Bill Murray Admits A Painting Saved His Life 

Imagine being so funny that people laugh at your suicidal ideation

*"I, too am a person and get another chance everyday the sun comes up."* Beautifully said, Bill.

I am so glad I don't suffer from depression and rarely even "get down." My heart goes out to those who do, hang in there.

Respect to Murray. Honest answer eloquently delivered with a clear message of hope to those down. He very well could be that painting for someone.

And a painting nearly killed him in Ghostbusters II

Bill Murray is such a comedy legend that he can’t even tell a genuine, touching story from his life without people giggling and waiting for the punchline.

I drove a cab in NYC back in the eighties and one time picked up Bill. When asked where he was going he was honest enough to say to his therapist....said had just gotten back from the Himalayas after making a movie... asked for an autograph and he wrote a short letter to my sister.....low key and memorable...always something when driving that cab...

Bill Murray is a regular guy. After that a great entertainer. I'm a toilet cleaner. We are both great at our jobs and the world loves us. Thank goodness for us .

I too am a person and I get a new chance everyday, when the sun comes up. - Bill Murray

He looks like Groundhog Day never ended for him. (Edit: after getting notified of a reply to this and see 3.5k likes... just want to say I feel a little bad about the comment and if by chance Bill sees it, sorry man was just in jest. Love you.)

Long before hearing this tale, I spotted a print of "The Song of the Lark" in a thrift store. It stopped me dead in my tracks. It now hangs in my home where I see it every day and still makes me stop for a moment.

It's great to hear Bill's story. The Song of the Lark had the same effect on me when I first saw it. I had a layover to catch my train back to college in NY and I was toiling away in a math/science major that I really wasn't happy with. I walked to the museum and saw the painting and it whisked me back to my childhood where I would get up early in the morning in Summer to pick in the strawberry fields of a local tavern. Her hope and fatigue as she stood there in the dawn to hear the first waking birds cast a spell of connection on me that spanned the centuries between the artist and myself and I knew the darkness in my life was just a passing spell that would vanish with the new day. I look at the painting now and can only think, man, she has Really big feet. I'm really glad Bill stuck with acting, "The Razor's Edge" is still one of my favorite films.

It's amazing that some of the funniest guys in Film (Robin Williams, Bill Murray) seemed to suffer and feel so deeply.

Bill: "I was ready to die." Audience: HAHAHAHAHA!

I’ve always been fascinated by Bill Murray. His story here - and his expressions before and during - remind me why. I know why the audience giggled trying to decipher whether he was being sarcastic, since much of his humor has been, too. But something about him makes me want to just listen to him talk about the things he has seen with this same heartbreaking honesty.

That was way deeper than I expected. I've always loved Bill Murray.

"Admits" is the wrong word. It wasn't anything to be ashamed of.

When you're having a hard time with depression, humor is one of the only things to help you, because it is likely all you have left, and it's the only positive emotion that you can actually feel. It only makes sense that those who have survived hard times are funny because they've exercised their humor muscle a lot to get by. They learn to see absurdities in everyday life, and find laughter in the darkness. I believe that's why so many good comedians have had notorious struggles

That stage Bill left is still waiting for him to come back.

My God, for me personally, I cannot fathom a world without Bill Murray... I have been watching him since I was a kid back in the 70's.

When I found the painting online, I was immediately struck by how it looked to me like the sun was going down, not coming up. My first thought about that was, "How lucky that Bill interpreted it as a sunrise, rather than a sunset, because the other way around he might've become even more despondent." My second thought was, "Or maybe it wasn't chance or luck at all. Maybe the part of him that wanted to live guided him to the art institute because he had some intuition it would help, and then once there that desire for life conspired with the painting to engage his predicament and inspire him not to give up." My 2 cents.

"I started walking. And I walked for a couple of hours. And I realized that I had walked the wrong direction. And not just the wrong direction in terms of where I live. But *the wrong direction in terms of the desire to stay alive*". What a beautiful statement.

About 15 yrs ago I was going through an extreme low point in my life. You name it, it was going wrong, and going wrong for a long time. I was tired of losing. One day I looked down on my desk and saw my roll of Lifesaver candies, and I sort of laughed inside because my thought was, “these aren’t working.” I eventually worked my way out of the rut, only to find a more challenging set of circumstances many years later. And I’m digging my way out of those challenges with some success as well. Sure I’d like to have things easier, but my success rate on getting through tough days is 100%. Yours will be to.

