Facebook Twitter Instagram
    • Services
    • Aircheck for Actors
    • Demo Reels
    • Audition Prep/Self-Tape Reader
    • Mailing Labels
    • Contribute
    • Industry Links
    • Advertise
    Daily Actor
    • Acting Tips
      • Actors on Acting
      • Advice Columns
      • Acting Quotes
      • Audition Tapes
      • How To Become An Actor
      • How to Memorize Lines
    • Monologues
      • Monologues from Plays
      • Monologues from Movies
      • Monologues from Musicals
      • Comedic Monologues
      • Dramatic Monologues
      • One Minute Monologues
      • Monologues for Women
      • Monologues for Men
      • Monologues for Teens
      • Monologues for Kids
      • All Monologues
    • Acting Resources
      • Acting Resume
        • Acting Resume Template
      • Acting Classes
        • Los Angeles Acting Classes
        • Las Vegas Acting Classes
        • San Diego Acting Classes
      • Acting Schools and Colleges
        • Los Angeles
        • New York
        • BFA Acting Schools
      • Casting Websites
      • Headshot Photographers
        • Los Angeles
        • New York City
        • Headshot Printing
      • Acting Techniques
        • What is Method Acting?
      • Stage Directions
      • Demo Reels: Everything You Need to Know
    • Interviews
      Featured
      Casting Director Interview - Brett Benner and Debby Romano

      Interview: Casting Directors Brett Benner and Debby Romano Talk ‘Shrinking’, Finding Actors and More

      Recent
      Casting Director Interview - Brett Benner and Debby Romano

      Interview: Casting Directors Brett Benner and Debby Romano Talk ‘Shrinking’, Finding Actors and More

      March 6, 2023
      Jeremy Davis Olaf in Frozen Interview

      Interview: Jeremy Davis on Playing Olaf in ‘Frozen’, Costume Mishaps and Making the Role His Own

      January 19, 2023
      Casting Director Kim Coleman Interview

      Interview: Casting Director Kim Coleman on ‘Five Days at Memorial’, Self-Tape Tips and Portraying Real People

      January 11, 2023
    • Actor Blogs
    • Reviews
      • Movies
      • Theater
      • Books
      • Products
    • Actor Services
      • Airchecks
      • Demo Reels
      • Website Design
      • Mailing Labels
    Daily Actor
    Home » Film » Joel Murray Finally Gets a Starring Role in ‘God Bless America’: “Starting out, I was always the Buddy. This is my first shot to be the Guy”
    Film

    Joel Murray Finally Gets a Starring Role in ‘God Bless America’: “Starting out, I was always the Buddy. This is my first shot to be the Guy”

    Chris McKittrickBy Chris McKittrickMay 11, 2012Updated:September 16, 20183 Comments2 Mins Read
    Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email

    EVERYONE knows who Bill Murray is, and most people know that his older brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, is also an actor.  But what about Joel Murray, yet another Murray brother who is an actor?

    “I don’t often get recognized for my work, but I look familiar,” Joel Murray tells the Los Angeles Times, “I’m just a working-man actor. I go and audition and you just hope the work keeps coming.”

    Indeed, Joel Murray has had a steady acting career despite not being as recognizable as his older brothers.  He’s appeared on television in recurring roles on Dharma & Greg, Shameless, Two and a Half Men, and Mad Men and has appeared in small roles in films like The Artist and The Cable Guy.  But Joel has finally landed his first leading role in the Bobcat Goldthwait-directed black comedy God Bless America (he previously appeared in a minor role in Goldthwait’s first directorial effort Shakes the Clown).

    Though he’s friendly with Goldthwait, Joel didn’t expect him to offer the lead role in the movie to him.  He explains, “Starting out, I was always the Buddy. This is my first shot to be the Guy.  When [Goldthwait] sent me the script and I read it and called him, I said, ‘It’s great, do you want me to be the guy in the office, the boss, what do you want me to be?’ He said, ‘No, I want you to be Frank.’ ‘You want me to be the Guy?'”

    Though excited about his starring role in a lot of ways Joel is thankful that he’s not more recognizable.  He points to his most famous brother as an example of why he prefers not being too famous, saying, “You know, I have a famous brother and I see what his life’s like. He can stay places 15 minutes and then he’s got to leave. So I’ve seen what it’s like to be famous and I haven’t really aspired to be a huge mega-star, not that I’ve had that opportunity. I’ve had a great career. I like the level that I’ve been at.”

    God Bless America is now playing in limited release and is also available on VOD.

    Related

    Previous ArticleDustin Hoffman is a Hero – Helps Save the Life of London Jogger
    Next Article Lena Dunham Responds to ‘Girls’ Criticism: “This show isn’t supposed to feel exclusionary. It’s supposed to feel honest”

    Related Posts

    David Harbour Black Widow

    David Harbour on Building a Character, Finding Contradictions and Mastering an Accent

    September 3, 2021
    Nicolas Cage in Pig

    Nicolas Cage on Using a “More Quiet and Measured Performance Style” in ‘Pig’

    August 17, 2021
    Aubrey Plaza in Black Bear

    Aubrey Plaza on Auditioning and Why UCB Was the “Best Time” of Her Life

    August 12, 2021
    View 3 Comments

    3 Comments

    1. Ken Murray via Facebook on May 11, 2012 4:37 pm

      Fantastic movie

    2. Daily Actor via Facebook on May 11, 2012 4:42 pm

      Yeah, really liked it. Saw it at SXSW.

    3. Ken Murray via Facebook on May 11, 2012 4:43 pm

      Have you seen his recent stand up DVD You Don’t Look the Same Either? I liked that a lot too

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

    Daily Actor Facebook Daily Actor Twitter Daily Actor Instagram Daily Actor Pinterest Daily Actor YouTube Page
    Popular Pages
    Become An Actor | Acting Tips | Acting Quotes
    Acting Resume | Resume Template
    Headshot Photographers
    Los Angeles | New York
    Print Your Headshots
    Acting Schools & Colleges
    Los Angeles | New York
    Monologues
    Movies | Plays | Comedic | Dramatic
    Men | Women | Teens | Kids
    • Contact
    • About
    • Advertise
    • Resource Listings
    • Write A Column
    • Contribute
    • Privacy Policy

    Disclaimer: Daily Actor at times uses affiliate links to sites like Amazon.com, streaming services, and others. Affiliate links provides compensation to Daily Actor which helps us remain online, giving you the resources and information actors like you are looking for.

    © 2023 Daily Actor

    Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.