Edward Murray, the eldest brother of Bill Murray and an inspiration for Caddyshack, passes away

Ed Murray, the oldest of Bill Murray’s five brothers, has passed away, as the family has honored his legacy.

The actor and his family paid tribute to Ed on the William Murray Gold Instagram page, the golf apparel company he runs with his brothers.

Ed also served as the inspiration for Michael O’Keefe’s character Danny Noonan in the 1980s classic Caddyshack, which Bill starred in and his brother Brian Doyle-Murphy wrote with director Harold Ramis and National Lampoon founder Douglas Kenney. 

R.I.P.: Ed Murray, the oldest of Bill Murray’s five brothers, has passed away, as the family has honored his legacy

Inspiration: Ed (center) also served as the inspiration for Michael O'Keefe's character Danny Noonan in the 1980s classic Caddyshack, which Bill (left) starred in and his brother Brian Doyle-Murphy (right) wrote with director Harold Ramis and National Lampoon founder Douglas Kenney

Inspiration: Ed (center) also served as the inspiration for Michael O’Keefe’s character Danny Noonan in the 1980s classic Caddyshack, which Bill (left) starred in and his brother Brian Doyle-Murphy (right) wrote with director Harold Ramis and National Lampoon founder Douglas Kenney

‘It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of the legend Ed Murray,’ the family’s statement began.

‘Named after the family patriarch, it was Ed who introduced the Murray family to this wonderful game of golf—by way of caddying at Indian Hills Country Club—at the age of 10, no less. (They don’t make ‘em like that anymore),’ the statement continued.

They added that Ed won the Evans Scholarship at Northwestern University in 1963, a scholarship for golf caddies, which became, ‘a family storyline which served as inspiration for the Danny Noonan character in ‘Caddyshack’ when Brian Doyle-Murray co-wrote that iconic screenplay.’

Heaviest hearts: 'It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of the legend Ed Murray,' the family's statement began

Heaviest hearts: ‘It’s with the heaviest of hearts that we announce the passing of the legend Ed Murray,’ the family’s statement began

Bros: 'Named after the family patriarch, it was Ed who introduced the Murray family to this wonderful game of golf—by way of caddying at Indian Hills Country Club—at the age of 10, no less. (They don’t make ‘em like that anymore),' the statement continued

Bros: ‘Named after the family patriarch, it was Ed who introduced the Murray family to this wonderful game of golf—by way of caddying at Indian Hills Country Club—at the age of 10, no less. (They don’t make ‘em like that anymore),’ the statement continued

Ed and all of the Murray brothers – actors Bill, Brian Doyle, Joel and John, along with chef John Murray – are all members of the Caddie Hall of Fame, ‘something all the boys take pride in, as this game helped shape their lives.’

‘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 statement added.

‘Thank you for always being so gracious, Ed. Our hearts are with his lovely family. Rest in paradise, to a true family man and a gentle, sweet soul. May we honor your memory from this day forward,’ the statement concluded.

Murray brothers: Ed and all of the Murray brothers - actors Bill, Brian Doyle, Joel and John, along with chef John Murray - are all members of the Caddie Hall of Fame, 'something all the boys take pride in, as this game helped shape their lives'

Murray brothers: Ed and all of the Murray brothers – actors Bill, Brian Doyle, Joel and John, along with chef John Murray – are all members of the Caddie Hall of Fame, ‘something all the boys take pride in, as this game helped shape their lives’

An honor: '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 statement added

An honor: ‘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 statement added

Joel Murray, the youngest of all nine siblings and an actor best known for roles on Mad Men, Dharma & Greg and God Bless America, also retweeted a tribute to his brother.

‘Ed was the nice Murray who remembered everyone’s name,’ Joel said in his tweet.

Ed was one of just two of the six Murray brothers who didn’t venture into the entertainment world, along with Andy Murray, a chef who opened a Caddyshack-themed restaurant in 2001.

Joel: Joel Murray (center), the youngest of all nine siblings and an actor best known for roles on Mad Men, Dharma & Greg and God Bless America, also retweeted a tribute to his brother

Joel: Joel Murray (center), the youngest of all nine siblings and an actor best known for roles on Mad Men, Dharma & Greg and God Bless America, also retweeted a tribute to his brother

The nice Murray: 'Ed was the nice Murray who remembered everyone’s name,' Joel said in his tweet

The nice Murray: ‘Ed was the nice Murray who remembered everyone’s name,’ Joel said in his tweet

No showbiz: Ed was one of just two of the six Murray brothers who didn't venture into the entertainment world, along with Andy Murray, a chef who opened a Caddyshack-themed restaurant in 2001

No showbiz: Ed was one of just two of the six Murray brothers who didn’t venture into the entertainment world, along with Andy Murray, a chef who opened a Caddyshack-themed restaurant in 2001

Ed ventured into the business world as a broadcasting rep in Chicago and later as a stockbroker in California, according to a 2015 Chicago Tribune interview.  

Despite the success his brothers had in the entertainment industry, Ed said in the interview he never considered a career in showbiz.

‘No, never. I’ve emceed dinners in California and that is as far as I’ve gotten in show business,’ Ed said in the interview.

Businessman: Ed ventured into the business world as a broadcasting rep in Chicago and later as a stockbroker in California, according to a 2015 Chicago Tribune interview

Businessman: Ed ventured into the business world as a broadcasting rep in Chicago and later as a stockbroker in California, according to a 2015 Chicago Tribune interview

Showbiz: Despite the success his brothers had in the entertainment industry, Ed said in the interview he never considered a career in showbiz

Showbiz: Despite the success his brothers had in the entertainment industry, Ed said in the interview he never considered a career in showbiz

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