Dunne, Murphy

Birthplace: Chicago, Illinois, U.S.

Coming to LA via Chicago, Murphy is best known for his smarmy lounge-lizard pianist introduced in "The Big Bus", developed in "High Anxiety", and brought to full fruition as 'Murph and The Magic Tones' in "The Blues Brothers" with fellow Second City players John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd.

While in Chicago, he founded the Chicago Free Music Program with the late Willie Dixon. He was seen on stage and received critical acclaim as 'Frank' in "Spokesong", also directed by Lewis Arquette and one of the inaugural plays that reopened The Pasadena Playhouse. Murph is a two-time Drama-Logue Award Winner, and has appeared on television in such shows as "Murphy Brown" and "Night Court".

A veteran of comedy, he has performed extensively with The Committe, The Second City, Sills and Company and The Hollywood Primary. Murphy has appeared in over 100 television commercials, and has composed the scores for numerous films, including the Brooksfilm "Loose Shoes". Murph has also studied music with Bill Russo, voice with Warren Berigian and poetry with Gwendolyn Brooks.