(WBBM NEWSRADIO) – More than 30 years after movie fans first saw Bill Murray in the modern classic "Groundhog Day," the celebrated actor returned to Chicago to pay tribute to the film's director and co-writer.
Murray on Friday joined other cast members from the 1993 movie on Navy Pier to honor the late Harold Ramis, who died nearly 10 years ago.
Murray, who was not publicized to attend the Feb. 2 (Groundhog Day, natch) event, said he sensed the hand of his old friend at play.
“I don’t want to be too Irish, but it’s very nice of Harold to make us a nice, mild day for today,” the actor said. “He’s up there stirring the clouds around and making that low pressure move out over to Indiana, and just drench and ruin those peoples’ lives over there in Indiana.”
Ramis, a Chicago native, also directed Murray in 1980’s "Caddyshack" and co-starred with him in the 1984 smash "Ghostbusters."
Other cast members from “Groundhog Day” on hand for Friday’s festivities included Murray’s brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, who reprised his schtick as Mayor Buster Green; Marita Geraghty; and David Pasquesi, who played a psychiatrist in the film. He said Ramis was a rare individual who had the qualities of intelligence, humor and kindness.
“Other people have two of them or one of them, but he had all three in excess,” Pasquesi said.
Contributing: News Editor Geoff Buchholz, Digital Content Producer Sara Dingmann
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