Believe it or not, the movie Groundhog Day is 30+ years old. So much has happened since 1993, but many of the film’s famous faces are still kicking around good ‘ole Hollywood. Join us as we catch up with the Groundhog Day cast to see where life’s taken them.
Bill Murray as Phil Connors
For all of his controversial behaviors on and off set, Bill Murray’s star has continued to climb in the years since he starred as main character Phil Connors. Just a few of the many hit-making projects he’s starred in include Lost in Translation, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Zombieland, and subsequent Ghostbuster films.
Recently, Murray branched out from the acting world with the 2017 studio album New Worlds and the 2022 filmed production of the album entitled New Worlds: The Cradle of Civilization.
Andie MacDowell as Rita Hanson
Andie MacDowell was no stranger to the limelight when she co-starred alongside Bill Murray as Rita Hanson in Groundhog Day. A former model and hit actress, she continued to rack up credits well into the ‘90s and 2000s.
Her star has never fallen, and she’s continued to make a splash with compelling characters as a mature woman in Hollywood. In 2021, she was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actress for the series Maid. From Hallmark dramas to romantic comedies, Andie MacDowell doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.
Andie McDowell’s daughter is Margaret Qualley, one of the rising stars behind projects like The Substance and Drive-Away Dolls.
Chris Elliott as Larry
Chris Elliott got his start on Late Night with David Letterman and his career has been rising ever since. He’s regularly appeared on television and in films since his turn as Larry in Groundhog Day, most notably in Schitt’s Creek as the lovably bumbling Roland Schitt.
Other recent projects include the voice behind Timothy Leary in the animated series Agent Elvis and Sheriff Brooks in Welcome to Redville. In between acting projects, he’s also written several books.
Stephen Tobolowsky as Ned Ryerson
Stephen Tobolowsky’s lent his iconic voice and cadence to many characters, including Groundhog Day’s Ned Ryerson. He’s continued to explore his comedic craft in both film and television, most recently on the yet-to-be-released Freaky Friday sequel, Freakier Friday, and the popular Netflix series from 2024, Nobody Wants This.
In addition to working on film, Tobolowsky has also written several books including a memoir, and hosts a podcast called The Tobolowsky Files.
Harold Ramis as the Neurologist
Harold Ramis might have only had a bit part in Groundhog Day, but the multi-hyphenate’s legacy lives on in the movies he directed and collaborated on like Animal House, Caddyshack, and Ghostbusters. His guiding directorial hand helped realize the Groundhog Day vision.
Unfortunately, his hit-making period sailed behind him after Groundhog Day. He passed from complications related to autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis in 2014.
Brian Doyle-Murray as Buster Green
Bill Murray’s older brother, Brian Doyle-Murray, starred as Buster Green in Groundhog Day. But it isn’t his only claim to fame. The Murray sibling has a robust career in entertainment which includes stops at Saturday Night Live along the way.
While his live-action roles have dwindled in his later years, he’s kept busy as the voice of The Flying Dutchman on SpongeBob.
Michael Shannon as Fred
Michael Shannon fans can thank Groundhog Day for helping launch his film career. One of his first on-screen roles was Fred in the holiday comedy. Shannon has received critical acclaim for his off-putting, complex character roles in the years since.
He has many hits under his belt, including The Shape of Water and Knives Out. His most recent film work includes The Bikeriders and A Different Man. He’s also appeared in several high-profile series including Boardwalk Empire, Waco, and George & Tammy.
Hynden Walch as Debbie
You might not recognize Hynden Walch’s name or her small character Debbie, but you’ll definitely recognize her voice. Walch turned to voice acting in the years following Groundhog Day, cementing herself in pop culture as the voice of Starfire in Teen Titans and Princess Bubblegum in Adventure Time.
On top of animated projects, she’s also lent her voice acting skills to several video game series including Fallout and Final Fantasy.
No Time Loop Can Hold These Stars Back
More than 30 years later, Groundhog Day’s stars are still working up a storm. Whether their career has sped up or slowed down, they’ve all kept theirs from screeching to a halt. Here’s to many more years of their continued success!
