Bill Murray’s Heartfelt Tribute to Bruce Willis: A Friendship Through the Years Amid Health Struggles
Bill Murray recently appeared on “Watch What Happens Live” with his “The Friend” co-star Naomi Watts, where he shared fond memories of his friendship with Bruce Willis, which began on the set of Wes Anderson’s “Moonrise Kingdom”. Murray explained that their paths had crossed decades earlier when he was on Saturday Night Live in the late 1970s, and Willis was an aspiring actor working as an NBC page.
Bill Murray On Bruce Willis: From “SNL” To “Moonrise Kingdom”
Murray recalled, “‘Moonrise Kingdom’ was a really beautiful, lovely film. I got to work with and have a wonderful time with Bruce Willis,” adding, “He just had a birthday. Bruce Willis is a good guy. He is a good (expletive) guy. He was a good friend.”
Murray also shared a touching story about their early connection, saying, “He was also a page at NBC when I was on ‘Saturday Night Live.’ His job was to come and refill… M&Ms and pretzels and snacks in the actors’ dressing rooms.” He went on, “I remember when I met him after he was already a successful guy he said to me, ‘You and Gilda were nice to me.’ I always thought I am good with this guy.”
Their professional collaboration came to fruition with “Moonrise Kingdom”, a 2012 coming-of-age film about two teens who run away together. The film was a box office success, grossing $68 million worldwide, and earned an Oscar nomination for Best Original Screenplay.
Sadly, Bruce Willis retired from acting in 2022 after being diagnosed with aphasia, a disorder that affects communication. A year later, his family revealed that his condition had progressed into frontotemporal dementia. They stated, “While this is painful, it is a relief to finally have a clear diagnosis.”
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