The story of bill murray wife centers on two marriages, six children, and a personal life that the celebrated American actor has largely kept away from the spotlight. Murray was first married to Margaret “Mickey” Kelly in 1981 and later married costume designer Jennifer Butler in 1997. Both marriages ended in divorce, and Butler died in January 2021. As of the latest publicly confirmed information, Murray has not announced another marriage.
Known for his distinctive comic delivery and memorable performances, Murray has spent decades entertaining audiences while revealing relatively little about his family life. His relationships have occasionally attracted headlines, particularly when details emerged during his second divorce. Yet understanding his marital history requires looking beyond celebrity gossip to the established facts about his former wives, their children, and the family connections that continue to shape his personal story.
Is Bill Murray Married in 2026?
Bill Murray is not publicly known to be married in 2026. The actor has two documented marriages, both of which ended in divorce. There has been no reliably confirmed announcement of a third marriage.
Born William James Murray on September 21, 1950, in Evanston, Illinois, Murray became a household name through television comedy before establishing himself as a major Hollywood star. His success has brought sustained public interest in his romantic relationships, but his professional visibility should not be confused with openness about his private affairs.
Murray married Kelly in 1981, during the early years of his film career. Their relationship lasted approximately 15 years before they divorced in 1996. He subsequently married Butler in July 1997. That marriage ended in June 2008 after Butler filed for divorce the previous month.
The end of his second marriage did not remove the family responsibilities that connected him to his former wife. Murray and Butler had four sons together, while his marriage to Kelly produced two sons.
Rumors about celebrity relationships frequently circulate online, particularly when actors attend public events with friends or colleagues. However, photographs, appearances, and unverified reports cannot establish a marriage.
For readers seeking his current marital status, the important distinction is that Murray’s two former wives are publicly documented, while no later marriage has been confirmed.
Margaret “Mickey” Kelly: Murray’s First Wife
Margaret Kelly, commonly known as Mickey Kelly, was Murray’s first wife. The couple married in January 1981, when his entertainment career was developing rapidly.
Their wedding reportedly began with an elopement in Las Vegas. They later held another ceremony in Chicago, allowing family members to participate in the celebration.
Kelly has maintained a largely private life compared with her former husband. Public information about her personal background, career, and life after the divorce remains limited. Consequently, many details of their relationship have never received extensive public documentation.
Their marriage coincided with a transformative period for Murray. Following his success on television, he became increasingly established as a film actor. His work brought professional opportunities, travel, and growing public recognition, although the precise effect of those pressures on his marriage cannot be established from public information alone.
The couple welcomed two sons, Homer and Luke. Both eventually developed professional interests outside their father’s acting career, creating individual identities beyond their connection to a famous parent.
Murray and Kelly’s marriage ended in 1996. Their separation marked the conclusion of a relationship that had lasted about 15 years and covered much of his transition from television performer to major film star.
Despite the public’s interest in celebrity marriages, Kelly has not maintained a prominent media presence. The limited information available about her later life makes it especially important not to confuse speculation with verified personal details.
Jennifer Butler’s Career and Life Beyond Hollywood
Jennifer Butler was more than the former wife of a famous actor. She built a career as a costume designer, working in an industry where clothing helps establish a character’s personality, background, and place in a story.
Born on October 24, 1963, Butler came from a family with a history in costume design. Her professional credits included films such as Groundhog Day, Firestarter, and The Last of the Mohicans. These productions required detailed costume work to support their different settings and characters.
Her connection to Groundhog Day is particularly notable because the film also starred Murray. Their professional and personal lives became intertwined during the years when they were together.
Butler generally maintained a lower public profile than Murray. She did not pursue the same level of celebrity recognition, and much of her life outside her work and family remained private.
Butler died on January 12, 2021, at age 57, at her home in Sullivan’s Island, South Carolina. Her death came more than a decade after her divorce from Murray.
She was survived by her four sons: Caleb, Jackson, Cooper, and Lincoln. Her legacy includes both her work in film and her role in raising the family she shared with Murray.
Inside Bill Murray’s Second Marriage and Divorce
Murray married Butler in July 1997. Their relationship lasted nearly 11 years, ending with a divorce finalized in June 2008.
The separation became a major public story after Butler filed for divorce in May 2008. Her filing included serious allegations involving abuse, infidelity, substance use, and abandonment. These were allegations made during the legal proceedings, and they should not be presented as proven findings without supporting judicial evidence.
Murray’s representative expressed sadness about the marriage ending. The couple ultimately reached a divorce agreement, which a judge in Charleston County, South Carolina, approved on June 13, 2008.
Reports at the time described arrangements involving the couple’s four children, visitation, child support, and property. Butler was to have custody of the children under the reported agreement. Some other court documents were sealed at the couple’s request.
The divorce marked a difficult period in Murray’s family life. In later comments, he reflected on how the experience affected his relationships with his sons. He indicated that, despite the pain of the separation, its aftermath helped bring him closer to his children.
That perspective offers insight into how he viewed the experience over time. However, it does not provide a complete account of the private circumstances surrounding the marriage or the divorce.
How Many Children Does Bill Murray Have?
Murray has six sons from his two marriages. His children have followed different professional paths, and several prefer to maintain privacy rather than pursue public attention.
