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Wife of Bill Murray files for divorce

Bill Murray and his wife Jennifer, as seen at the Golden Globe Awards in 2004.
(Vince Bucci / Getty Images)
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The wife of entertainer Bill Murray has filed for divorce after nearly 11 years of marriage, alleging he abused her and is addicted to marijuana and alcohol.

Jennifer Butler Murray filed divorce papers May 12 in Charleston County. She owns a home on Sullivans Island, S.C., where she lives with the couple’s four children.

The complaint was first reported by The Post and Courier of Charleston. It also alleges frequent abandonment by the former “Saturday Night Live” star.

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Bill Murray’s attorney, John McDougall, wouldn’t comment on the allegations, but said the entertainer “is deeply saddened by the breakup of his marriage.”

“He and his wife made loving parents and they are committed to the best interests of their children,” McDougall said.

Jennifer Murray’s attorney, Robert Rosen, said he had no comment.

The couple signed a prenuptial agreement, which was filed as an exhibit with the divorce papers, before they married in 1997. As part of the agreement, both waived their right to alimony or support if the marriage broke up. However, Murray agreed to pay $7 million to his ex-wife within 60 days of a final divorce decree.

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The complaint, which doesn’t specify instances of Murray’s alleged marijuana or alcohol use, alleges he would often leave without telling his wife and says he “travels overseas where he engages in public and private altercations and sexual liaisons.”

It also alleges Murray physically abused his wife and last November “hit her in the face and then told her she was `lucky he didn’t kill her.’”

The documents obtained by The Post and Courier were sealed by the court last week.

Murray, the star of movies such as “Ghostbusters,” “Caddyshack” and “Groundhog Day,” is a co-owner of the Charleston RiverDogs minor league baseball team.

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The 57-year-old actor earned an Oscar nomination for his role in “Lost in Translation.”

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