Paul Thomas Anderson cast him as Alan Kligman, Esq. in Magnolia (1999) because he admired the actor's work. Anderson's casting choice of Murphy was also an homage to Robert Altman, who has cast the character actor prominently in a number of roles in his films and TV productions over the years. Henry Gibson, another Altman regular, also had a role in the film.
Appeared in the drama Talk to Me (1984), in which he coincidentally co-starred with his fellow Strange Behavior (1981) actors Louise Fletcher and Dan Shor.
Bears an uncanny resemblance to popular TV chef Michael Chiarello. They even sound alike!.
Became close friends with co-star Woody Allen on the set of Martin Ritt 's 1950s McCarthy era dramedy, The Front (1976). Allen would subsequently cast Murphy as his best friend, Yale, in Allen's own film, Manhattan (1979).
Children: Maggie Murphy (born in 1989) and John 'Jack' Branton Murphy (born on 20th August 1992).
First appeared in a Robert Altman production with an episode of the "Combat!" (1962) TV series. He subsequently appeared in many of the famed director's film hits: Countdown (1967), MASH (1970), Brewster McCloud (1970), McCabe & Mrs. Miller (1971), Nashville (1975), The Caine Mutiny Court-Martial (1988) (TV) and Kansas City (1996).
Has appeared in more Robert Altman feature films and television productions than any other actor in movie history.
Has starred opposite his wife, actress Wendy Crewson, on the short-lived television show "Hard Copy" (1987) and the Emmy-winning HBO cable series "Tanner '88" (1988), which Murphy had the lead in, as well as the feature films Folks! (1992) and Sleeping Dogs Lie (1998).
He is a graduate of the University of Arizona, Tucson.
He is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran.
He was awarded the 1975 Joseph Jefferson Award Citation for Best Actor in a Principal Role in a Play for his performance in "Dreams" at the Playwrights Center in Chicago, Illinois.
His character, "Sen. Judson Pilager", from John Sayles's Silver City (2004), is a thinly-veiled, negative characterization of George Bush.
His father was Bearl Branton Murphy, a salesman. His mother was Georgia Arlyn Murphy (nee Money), a teacher.
Hit his infamous cinematic peak as a philandering husband cheating on Jill Clayburgh in An Unmarried Woman (1978) and as Woody Allen's married pal having an affair with Woody's girlfriend Diane Keaton in Manhattan (1979).
In 1978, he played characters named Martin in two separate films: As Jill Clayburgh's adulterous husband in An Unmarried Woman (1978) and as Glenda Jackson's commitment-seeking boyfriend in The Class of Miss MacMichael (1979).
Received teaching credentials from UCLA in Los Angeles, California.
Taught both high school English and drama in Los Angeles from 1962-1964.
Was once a high school English teacher.