His two older sons, Homer and Luke, are from his marriage to Kelly. His four younger sons, Caleb, Jackson, Cooper, and Lincoln, are from his marriage to Butler.
Here is a closer look at the family:
- Homer Murray: Born in 1982, Homer has established a career in New York City’s restaurant industry. He co-founded the restaurant 21 Greenpoint in Brooklyn.
- Luke Murray: Born in 1985, Luke built a career in college basketball coaching. In March 2026, Boston College named him its men’s basketball head coach.
- Caleb Murray: One of Murray’s four sons with Butler, Caleb generally maintains a private public profile.
- Jackson Murray: Jackson has also kept much of his personal life away from widespread media attention.
- Cooper Murray: Cooper has pursued acting and appeared in projects connected to his father’s work, including Moonrise Kingdom and The Now.
- Lincoln Murray: The youngest of the six brothers, Lincoln has largely remained out of the public spotlight.
Their different careers illustrate that being related to a prominent actor does not necessarily mean following the same professional path.
Murray has occasionally appeared publicly with his older sons. His support for Luke’s basketball career has drawn attention from sports fans, while his association with Homer’s restaurant activities has connected him to the culinary world.
These appearances provide glimpses of family relationships without revealing every detail of their private lives.
Bill Murray’s Relationship With His Sons Today
Fatherhood remains an important part of Murray’s personal story. In past interviews, he has spoken about the responsibility of raising children and the importance of his family.
His sons have developed independent lives as adults. Homer works in hospitality, Luke has moved into college basketball leadership, and Cooper has explored acting. The other brothers have generally kept their activities private.
Luke’s career has been particularly visible in recent years. After serving as an assistant coach at the University of Connecticut, he accepted the head coaching position at Boston College in 2026. His appointment brought renewed attention to his relationship with his father.
Murray has supported Luke’s basketball work, attending games and celebrating his achievements. Their relationship also illustrates how family members can develop different interests and gradually find new ways to connect.
Murray has previously emphasized giving his children room to pursue their own interests rather than expecting them to imitate his career. His sons’ professional choices reflect that independence.
Although public appearances can offer useful context, they cannot reveal the full nature of a family’s private relationships. It is more accurate to focus on confirmed events and statements than to make assumptions about how frequently the family sees one another or how they manage personal matters.
Has Bill Murray Married Again Since His Divorce?
Searches for bill murray wife often reflect uncertainty about whether the actor has entered another marriage following his divorce from Butler.
As of the latest publicly confirmed information, no third marriage has been announced. His documented marital history remains limited to Kelly and Butler.
Murray has occasionally attracted attention for his appearances with women at entertainment events. Such appearances can prompt speculation, but they do not establish that a person is his romantic partner or spouse.
The actor’s personal relationships have not always received the same level of public disclosure as his professional activities. Consequently, the absence of a confirmed marriage is the most responsible basis for describing his current marital status.
Readers should also distinguish between a celebrity’s public companion at an event and a confirmed relationship. Without a clear statement or reliable evidence, assigning someone the title of wife would be misleading.
Murray’s long career has made him a familiar figure to generations of American moviegoers. Yet his approach to privacy means that not every aspect of his personal life is available for public scrutiny.
Bill Murray’s Marriage Timeline
The following milestones summarize his two marriages and the major family events associated with them.
| Year | Event |
|---|---|
| 1981 | Murray married Margaret “Mickey” Kelly. |
| 1982 | His son Homer was born. |
| 1985 | His son Luke was born. |
| 1996 | Murray and Kelly divorced. |
| 1997 | Murray married Jennifer Butler. |
| 2008 | Butler filed for divorce, and their marriage officially ended in June. |
| 2021 | Butler died at age 57. |
| 2026 | No third marriage has been publicly confirmed; Luke Murray became Boston College’s men’s basketball head coach. |
This timeline separates established family milestones from rumors about possible relationships.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Bill Murray’s first wife?
His first wife was Margaret “Mickey” Kelly. They married in January 1981 and divorced in 1996.
Who was Bill Murray’s second wife?
His second wife was Jennifer Butler, a costume designer. They married in July 1997 and divorced in June 2008.
Is Bill Murray currently married?
No current marriage has been publicly confirmed as of the latest available information.
When did Jennifer Butler die?
Butler died on January 12, 2021, at age 57.
How many children does Bill Murray have?
He has six sons: Homer, Luke, Caleb, Jackson, Cooper, and Lincoln.
What does Bill Murray’s oldest son do?
Homer Murray works in the restaurant industry and co-founded 21 Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York.
What does Luke Murray do?
Luke is a college basketball coach. Boston College appointed him head coach of its men’s basketball program in March 2026.
Did Bill Murray marry a third time?
No third marriage has been publicly confirmed.
Final Thoughts
Bill Murray’s family history includes two marriages that ended in divorce, six sons who have pursued their own interests, and a former wife whose work as a costume designer extended beyond her association with the actor. Margaret Kelly was his first wife, while Jennifer Butler was his second. Butler’s death in 2021 marked another significant event in the family’s history.
Murray continues to attract public interest because of his long career and the limited information he shares about his private life. For now, the confirmed record shows two former wives and no publicly announced third marriage.
What are your thoughts on Bill Murray’s family life and the stories behind his two marriages? Share your comments and follow future verified updates about his personal life.