Bill Murray in The Driver's Seat

Goofily charming in a hit comedy and silkily menacing in a drama, he perfects the role of Everyguy as superstar

If Bill Murray the actor were to be paid tribute by "Bill Murray," the unctuously impolite bon vivant familiar from Saturday Night Live and a dozen film comedies, the evening might go something like this:

What, ladies and gentlemen, is stardom? Stardom is, you replace the most famous performer on a hot TV show -- as Bill Murray did in 1977 when Chevy Chase left Saturday Night Live -- and you effortlessly out-fame him. Stardom is, you top-line in the most popular comedy of its time, Ghostbusters. Stardom is, you seem to be yourself on screen and people love you. Stardom...

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