Joel Murray

Murray was born and raised in Wilmette, Illinois, to Lucille (née Collins; 1921–1988), a mail room clerk, and Edward Joseph Murray II (1921–1967), a lumber salesman. He grew up in an Irish Catholic family.

One of nine siblings, he is the younger brother of actors Bill Murray, Brian Doyle-Murray, and John Murray. A sister, Nancy, is an Adrian Dominican Sister in Michigan, who toured the U.S. portraying St. Catherine of Siena. His brother Ed died in 2020. Their father died in 1967 at the age of 46 from complications of diabetes.

In high school at Loyola Academy, Murray was captain of the football team and the lead actor in one of the school's musicals. His entertainment career began in Chicago, Illinois, where he performed at various improvisational theaters, including the Improv Olympic, the Improv Institute, and The Second City.

Murray voiced Cheetos mascot Chester Cheetah from the character's inception in 1986 until 1997. He was replaced by Pete Stacker in 1997.

Murray grew up watching his brothers Bill and Brian perform at Second City. He studied improvisation with Del Close and was a founding member of Chicago's Improv Olympic. He later worked with the Second City Touring Company and Second City Northwest in Rolling Meadows, Illinois, before joining the Chicago Mainstage for the 1989 revue The Gods Must Be Lazy.

Murray starred in the 1990 television series Grand, the 1991 comedy series Pacific Station, the 1992 comedy series Love & War as Ray Litvak, and the ABC series Dharma & Greg as Pete Cavanaugh. Murray also featured in commercials for First Chicago NBD. He provided his voice for the short-lived 1994 series Beethoven and the TV series 3-South. He played the supporting character "Fitz" on CBS's sitcom Still Standing. He appeared as Eddie Jackson on Showtime's series Shameless in 2011.

Murray's first film role was in the 1986 comedy film One Crazy Summer as George Calamari. His other roles include the 1988 comedy film Scrooged, with his brothers Bill, Brian, and John. He appeared in the 1992 movie Shakes the Clown with One Crazy Summer co-stars Bob Goldthwait and Tom Villard.

In 1996, Murray performed with his brothers Bill and Brian at the Cat Laughs festival in Kilkenny, Ireland, the first time all three had appeared onstage together.

Murray attended the Big Stinkin' International Improv & Sketch Comedy Festival twice, including in 1999, when he emceed a show at Austin Music Hall and was scheduled to teach a workshop.

In the first, second, fourth, fifth and seventh seasons of the Emmy-winning AMC TV series Mad Men, Murray had a recurring role and appeared in 15 episodes as copywriter Freddy Rumsen. He has made guest appearances on television shows such as The Nanny, Joan of Arcadia, Two and a Half Men, Malcolm in the Middle, Criminal Minds, and Blossom.

In the 2012 film God Bless America, Murray played Frank, a man who goes on a killing spree after becoming disgusted with American popular culture. Murray said he was surprised when director Bobcat Goldthwait offered him the lead, having expected a smaller role.

In the 2013 Pixar film Monsters University he provides the voice of Don Carlton, a middle-aged monster who is a college student and salesman.

Murray joined the touring improv show Whose Live Anyway? in 2012, performing alongside Ryan Stiles, Greg Proops and Jeff B. Davis. He continued performing with the group, including an October 2014 appearance at Seattle's Moore Theatre. He also portrayed Ted in the comedy horror film Bloodsucking Bastards.

Murray has been married to Eliza Coyle since 1989 and they have four children. He and his brothers own a country club themed restaurant, the Murray Brothers "Caddyshack" (run by his brother Andy), named after the 1980 comedy film Caddyshack that starred his brothers Bill and Brian, located in the World Golf Village resort near St. Augustine, Florida. In 2018, they opened a second location in the Chicago suburb of Rosemont, Illinois.