Bill Murray’s eldest brother Ed dies as his siblings pay tribute with emotional post
ACTOR Bill Murray’s eldest brother, Ed, has died.
The 70-year-old and his family announced the tragic news on Tuesday, calling Ed a “sweet, gentle soul”.
Ed was believed to have been 76 when he died.
William Murray Golf, the Murray brothers’ golf apparel company, shared a series of sweet photos of Ed drinking beer and playing golf.
He was joined by Bill and their four other brothers, Brian Doyle, Joel, Andy and John, in the shots.
“It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of the legend Ed Murray,” the family wrote in a tribute.
They added: “Named after the family patriarch, it was Ed who introduced the Murray family to this wonderful game of golf – by way of caddying at Indian Hills Country Club – at the age of 10, no less. (They don’t make ‘em like that anymore.)”
They explained that Ed won the Evans Scholarship at Northwestern University in 1963, a scholarship for golf caddies, which became, “a family storyline which served as inspiration for the Danny Noonan character in ‘Caddyshack’ when Brian Doyle-Murray co-wrote that iconic screenplay.”
Ed was an extra in the 1980s classic – which Bill starred in – and received a special acknowledgement in the movie’s credits.
“Over the years, I’ve told people that I was the real Danny Noonan, up to the point where he got laid by the waitress,” he wrote in his page on the William Murray Golf site.
“That didn’t happen. But, I was the oldest of nine, won the caddie championship, and got the caddie scholarship. Many of the events in Caddyshack I experienced during the many years I served as a caddy at Indian Hill Club.
“I did have a small part in the movie in my five days as an extra.”
The post paying tribute to Ed also noted: “Ed and all five Murray brothers are members of the Caddie Hall of Fame, as well – something all the boys take pride in, as this game helped shape their lives.
“It was an honor for all of us to get to know Ed and to spend time with him over the past half decade as we’ve built this brand with the Murray family- and his loss is a hole that will never be filled.”
“Thank you for always being so gracious, Ed. Our hearts are with his lovely family,” the post concluded.
“Rest in paradise, to a true family man and a gentle, sweet soul. May we honor your memory from this day forward. #MurrayBrothers #WilliamMurray #MurrayMoments.”
Ed’s brother John, who is the youngest of all nine siblings, also tweeted: “Ed was the nice Murray who remembered everyone’s name.”
John, an actor who has starred in Mad Men, Dharma & Greg and God Bless America, wrote the post in reply to another tribute.
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Ed and Andy were the only two of the six Murray brothers who didn’t pursue a career in the showbiz industry.
Andy is a chef who opened a Caddyshack-themed restaurant in 2001.
Ed was a broadcasting rep in Chicago and later as a stockbroker in California, according to a 2015 Chicago Tribune interview.