Bill Murray played Dr. Peter Venkman in the 1984 comedy film Ghostbusters.
Venkman is one of three parapsychologists who establish a ghost-catching business in New York City. Murray’s dry, improvisational delivery became central to the film’s comic tone, balancing the supernatural story with skeptical one-liners and deadpan reactions.
Ghostbusters was directed by Ivan Reitman and written by Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis. Aykroyd and Ramis also played Ray Stantz and Egon Spengler, while Ernie Hudson played Winston Zeddemore. The cast’s mix of stand-up, sketch, and improvisational comedy helped make the film a major box-office success.
Bill Murray is sometimes confused with Dan Aykroyd when people recall the film’s comic leads. Aykroyd co-wrote Ghostbusters and played Ray, but Murray was the actor portraying Peter Venkman.