Bill Murray’s Wife Explained: His Marriages, Divorces, And Relationship Status Today
If you’re searching for Bill Murray’s wife, the honest answer depends on the time period—because Bill Murray has been married twice, and he is not publicly known to be married today. His first wife was Margaret Kelly, and his second wife was Jennifer Butler. Both marriages ended in divorce, and since then, Bill has kept his personal life far more private than his on-screen persona.
Quick Facts
- Bill Murray’s current wife: None publicly confirmed
- First wife: Margaret Kelly (married 1981; divorced 1996)
- Second wife: Jennifer Butler (married 1997; divorced 2008)
- Children: Six sons
- Bill Murray known for: Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, Lost in Translation, and decades of comedy and film work
Who Is Bill Murray And Why People Ask About His Wife
Bill Murray is one of those rare celebrities who feels like a myth and a real person at the same time. He’s a comedy legend with an unpredictable public image—sometimes he’s the star of iconic films, and sometimes he’s the guy who randomly appears at a stranger’s party and becomes a story people tell for years. That “Bill Murray energy” makes people curious about what his life is like when the cameras aren’t on.
And because he has intentionally kept much of his private life out of the spotlight—especially in later years—fans often turn to one simple search: “Bill Murray’s wife.” They want to know if he’s married now, who he married before, and how his family life fits into the bigger picture of his career.
Bill Murray’s Wife Today: Is He Married Now?
As of what is publicly known, Bill Murray is not currently married. He has had two marriages in the past, but there is no widely confirmed current wife.
This is where older celebrity bios can mislead people. Some pages list a spouse without clarifying whether it’s a former spouse, or they recycle old information as if it’s current. The clean, accurate update is: two ex-wives, no confirmed wife today.
Bill Murray’s First Wife: Margaret Kelly
Bill Murray’s first wife was Margaret Kelly. They married in 1981—right around the era when Bill’s career was exploding. These were his “becoming a household name” years, when success was fast, the fame was intense, and the schedule was relentless.
The couple later divorced in 1996. They shared children, and Margaret is the mother of Bill’s older sons. While Bill’s public image was constantly evolving through comedy and film, Margaret largely stayed away from public celebrity culture, which is why people often know her name but not many personal details.
Even in divorce, that pattern stayed consistent: the marriage was known, but the personal details weren’t turned into ongoing public drama.
Bill Murray’s Second Wife: Jennifer Butler
Bill Murray’s second wife was Jennifer Butler. They married in 1997, shortly after his first divorce. Jennifer is often described as someone who worked closely with Bill’s life and schedule—commonly referred to as his costume designer or stylist in various bios.
Their marriage lasted more than a decade, but it ended in divorce in 2008. Compared to his first divorce, this one drew more attention, partly because Bill was an even bigger cultural figure by then, and partly because public filings and media coverage brought more conversation around the split.
They also had children together, making Jennifer the mother of Bill’s younger sons.
How Many Kids Does Bill Murray Have?
Bill Murray has six sons. Their names are often listed publicly, though the family has generally tried to keep day-to-day private life out of the spotlight. Some of his sons have grown up to have public careers or public-facing roles, while others remain mostly private.
Having six kids is also part of why the “wife” question stays common. People assume a person with such a big family must have a current spouse, but in Bill’s case, the marriages ended, and he has largely kept his later relationships away from public documentation.
Why Bill Murray’s Relationships Are Often Confusing Online
Bill Murray’s personal life is one of those topics where the internet can get messy fast. Here’s why:
- Old bios don’t update well. A former spouse gets listed as if she’s current.
- Bill is private. He doesn’t constantly clarify or correct rumors publicly.
- He has a “mystery” celebrity image. People project stories onto him because he feels unpredictable.
- Rumors travel faster than facts. A casual claim can get copied across dozens of sites.
The simplest way to avoid confusion is to anchor on the confirmed timeline: Margaret Kelly (1981–1996), Jennifer Butler (1997–2008), and no publicly confirmed current wife.
What His Marriages Reveal About Celebrity Life
Bill Murray’s marriage story isn’t unusual for someone who reached fame early and stayed famous for decades. Long careers in entertainment bring unique pressures:
- Time apart: filming schedules and travel can dominate the calendar.
- Public identity: one partner becomes a public character while the other remains private.
- Constant attention: outsiders feel entitled to comment on your relationship.
- Changing phases of life: who you are in your 20s and 30s can be wildly different from who you become later.
That doesn’t explain every detail of a divorce, but it explains why many celebrity marriages face strain that most non-famous couples never experience.
Is Bill Murray Dating Anyone Now?
Bill Murray has been linked by rumor to different people over the years, but he has not consistently confirmed a current partner publicly the way many celebrities do. That means it’s hard to give a clean, verified “girlfriend” answer without drifting into speculation.
What you can say responsibly is that Bill appears to keep his personal life extremely private today, and he is not publicly known to have a current wife.
The Bottom Line
If you searched Bill Murray’s wife, the clear answer is that Bill Murray does not have a publicly confirmed wife today. He was previously married to Margaret Kelly (1981–1996) and Jennifer Butler (1997–2008). He has six sons, and since his second divorce, he has largely kept his relationships out of the spotlight. In a world where celebrity life is often overshared, Bill Murray has done the opposite—he’s made privacy part of the story.
Featured image source: https://people.com/bill-murray-rare-comment-personal-life-done-some-damage-8780953
