Richard Dreyfuss Says Bill Murray Was a 'Drunken Bully' on the What about Bob? Set

May 2024 · 2 minute read

Richard Dreyfuss finally spoke up about his time on the set of “What About Bob,” calling Bill Murray a “Drunken Bully” among other revelations.

Richard Dreyfuss had a rollercoaster career in Hollywood, but he was able to rise as often as he fell.

Actor Richard Dreyfuss arrives at American Film Institute's 44th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to John Williams at Dolby Theatre | Photo: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images

The 71-year-old actor said that one night on set, Murray came back from dinner intoxicated and asked him to read a line he considered funny from a script.

Dreyfuss referring to his then-co-star as an “Irish Drunken Bully,” said the actor came close to his face, and screamed at him, saying, everyone hates and only tolerates him.

The New York native recalled that before he could react, his then-co-star took an ashtray that weighed about three-quarters of a pound, and hauled it at him, missing his face by a few feet.

Bill Murray attends the American Film Institute's 46th Life Achievement Award Gala Tribute to George Clooney at Dolby Theatre | Photo: Rich Fury/Getty Images

On the bright side, 66-year-old Murray is not the only actor the New York native had issues with back in the day. The actor equally told the news outlet that his relationship with Robert Shaw in ’75 on the set of “Jaws” was not frictionless.

Not only that, the Academy Award-winning actor was the only person on the cast and crew of the movie who didn’t believe it would be a big hit; a mistake he spent a lot of interviews correcting.

Dreyfus’s career in Hollywood started with a one-line role as a boarding house resident in the ’67 drama “The Graduate.” Recognition and fame came in ’73 after he scored a role on “American Graffiti,” although he said he didn’t understand the appeal.

The award-winning actor won his first Oscar with the movie he replaced Robert De Niro, “The Goodbye Girl” in ’77, and by the early ‘80s, he went on a downward spiral with drug abuse.

Dreyfuss had his comeback in the ’86 comedy movie, “Down and Out in Beverly Hills,” and since then he has kept his head above board, and recorded more success.

Murray and his representatives are yet to comment on Dreyfuss' interview.

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