Groundhog Day cast now – nearly murdered, 20-year feud, 'worst actor' and suing Walmart

It’s Groundhog Day, again, only this time it’s the 30th anniversary of the much-loved hit movie which sees Bill Murray’s character trapped re-living the same day over and over again.

Murray plays Phil Connors, a sarcastic and grouchy weatherman sent to cover the Groundhog Day celebration in small-town Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, where he finds himself stuck in a time loop.

Phil is joined by his producer Rita Hanson, played by Andie MacDowell and cameraman Larry (Chris Elliott) for his annual coverage of the festivities, and makes no secret of his contempt for the assignment, the small town, and the “hicks” who live there.

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Ultimately, Phil eventually realises the only way to end the cycle is by changing his perspective and doing good deeds for the people of Punxsutawney.

The film grossed $70.9 million worldwide and was one of the most successful films of the year.

So strong was the film’s theme that over the years the term “Groundhog Day” has been adopted into our everyday language as a term synonymous with the monotonous.

On the 30th anniversary of the film’s release, we’ve taken a look at where the original cast are now.

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Phil Connors – Bill Murray

Despite the movie proving a hit, a difference of opinion between Murray and director Harold Ramis saw a once great friendship break down for more than two decades.

It was Ramis’ version that attracted Murray to the project, though Murray and Ramis immediately clashed over the film’s tone.

Murray wanted to focus on the philosophical elements, while Ramis countered that it was meant to be a comedy.

The pair had successfully worked together on Stripes, Caddyshack, and the blockbuster Ghostbusters franchise prior to the souring of relations which lasted until the last few months of Ramis’ life in 2014.

In the 30 years since the movie Murray, now 72, has cemented his place as one of the greatest in Hollywood, thanks in no small part to his signature deadpan style.

He’s also returned to TV, including the 2020 series On The Rocks, spearheaded by Lost in Translation director Sofia Coppola.

Murray’s performances have earned him numerous awards, including the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2016.

Rita Hanson – Andie MacDowell

In a role at one point considered for Tori Amos, MacDowell, now 64, was cast as Rita because she was thought to bring an effortless grace suited to the character.

At the time of Groundhog Day’s release, MacDowell was riding the wave of the highest-profile roles in her career.

She would go on to star opposite Hugh Grant in the British comedy Four Weddings and a Funeral the following year.

MacDowell then starred in Bad Girls and become the first actress in US cinema history to bank back-to-back number-one films at the American box office during the same year.

Although not quite managing the dizzying heights of leading roles of the early 90s she nevertheless remained employed as a model, a spokeswoman for L’Oreal, and as an actress in a number of television shows.

MacDowell was chosen by People magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People in the World in 1991 and 2000.

In 2000, she filed a lawsuit against Walmart for displaying poster-sized photographs of her in at least two of the discount chain’s stores without her permission.

Last year, she starred in Netflix’s Maid as the mother of the protagonist, who is played by her real-life daughter, Margaret Qualley.

Larry the cameraman – Chris Elliott

Following his appearance in Groundhog Day, Elliott became a cast member of Saturday Night Live in 1994.

In the same year, he was also nominated for a Razzie Award as Worst New Star in his first movie, entitled Cabin Boy, which was produced by Tim Burton, and also featured a brief appearance from his old boss, David Letterman.

The film, which was co-written by Elliott and also starred fellow Groundhog Day star, Brian Doyle-Murray, was also nominated for Worst Picture at the 1994 Stinkers Bad Movie Awards, but lost to North.

In what was turning into a busy year he was also considered for the role of Harry Dunne in Dumb and Dumber.

Elliott has made guest appearances on many TV shows, such as Friends From College and Difficult People, and he frequently appeared on Everybody Loves Raymond and How I Met Your Mother.

He appeared on Schitt’s Creek between 2015 and 2020 as the town’s mayor, Roland Schitt.

Ned Ryerson – Stephen Tobolowsky

Stephen Tobolowsky, 71, was hired for the role of Ned Ryerson after delivering an “overwhelmingly obnoxious” portrayal during his audition.

In an action-packed life, Tobolowsky was almost murdered twice in one week in Hartford, Connecticut by different people.

The first instance occurred when he was in a pub with former partner Beth Henley.

After a brawl with a man who was attacking Henley, he was held at gunpoint at the pub.

Later that week, when he and Henley went to a pizza parlour next to the pub, he was stabbed.

