Michael George Murphy (born May 5, 1938) is an American film,
television and stage actor. He often plays unethical or morally
ambiguous characters in positions of authority, including politicians,
executives, and lawyers. He is also known for his frequent
collaborations with director Robert Altman, having appeared in twelve
films, TV series and miniseries directed by Altman from 1963 to 2004,
including the title role in the miniseries Tanner '88. He is also
known for his roles in films like Manhattan, The Year of Living
Dangerously, Phase IV, The Front, and Batman Returns.Murphy was born
in Los Angeles, California, the son of Georgia Arlyn (née Money), a
teacher, and Bearl Branton Murphy, a salesman. After serving in the
United States Marine Corps, Murphy attended the University of Arizona
and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).He taught
English and drama at University High School (Los Angeles) before
pursuing an acting career.Murphy is best known for his performances as
Jill Clayburgh's adulterous husband Martin in Paul Mazursky's An
Unmarried Woman (1978), as Woody Allen's morally ambiguous best friend
Yale in Manhattan (1979), as ethically enigmatic lawyer Alan Kligman
in Magnolia (1999), and as the star of Garry Trudeau and Robert
Altman's HBO miniseries Tanner '88.
television and stage actor. He often plays unethical or morally
ambiguous characters in positions of authority, including politicians,
executives, and lawyers. He is also known for his frequent
collaborations with director Robert Altman, having appeared in twelve
films, TV series and miniseries directed by Altman from 1963 to 2004,
including the title role in the miniseries Tanner '88. He is also
known for his roles in films like Manhattan, The Year of Living
Dangerously, Phase IV, The Front, and Batman Returns.Murphy was born
in Los Angeles, California, the son of Georgia Arlyn (née Money), a
teacher, and Bearl Branton Murphy, a salesman. After serving in the
United States Marine Corps, Murphy attended the University of Arizona
and the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA).He taught
English and drama at University High School (Los Angeles) before
pursuing an acting career.Murphy is best known for his performances as
Jill Clayburgh's adulterous husband Martin in Paul Mazursky's An
Unmarried Woman (1978), as Woody Allen's morally ambiguous best friend
Yale in Manhattan (1979), as ethically enigmatic lawyer Alan Kligman
in Magnolia (1999), and as the star of Garry Trudeau and Robert
Altman's HBO miniseries Tanner '88.
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