I never realized over all these years how much I would come to love this man, his message, and beautiful personality… until recently I had no idea who he was but now I see how genuine, kind, and gentle his heart is. I’m glad he stuck around and shared his unique sensitive talent.

Bill Murray is amazing. This guy gives honest thoughtful and humble answers to interview questions than I've ever seen any other actors do.

The painting "The Song of the Lark" was done by Jules Adolphe Breton in 1884.

Today's my Dad's birthday - he's been gone for a couple of years. The best words he ever said to me. in a time of sorrow was "No matter what happens son, the sun will rise tomorrow."

I love that he shared this. He’s so authentic, it’s so refreshing.

Holy Moly!! I grew up in Chicago and went often to the Art Institute. The Song of the Lark was and still is my favorite painting. The young peasant woman is standing, listening to the Lark, a small grace in her life of labor.

Such a real and honest response...

He has always looked like he was currently contemplating if he wants to continue living or not.

Life has its ups and downs, to be sure, and how we react to those highs and lows determines our mental landscape. Bill found solace in a painting after walking many miles, but he could just as easily have gone to a movie and watched a comedy, watched children having fun playing in a park, or heard a happy baby laugh. At the time of his greatest need, he saw a painting that anchored him in the reality that life was worth living and that failure makes you stronger if you leave it behind yesterday at the start of each new day. Bless all that reads this!

The other guys are sitting there going "Fuck! How can I possibly come up with a better story than that?"

Of course Bill would not read this, but I will say anyway, "Thanks Bill," for bringing this lovely perspective and dimension to this already gorgeous work.

"A child dies a mother crys. The sun still shines."

I always like listening to Bill..Dude comes off with very relevant thoughts to any question. Always pauses and thinks longer then most and that has a lot of value to me. This guy is timeless. Thinks and acts consistently as a being not in transit, but already there from start to finish..age can't touch him.

One of the saddest things I've ever heard. Honestly made me cry, because I feel this way too :'(

Bill rarely disappoints. He warms my heart by reviving my own memories of taking the South Shore train to Michigan Street to see great art at the Art Institute . One thing I'd like to point out: when you look up Breton's painting, be sure to focus some attention on the young woman's face. Her expression is a big part of what might have inspired Bill.

I don’t know what you’re going through, friend, but keep your chin up. Thanks for being you and I’m glad you are still here🙏🏼

What a sincere and poignant story from Bill Murray. Thank you Mr Murray for trusting us enough to share that private piece of you with all of us. It was uplifting.

These were some of the most inspiring words I've ever heard.

"I too am a person. But get a chance every day the sun comes up."

I saw Edvard Munch's "The Scream" Painting in Boston.With a face clenched in horror & distress,that Painting was the first time I ever felt someone understood how I felt. I then mirrored the painting and with tears strewn down my face,just stood silent, feeling connected to something. When it comes to Music,Theater & The Arts,it is one of t few things real for me. People & Celebrities can be fake and phony all day but ART & TRUE TALENT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF. I have respect for the few Comedians & Celebs who are honest with their truth & don't treat their fans like trash. It's refreshing to hear Bill Murray. The works of Vincent Van Gogh & Andy Warhol effect me just the same.It is on my wish list to see more of Edvard Munch,Vincent Van Gogh & Andy Warhol. Music & Art has been the only consistent good thing in my life that hasn't been taken from me. It is one of the only things keeping me alive.

I don’t like how all my favorite actors are getting old...we will never see them star a movie again 😞

And now that painting's value has just exploded in value!

He seems so genuine. Great story.

That painting is one of my favorite paintings and I saw it for the first time at the same place as Bill, The Chicago Institute of Arts in 1996. Everything about the painting lifted me up, the light, the colors, the composition, it’s such a simple painting of a woman with a sickle in a field, but it just hit me, I didn’t want to die like Bill the day I saw it, but I was going through a tough time in life and I took a trip to visit a friend of mine in Chicago, seeing that painting that day changed my life. I wonder if it’s still there....

If he went into the museum, he wasn’t ready to die. He wanted some inspiration

His genius is his simplicity & being totally grounded while seizing each present moment. He has no agent, which gives him a creative freedom & detaching himself from the Hollywood pressure machine - a very rare individual.

One of the hardest lessons to learn alone is learning not only is it OK to fail but it should be welcomed when it does happen. Learn to grow from failure.

Thank god he’s alive I love his work he’s a comedy genius god bless bill Murray for filling hearts full of laughter

Beautiful to hear someone be so candid/authentic. Thank You Mr. Murray

That is one exhausted looking dude right there. Thanks for all the laughs Bill!