Fortunately, the knife only partly penetrated his belt buckle.

Tobolowsky also broke his neck in several places while horseback riding in Iceland next to an active volcano.

That incident left him in a neck brace for months and largely unable to do anything.

He is also a cousin of former Dallas attorney Ira Tobolowsky, who was murdered in his home in 2016, a crime that remains unsolved.

Tobolowsky has appeared in many TV series including Deadwood, Glee and Silicon Valley.

He also has a podcast, The Toboloswky Files, which, according to its website, explores “true stories about life, love, and Hollywood.”

Buster Green – Brian Doyle-Murray

Older brother of lead actor Bill, Brian, now 77, often made appearances as minor characters in his younger sibling’s films.

His co-credits include Caddyshack , Scrooged , Ghostbusters II, and The Razor’s Edge

When not in front of the camera he worked behind the lens as a scriptwriter.

Doyle-Murray had been nominated for three Emmy Awards in 1978, 1979, and 1980 for his work on Saturday Night Live in the category Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program.

He is the only person still alive who helped write the script for Caddyshack, following co-writer Douglas Kenney’s death in 1980, and good friend Harold Ramis’ death in 2014.

After the movie, he transitioned to more roles on TV, guest-starring on shows including It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia and Adventure Time.

He has also used his distinct gravelly voice to good effect in animated series including Nickelodeon animated series SpongeBob SquarePants as The Flying Dutchman.

Nancy Taylor – Marita Geraghty

Marita Geraghty played the role of Nancy Taylor who made the sound of a chipmunk when she gets really excited in the film.

The television and film actress had roles in several movies during the late 1980s and early 1990s.

Following her time in Punxsutawney, Geraghty had small roles in TV shows in the late ’90s through the 2000s, including CSI, Frasier, and Seinfeld.

According to her IMDb page, the last time she acted in a TV show was in 2009 as an art professor on “The Ex List.”

Mrs Lancaster – Angela Paton

Angela Paton was an American stage, film, and television actress and theatre director, who’d had a successful stage career in the San Francisco Bay area before moving to the screen when she was in her 50s.

She and her husband Bob Goldsby co-founded a theatre in Berkeley, the Berkeley Stage Company, in the 1970s.

She appeared in stage performances, and in comedy, drama, and thriller films including playing Stiffler’s accidental love interest, Grandma, in American Wedding in 2003.

Paton died of a heart attack at the age of 86 on May 26, 2016.

Gus – Rick Ducommun

Once an overweight comic from Canada, Rick Ducommun slimmed down in the late 1980s and went on to tackle solid co-starring roles in feature films and TV, as well as headlining several HBO and other pay-cable specials.

Ducommun also played small parts in films but found himself limited by his massive 30-stone frame.

He lost almost half his body weight and won the role of Art Weingartner, the dumb lug nosy neighbor to Tom Hanks in The Burbs in 1989.

Following his Groundhog Day appearance, Ducommum’s roles included Last Action Hero, Jury Duty, Scary Movie and MVP: Most Valuable Primate.

Ducommun died in June 2015, at the age of 62, of complications from diabetes.

Ralph – Rick Overton

Screenwriter, actor and comedian Overton has writing credits which include Dennis Miller Live , as well as acting roles in Beverly Hills Cop and Mrs. Doubtfire .

An avid motorcyclist for 20 years, the 68-year-old performs at many charity rides including the annual Muscular Dystrophy ride, the Love Ride.

His major hobby is model-building, with a twist: he creates his own designs, using parts from various model kits and often household items as well. Has won awards at Sci-Fi conventions.

He is also an expert on firearms, especially handguns, and is pro-background check legislation.

In 2005, Overton appeared on Alias and Joan Of Arcadia.

He also portrayed both H.G. Wells and Orson Welles in a podcast episode of The Radio Adventures of Dr. Floyd that same year.

Fred the groom – Michael Shannon

Michael Shannon’s appearance in Groundhog Day was his on-screen acting debut, as Fred the groom.

Shannon spent much of the shoot in the background of the diner scene as they wanted all the actors in their places even if the camera was not focused on them.

The 48-year-old has gone on to have a very distinguished career both on and off camera as an actor, producer and theatre director.

Often playing crazed characters that tend to have very bad tempers, Shannon is a frequent collaborator with director Jeff Nichols, appearing in five of his films.

He has also received two Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor nominations, as well as a Screen Actors Guild Award and Golden Globe Award nominations.

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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk