Bill Murray's Wife Files For Divorce: Alleges Abuse, Drugs, Alcohol And More

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The wife of entertainer Bill Murray has filed for divorce after nearly 11 years of marriage, alleging he abused her and is addicted to marijuana and alcohol.

Jennifer Butler Murray filed divorce papers May 12 in Charleston County. She owns a home on Sullivans Island, S.C., where she lives with the couple's four children.

The complaint was first reported by The Post and Courier of Charleston. It also alleges frequent abandonment by the former "Saturday Night Live" star.

Bill Murray's attorney, John McDougall, wouldn't comment on the allegations, but said the entertainer "is deeply saddened by the breakup of his marriage."

"He and his wife made loving parents and they are committed to the best interests of their children," McDougall said.

Jennifer Murray's attorney, Robert Rosen, said he had no comment.

The couple signed a prenuptial agreement, which was filed as an exhibit with the divorce papers, before they married in 1997. As part of the agreement, both waived their right to alimony or support if the marriage broke up. However, Murray agreed to pay $7 million to his ex-wife within 60 days of a final divorce decree.

The complaint, which doesn't specify instances of Murray's alleged marijuana or alcohol use, alleges he would often leave without telling his wife and says he "travels overseas where he engages in public and private altercations and sexual liaisons."

It also alleges Murray physically abused his wife and last November "hit her in the face and then told her she was `lucky he didn't kill her.'"

The documents obtained by The Post and Courier were sealed by the court last week.

Murray, the star of movies such as "Ghostbusters," "Caddyshack" and "Groundhog Day," is a co-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs minor league baseball team.

The 57-year-old actor earned an Oscar nomination for his role in "Lost in Translation."

Comments

[duckcrackers]

11:19 PM on 05/31/2008

I just saw his profile on www.stripesandmeatballs.com. His profile says that even if he doesn't meet someone it's ok because it just doesn't matter.

[AgentMacGyver]

03:34 AM on 05/31/2008

I wonder where he goes overseas for his liasons?

[duckcrackers]

11:38 PM on 05/31/2008

He goes to a restaraunt, announces he's BIll Murray and is looking for a hook up and that's pretty much it.

[Trittydi]

11:55 PM on 05/30/2008

I don't care. Go away and leave them alone.
*

[duckcrackers]

11:20 PM on 05/31/2008

I just saw BIll the other day and he never mentioned smacking his wife to me. How odd.

[maxfusion]

11:42 PM on 05/30/2008

Want to get rich? Two bumps, and a wet spot, and you're on the road to riches ladies. American women are such opportunists.

[Trittydi]

11:56 PM on 05/30/2008

All men should be gelded at birth.

Aren't stupid generalities fun?
*

[Agentlady007]

01:07 AM on 05/31/2008

Think and Grow Rich. Period.

[dgscol]

09:13 PM on 05/30/2008

What's the matter with this chick? Can't take a few jokes? Doesn't like the body humor? She should take a hit and chill a bit.

[duckcrackers]

11:22 PM on 05/31/2008

I'm just glad this became public. I was just telling my buddy the other day that more celebrity dirty laundry was needed in my entertainment diet.

[SharonB]

07:40 PM on 05/30/2008

Here's to hoping everyone in that house hold gets what he or she deserves, especially the kids.

[TRichards]

06:37 PM on 05/30/2008

The nastier the allegations, the higher the settlement. Why does the press cover this old game?

[NicoleAnonymous]

07:09 PM on 05/30/2008

That is not true.

The judge decides how much money to give her based on how long they were married, if she gave up her career, how much money he made while they were married, his financial assets, if she has the right to continue living the same lifestyle she is accustomed to. She doesn't get more money just for being married to an abusive man.

[Agentlady007]

08:10 PM on 05/30/2008

NicoleA, What you are describing is true for anyone who DOES NOT sign a prenup. This is not the case here.

[nyhfrog]

06:33 PM on 05/30/2008

He's addicted to marijuana and alcohol? So what? He's Irish and from the seventies.

I'm not cool with the abuse, though.

