Ed Murray, Actor's Brother, 'Caddyshack' Inspiration, Dies At 76

WINNETKA, IL — Ed Murray, older brother to actor Bill Murray and the inspiration for the film "Caddyshack," has died, according to an announcement from Bill Murray's golf apparel company. He was 76.

Ed Murray, a retired financial consultant, was the oldest of eight Murray siblings. Named after his father, Ed introduced the Murray family to the game of golf, thanks to his time spent caddying at Indian Hills Country Club in Winnetka, according to the announcement.

"At the age of 10, no less," William Murray Golf posted to its Instagram page. "They don't make 'em like that anymore."

"Ed was the recipient of the Evans Scholarship back in 1963, while attending Northwestern University — a scholarship awarded to golf caddies — a family storyline which served as inspiration for the Danny Noonan character in 'Caddyshack' when Brian Doyle [and Bill] Murray co-wrote that iconic screenplay," the post continued.

All five Murray brothers are members of the Caddie Hall of Fame, which "highlights the tradition and importance of caddying by recognizing and celebrating individuals who have devoted their lives to the game of golf," according to the organization's website. Being inducted in 2015 is "something all the boys take pride in, as this game helped shape their lives," according to the post.

"It was not about me. It wasn't about Billy either. Usually he's the headline," Ed Murray told the Santa Maria Sun in 2015 in reference to the brothers' induction into the Lake Forest-based organization. "It was the fact that all six of us caddied."

According to the article, "Murray matured quickly on the golf course," caddying alongside Jack Nicklaus, Arnold Palmer and other big names in the sport.

"You're a kid dealing with adults," he said. "You have to be polite and feel like you're a partner with the guy you're caddying for. You're with him to help him, not to tell him how to play golf. You've gotta be alert, as far as where the ball went and how far the distances are."

"The problem is," he continued, "once in a while you get a real jerk, somebody you don't want to caddy for, but you're determined to do a good job anyhow ... and then the guy asks for you the next time."

"You learn about a person on a golf course; you learn about their competitiveness, their integrity, their disposition," Murray said, calling golf a game of honesty and honor.

"It's a game where just when you're ready to quit, you're gonna have a great hole or a great shot and it brings you back," he said. "You make a putt on the 18th hold [and say], 'Well, I'll be back tomorrow.'"

During the making of "Caddyshack" in 1980, Ed Murray gave director Harold Ramis a tour of the actual caddy shack at the Indian Hill Country Club, and Ramis included a special thank you to Ed in the movie's credits.

"It was an honor for all of us to get to know Ed and to spend time with him over the past half decade as we’ve built this brand with the Murray family — and his loss is a hole that will never be filled," the post from William Murray Golf said.

His brother Joel Murray tweeted Tuesday, "Ed was the nice Murray who remembered everyone's name."