Bill Murray's 20th Birthday Ended With a 10lb Pot Bust

Most people celebrate their 20th birthday with cake and candles. Bill Murray celebrated his with handcuffs and federal marshals. On September 21, 1970, the future comedy legend was arrested at Chicago's O'Hare International Airport for attempting to transport 10 pounds of marijuana onto a flight to Denver.

The bust happened because Murray couldn't resist making a joke at the worst possible moment. While waiting to board his flight back to Regis College in Denver, where he was studying pre-med, Murray told a fellow passenger he had "two bombs" in his suitcase. A ticket agent overheard the quip and immediately called U.S. marshals, who tore through his luggage looking for explosives.

They didn't find bombs. They found something arguably worse for Murray's immediate future: five two-pound bricks of cannabis. Some accounts suggest vice detectives were already at the airport following a tip about the contents of his bags, turning his birthday into a carefully orchestrated sting operation.

From Pre-Med to Comedy Gold

Murray avoided jail time since it was his first offense, receiving five years probation instead. But the arrest derailed his academic plans completely. He dropped out of Regis College before the school could expel him for having a criminal record, abandoning his pre-med studies and any dreams of becoming a doctor.

In hindsight, getting busted for 10 pounds of weed might have been the best thing that ever happened to Murray's career. Without medical school to fall back on, he drifted into comedy, eventually joining Chicago's Second City theater troupe. That led to The National Lampoon Radio Hour, which led to Saturday Night Live, which led to becoming one of the most beloved actors in American cinema.

The Irony of It All

The arrest that seemed like a disaster at 20 became a quirky footnote in an extraordinary career. Murray went from smuggling pot through O'Hare to starring in Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day, and Lost in Translation. He transformed from a college dropout with a criminal record into a cultural icon known for crashing parties, stealing French fries, and telling people "no one will ever believe you."

So the next time you're having a terrible birthday, remember: Bill Murray's 20th ended with a felony drug charge, and he turned out just fine. Though maybe skip the bomb jokes at the airport.