Bill : " i was ready to kill myself" Audience : 😂

I've tried, but can't imagine why he found this painting so powerful.

Humble , genuine genius who knows how to be relatable and engaging. Great story !

“The Song of the Lark” by Jules-Adolphe Breton:

From that meager beginning who would have thought he would rise like a phoenix from the ashes. Yet he did. I've never met Bill in person but he never ceases to amaze me. Definitely one of my heroes. Cheers

Just went and found the painting he was talking about. Wonderful work of art. I am glad it saved his life. We are all happier that Bill is around to make us laugh.

It's been said that humanity laughs because otherwise we would cry.

oh no. how bleak the world would be without him. too sad a thought.

I hate when people can't take comedians serious when they speak from their heart, like did he say a joke? He smiled because people laughed....people is F stupid man... Anyway. He talked about Jules Breton's painting. Soo moving and touching

Mr. Murry that painting may have gave you the energy to over come your emotions. But in doing so, some of your characters that you portrayed after viewing that painting. Helped pull me back up to my starting line of my emotional life. I like to think of that as collateral repair. The opposite of collateral damage Thank you.

I am very glad that Bill saw that painting, and drew inspiration from it. The world is a much better place because of Bill’s Comedic and dramatic contributions to it.

man, imagine how many people gave up on life at a young age and killed themselves that couldve actually improved their lives and become so successful. it's a sad thought :(

Creativity is my favorite antidepressant, along with family, friends and exercise...but I don't have any of those other things while I'm at work so I'm always tapping into my creativity to stay happy.

Imagine being in that crowd laughing and then reading through this comment section 7 years later..

If you're reading this, just pick yourself up and try again.

That was actually quite beautiful. I googled the painting and would have never (I don't think) seen what he described if I hadn't heard it from him first.

I dont want to imagine the world without this dude

There is something so zen about bill, how he speaks, how he carries himself, conducts himself.

I needed this. Thank you.

He’s an absolute living legend... I saw him live a few years back, just him, a small string section and a pianist... it was special.. he threw roses to the crowd at the end of the night, one caught by my girl... we still have the rose. Just awesome...

I thought that was a picture of Bill Murray until he starting blinking.

We love you Bill! You're one of our greatest living voices for peace!

This was an incredible touching story, and very intimate. Art can save lives and bring hope to our soul

Art saves lives.

He is so honest of character, I love Bill Murray.

So glad you decided to stick around Bill. Your work has made me feel happy many times. Love you

"Congratulations first of all on a fantastic film..." The way Bill closes his eyes after hearing that is something only Bill can do. This is like a scene right out of a movie. My favorite actor by far. Just recently watched "Lost in translation" again. Awesome guy.

Man , he is priceless

ART HEALS ...

Damn. What a lovely, touching answer to that question. And it gives such insight into what makes Bill tick. Thank you, Bill.

Thanks for the video. Have a great day. Touching story.

I see lots of comments talking about how it's hard to read his emotions and that he looks miserable, probably has something to do with the fact that when you're depressed you're always miserable and look like that. He looks like he's been fighting a long fight

"I am a person and I get another chance everyday when the sun comes up." - Bill Murray

When I was feeling down after a break up the movie Lost In Translation helped me so back at ya.

That’s beautiful and I’m glad I saw him and heard him tell this story.

"this is mostly true" - this is not an admission this is a story

Profound and brief answer to the eternal question "What is art?"

Bill Murray: "I had lost my desire to stay alive." Audience: *laughs*

This struck me, it made me tear up....always have hope!

I love how when the question is directed at Bill he looks like he's thinking, "How the f am I going to answer this random bloody question?!" and then he comes out with this amazing and thought provoking story. Legend

Always loved Bill even when I was kid in the 80's, I had four heroes, Indiana Jones, Peter Venkman, Luke Skywalker and Optimus prime, I always just wanted to meet Bill and get to know him.

O my god. What a beautiful soul. So kind of him to share this

Mr . Murray I wanted you to know when I was a young man in 1985 and I was lost . Razors edge saved my life . I will never forget this , I owe you alot . Thank you

That painting of Vigo the Carpathian saved his life.

and thank you, bill, you may have just saved me. for all that you do, thank you.

Beautifully put.

Bill Murray is a special guy. He will make anyone laugh on the spot. He used to roll around my neighborhood here and there and I'd hear stories.