The actor said he finds "penance" in the roles he takes on, "to show accepting responsibility for" his own past behaviorBill Murray is explaining how he sometimes seeks atonement through the characters he plays.

Bill Murray seeks redemption through the messed-up characters he plays, making up for the damage he’s done over the years.

On Sunday, the Riff Raff actor made a surprise appearance at the Sundance Film Festival to reflect on his career in the Elvis Suite presented by Darling&Co. Among his many musings, Murray shared that the roles he finds most rewarding are complicated characters.

Speaking at the 2025 Sundance Film Festival in Park City, the 74-year-old talked about his characters in upcoming movies, The Friend and Riff Raff, who Variety has described as "leading lives of enormous charm" while also being "aware of how poisonous their charm can be.