Hollywood icon Bill Murray, now 74, has long been known for his comedic brilliance and quirky persona.

From his breakthrough on Saturday Night Live to his critically acclaimed film roles, Murray has spent decades in the public eye.

But in a rare, candid interview with The Times, the Oscar-nominated actor opened up about the complexities of fame, personal missteps, and his continued passion for the creative arts.

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“You have to have an ego to work with, you need it to get the work done,” Murray shared.

“It’s not important to try to change your ego, or to keep it in check, or dial it down. What’s important is to watch it.”

Murray didn’t shy away from reflecting on how early fame impacted his behavior.

“Your first brush with fame — it’s not like it got any bigger but you lose control for a year or two,” he said.

“You make a lot of mistakes, you do a lot of stupid things and you allow people to fluff you up.”

His rise to fame began in 1977, when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live during the show’s second season.

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Murray remained on SNL until 1980, helping shape the early years of what would become one of America’s most iconic sketch comedy institutions.

From there, his film career flourished, with memorable roles in Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and Scrooged. He earned his first Academy Award nomination for Best Actor for his performance in 2003’s Lost in Translation.

However, the past few years have not been without challenges for Murray. In 2022, he was accused of inappropriate behavior by a younger female production assistant on the set of the now-shelved film Being Mortal.

The complaint alleged that Murray straddled and kissed her while both were wearing COVID-19 face masks.

Ultimately, Murray paid $100,000 to settle the matter, and production on the film was halted.

“It was a great disappointment because I thought I knew someone and I didn’t,” Murray told The New York Times about the incident.

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“I certainly thought it was light. I thought it was funny. To me it’s still funny, the idea that you could give someone a kiss with a mask on. It’s still stupid. It’s all it was.”

Despite the controversy, Murray has continued to work steadily, particularly with acclaimed director Wes Anderson. He’s appeared in 10 of Anderson’s 12 films, including the latest, The Phoenician Scheme, released on May 30.

In the film, Murray plays God, starring alongside Benicio del Toro, Scarlett Johansson, Tom Hanks, and Benedict Cumberbatch.

Working with Anderson remains a professional highlight for Murray.

“At this point I just say, ‘What time? Where are we going?’ Because from his first script I knew exactly what he wanted to do,” he said. “I’m not going to be disappointed in what we make.”

Beyond film, Murray is currently on a global tour with celebrated German cellist Jan Vogler.

The two first met in an airport in Berlin, and Murray recounted their humorous introduction: “We met boarding a plane in Berlin and I said, ‘Are you going to fit that thing [his cello] in the overhead?’ And he looked at me like I was mentally handicapped and said, ‘It has its own zeet. Not only does it have its own zeet, it has a zeet in first class, and it has the window zeet in first class.’”

The show, which also features Vogler’s wife, violinist Mira Wang, and pianist Vanessa Perez, is an eclectic mix of music, poetry, and theatrical performance.

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Murray, in true form, brings his signature energy to the stage.

“The audience are expecting maybe it’s going to be funny because I’m in it,” he said. “Or maybe it’s going to be grim because there are three communists.”

Since 2017, the quartet has taken this unique performance around the world, including stops in Australia, Iceland, Germany, and across the United States.

As he reflects on his journey — both the triumphs and the missteps — Bill Murray remains a singular figure in the entertainment world.

Candid, complex, and still creatively restless, he offers a rare look into the lessons of a life lived in the spotlight.

Young stars, take note — Murray’s journey is a vivid reminder that fame, while seductive, can cloud judgment.

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But with time, reflection, and honesty, one can find their way back to center.

WATCH SOME OF HIS BEST WORK: