurred in July 2021.
In April of this year, Murray was a part of the film Being Mortal, which marked the directorial debut of Parks and Recreation star Aziz Ansari.
The production of Being Mortal was interrupted on April 21 after a complaint was filed against Murray for inappropriate behavior.
Murray acknowledged his involvement, adding, "I did something [he] felt was hilarious and it wasn't viewed that way."
Production on the movie has halted for the time being.
Related: Bill Murray and Lucy Liu's Fight in Charlie's Angels Exposed
Davis writes about how Murray tortured her on the set of Quick Change in her new memoir, "Dying of Politeness," as reported by The Times.
Davis recounts meeting Murray for the first time in a hotel suite, when he insisted on massaging her with The Thumper despite her strong objections.
Davis was waiting for her clothing and recalls that Murray yelled at her in front of the entire cast and crew for being late on set.
Davis made the following comment to The Times:
That's not good.
When we initially met, he acted in such a way that...
Neither staying nor vehemently defending myself would have helped me get the part; instead, I should have just left.
If I had known what to do or how to react during the audition, I could have prevented that treatment.
But you know, I was so passive-aggressive that I just didn't...
The actor has been facing allegations of inappropriate behavior since the 1970s, though they have only recently come to light.
Murray has been accused of both verbally and physically abusing his coworkers in the past.
The director of Charlie's Angels, McG, alleged that Murray head-butted him on set and nearly broke his nose.
Where does Bob fit into this?
Laura Ziskin, a producer, claimed that Murray smashed her sunglasses by hurling them across the parking lot and threatened to do the same to her.
Perhaps Murray's ability to get away with questionable choices in behavior over the years is attributable to the fact that he is best recognized for playing likeable humorous characters.
Following the Being Mortal complaint, Murray stated his willingness to adjust his approach, saying, "Sadly, I believe this dog has reached the end of its educational potential.
I have no plans of becoming a sad dog."
Only time will tell if Murray has actually changed after more than 40 years of charges of inappropriate behavior; Davis claims he still hadn't learned his lesson by the time of 1990's Quick Change.
