Bill Murray is well-known for his on-screen shenanigans. They began with his appearance on “Saturday Night Live” in 1977, according to IMDb, and lasted throughout his career. Up until his most recent work with filmmaker Wes Anderson in 2021’s “The French Dispatch,” he had legendary comedic parts in a variety of classic comedies and dramas, including “Meatballs,” “Caddyshack,” “Ghostbusters,” and “Groundhog Day.”

According to Ranker, Murray is also known for his off-screen comedic acts, such as showing up at bars to take over as bartender, sneaking into parties and relishing in participants’ responses to his surprise entrance, and photobombing engagement photos. And there’s one legendary Bill Murray anecdote that isn’t as well-known as some of his more recent public appearances, possibly because it occurred years before he became famous.

Murray turned 20 years old on September 21, 1970. It was also one of his most difficult days. Murray was getting ready to go back to Denver to restart his pre-med studies at Regis College after a family birthday celebration in Chicago. He made the mistake of telling one of his fellow passengers that he was carrying two bombs in his suitcase while waiting in line to catch his aircraft at O’Hare International Airport.

Remember, this was back in the 1970s, when security was a little looser, but making this statement is still a bad choice.

Murray’s joke was overheard by a ticketing agent, who took it extremely seriously. Two United States Marshals were dispatched, and they drew the comic from the line and examined his belongings. There were no bombs discovered, but five two-pound blocks of marijuana weighing a total of ten pounds were discovered in the suitcase. The cannabis had a street value of $20,000 at the time (about six times more today).

Murray attempted to conceal his wrongdoing by stashing the marijuana in an airport locker. However, the cops arrived and arrested the young actor before he could do so. Murray managed to erase some evidence by swallowing a check written by a “customer” addressed to him.

“That guy owes me his life and reputation,” according to the check. The future actor was charged with marijuana possession, arrested, and was scheduled to appear in narcotics court the next day. The event hit the first page of the Chicago Tribune, which published an article in 2015 about the 1970 incident. Vice investigators had previously been at the airport with a plan to arrest Murray after receiving a tip about the contents of his suitcase, according to the item, which reproduced the 1970 story with the headline “‘Bomb’ Comment Misfires.”

Murray avoided a jail sentence because it was his first crime, according to the excerpt in Esquire, and was instead sentenced to five years of probation. Despite this, he chose to leave Regis College before being expelled for having a criminal record. Perhaps this misfortune was the catalyst for Murray abandoning his intentions to become a doctor and focusing instead on his humorous skills. Bill Murray began working with Chicago’s Second City improv company in the early 1970s, according to a 1981 story in The New York Times, then came to New York in 1975 to appear on the “National Lampoon Radio Hour.”

Murray received an honorary degree from Regis College in 2007, which adds a comical twist to the story. Murray accepted the doctorate while dressed in PJ shorts and a blazer over top.

Many more celebrities have been charged with drug-related offenses. According to Rolling Stone, legendary singer Jimi Hendrix was also arrested at an airport for “illegally possessing narcotics.” It was at the Toronto International Airport in Hendrix’s instance, and instead of marijuana, he was carrying heroin. Hendrix was later acquitted of the accusation, claiming that the heroin was “unknowingly slipped into his bag by a fan.” The defense pointed out that Hendrix was not carrying any other drug paraphernalia and that there were no markings on his body.