[panamanianpirate]

04:16 PM on 05/30/2008

After reading this, I think I'll greet my wife with a big hug and kiss later this afternoon and just feel fortunate she hasn't filed against ME after 10 yrs.. Red wine- beer abuse has been the norm for awhile between Fridays and Sundays. Disapperaing into a cloud of smoke on weekends, well...
I can't remeber the last time that hasn't happened.
Ironic...I was just apologizing to my ex-wife about the same thing just prior to reading this article. But those were the 60's. Currently, I apologize to my wife because of the stress I feel teaching classes filled to capacity with college freshman. I think maybe I'm runing out of excuses. But never any cheating!
Regards to all from the jungle.

[SharonB]

07:33 PM on 05/30/2008

You teach college freshmen? You deserve a medal.

[rpence]

02:24 PM on 05/30/2008

Bill Murray's a lovable lug in the movies. And apparently he likes to toke down and have a few drinks in real life, just as he does in the movies. Anyone who likes the kind bud just has to be a swell guy--I mean, look at Woody Harrelson! The more he boosts the herb, the cooler he is!

Therefore, like so many on this message board, I am absolutely convinced that his wife's nothing but a golddigging bitch who doesn't want poor Bill to have any fun and, moreover, is spoiling the image that his fans have of Bill.

When in doubt, always blame the woman. Look at poor old Paul McCartney, victim of the evil greedy whore Heather Mills. No one who wrote and sang "Here, There, and Everywhere," with his sweet face and voice, could possibly have any flaws or relationship issues. It's entirely on her, just as it is on the soon to be ex-Mrs. Bill Murray. I know that, because I faithfully read the incisive critical thinking on display here in the Entertainment section of HuffPost.

[NicoleAnonymous]

04:22 PM on 05/30/2008

I agree with you - just because someone is a talented actor or muscician doesn't mean they're a good person.

But I think the problem here is that she still could have gotten child support and alimony without mentioning that he has abused her. When you're married to a famous person you know that journalists will be looking at the divorce filing which is public information.

That just seems vindictive to me.

[TRYKER]

06:33 PM on 05/30/2008

No it isn't vindictive to mention when somebody physically ABUSES you.
When you lay your hands on your wife, you don't get that "Oh, but he is such a likable lug, just say he's nice."
Who care if the media gets a hold of messy facts? He doesn't sound like anything near saintly enough to warrant being given carte blanche over wife beating. She bore 4 children to him, they count...his behavior needs revamping.
He sounds exactly like all of the other alcoholic-addicts.

[kae]

02:04 PM on 05/30/2008

anyone that thinks this is newsworthy should now go read any news you can find online about Iran - Iraq - the Fed, etc...please - move away from the dangling carrot - these are allegations

[beekeeper]

11:56 AM on 05/30/2008

I bet she sure enjoyed his money for a long time

[PigsOnSoma]

01:06 PM on 05/30/2008

Which of course is a great reason to be subjected to abuse.

[Agentlady007]

01:21 PM on 05/30/2008

Heresay.

[Agentlady007]

01:22 PM on 05/30/2008

Objection.

[rmetz74]

01:49 PM on 05/30/2008

I guess it turns out even money doesn't make up for an unhappy life.

[Fletch17C]

08:50 AM on 05/30/2008

First off, according to NewsMeat, which tracks campaign donations, Bill Murray (William James Murray, actor) made donations to Ted Kennedy, John Kerry, and Mark Green. Thus, I don't know where the assumptions came that he was a Republican. Perhaps someone on the board here knows knows something more recent.

I've loved Bill Murray's movies over the years, but there have always been rumors that the guy had a very nasty temper. Allegedly, his temperment issues during the "Charlie's Angels" shoot got him bumped from the sequel.

I'm sorry to hear that his kids have to go through this.

[wmbear]

08:29 AM on 05/30/2008

BEST BILL MURRAY FLICK--

"What Happened to Bob?" Next best -- "Groundhog Day." Can we please give people like Bill a pass on their personal lives? Presidents, no. Commedians, yes.

[wmbear]

08:31 AM on 05/30/2008

NEXT, NEXT BEST...

The "Ghost Busters" series....

[bigpat]

08:58 AM on 05/30/2008

I believe you mean "What About Bob?" "Baby steps,baby steps".

[focher]

07:30 AM on 05/30/2008

Let me be the first to post "This is their personal business, none of us know any detail about the situation, and just because someone is a public personality doesn't give us the right to involve ourselves in their personal lives."

Strange world that we live in where, out of the first 50+ posts, I am the only one to make those points.

[rmetz74]

01:49 PM on 05/30/2008

You're not the only one, in fact.