Stand-ups on screen

Bill Murray

On the stage… Murray perfected his droll, dry sarcasm on the stage at Chicago’s Second City. John Belushi who recruited him for New York’s National Lampoon Radio Hour, and then the departure of Chevy Chase from “Saturday Night Live” gave Murray a crucial break.

On the big screen… The one-two punch of “Meatballs” (1979) and “Caddyshack” (1980) led to hits including “Stripes,” “Tootsie” and “Ghostbusters,” branding Murray as the animated wise guy with a dismissive delivery. He wouldn’t find a serious side for years, as he radiated between bitter in “Rushmore,” lovelorn in “Lost in Translation” [pictured] and woefully lonely in “Broken Flowers.”