Homer Murray helped turn a quiet corner of Brooklyn’s waterfront into a place where people go to eat, drink and gather. As the chef and owner of 21 Greenpoint, he has built his reputation through neighborhood hospitality rather than the film industry that made his father, Bill Murray, a household name. His restaurant earned recognition from the Michelin Guide, while his business interests later expanded to the bar next door.
That contrast explains much of the interest in Homer Murray. He is the eldest son of an actor whose career spans comedy and drama, yet his own professional life revolves around kitchens, menus and the daily realities of running restaurants. His story offers something more substantial than a celebrity-family connection: a look at how a New Yorker with an arts education found his place in the city’s changing dining scene.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Homer Banks Murray |
| Known As | Homer Murray |
| Date of Birth | 3 March 1982 |
| Age | 44 years (as of 2026) |
| Birthplace | United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Chef, Restaurateur, Entrepreneur |
| Famous For | Owner of 21 Greenpoint and son of Bill Murray |
| Father | Bill Murray |
| Mother | Margaret Kelly |
| Siblings | Luke, Caleb, Jackson, Cooper and Lincoln Murray |
| Education | School of Visual Arts, New York |
| Qualification | BFA in Photography (2004) |
| Restaurant | 21 Greenpoint, Brooklyn |
| Other Business | Banks Tavern |
| Acting Credit | Broken Flowers (2005) |
| Restaurant Recognition | Michelin Bib Gourmand (2018) |
| Marital Status | Not publicly verified |
| Net Worth | Not reliably disclosed |
| Current Location | Professionally based in Brooklyn, New York |
A Restaurant Before the Waterfront Became a Destination
At 21 Greenpoint Avenue, close to the East River and Transmitter Park, Murray’s restaurant sits on a stretch that has changed considerably since he began working there. The premises were developed for restaurant use around 2012, when this pocket of Greenpoint was much quieter than the lively dining corridor it subsequently became.
By 2023, several independently operated restaurants and bars had appeared nearby. Murray told Eater that weekday business had improved as the street attracted more customers.
Rather than operating as a celebrity-themed attraction, 21 Greenpoint presents itself as a welcoming place for residents, friends and visitors. Its appeal depends on repeat meals and the atmosphere of a neighborhood gathering spot.
The Photography Graduate Who Chose the Kitchen
Murray graduated from New York’s School of Visual Arts in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography. He subsequently worked as a photographic assistant, a job that involved travel, before making food his principal profession. It was a gradual career change, not a direct move from university to restaurant ownership.
He had already developed an interest in cooking while studying, including taking kitchen work alongside his education. Eventually, the work behind a stove held his attention more strongly than photography. His former college later documented that transition, identifying fellow photography graduate Dennis Spina as an important colleague in his restaurant career.
Murray worked at Williamsburg’s Roebling Tea Room, where Sydney Silver encouraged culinary experimentation. That setting helped connect his artistic background with the collaborative, practical discipline of professional cooking.
River Styx and the Decision to Start Again
Before 21 Greenpoint, Murray and Silver operated River Styx in the same space. It opened in 2013, with Spina involved in the kitchen, and developed a reputation for adventurous food alongside more approachable choices.
In 2016, the partners closed River Styx and reworked the premises as 21 Greenpoint. The transformation involved changes to the dining room, bar and kitchen, as well as a different approach to the menu. The new restaurant opened on 21 September 2016.
This was more than a change of name. River Styx had embraced a less conventional dining style; its successor sought to make the experience more welcoming without abandoning creativity. For Murray, the relaunch provided a clearer identity and a way to make the establishment useful to its immediate community.
What Makes 21 Greenpoint Distinctive?
The restaurant’s cooking crosses familiar American dishes with wider culinary influences. Its summer 2026 menu included burrata, seafood pasta, schnitzel, steak frites, cheeseburgers and nachos. Those choices show a kitchen more interested in satisfying different appetites than restricting itself to one formal cuisine.
One dish, Spaghetti Meg Ryan, has an unexpected personal backstory. Murray explained to his former college that the name came from his dog, rather than from a friendship with the actress. The spicy tomato pasta remains a small example of how humor and personal references enter an otherwise serious restaurant operation.
Why Michelin Recognition Mattered
The Michelin Guide awarded 21 Greenpoint a Bib Gourmand distinction in its 2018 New York City guide. Unlike a Michelin star, a Bib Gourmand recognizes restaurants offering good cooking and value. That difference matters: the achievement aligned with the restaurant’s accessible, neighborhood-focused ambitions.
In an interview with Michelin, Murray discussed careful ingredient sourcing and his commitment to producers around New York. He also described the award as especially meaningful because it reflected what the restaurant was trying to achieve. It brought industry recognition to work that began well before the famous opening-night photographs.
Bill Murray’s Support Without a Hollywood Career
Bill Murray attracted widespread attention when he stepped behind the bar at the restaurant’s September 2016 opening celebration. The appearance generated headlines and excitement, but the kitchen and business already existed because of his son’s work. A celebrity guest could make an opening memorable; keeping the doors open required a different set of skills.
Father and son collaborated again in May 2020 during the Food Network’s virtual Nacho Average Showdown. The Murrays competed against Guy Fieri and his son Hunter in an event supporting the Restaurant Employee Relief Fund amid the COVID-19 crisis. It connected their public rapport with an issue directly affecting restaurant workers.
Homer does have an acting credit, playing Kid in Car in Jim Jarmusch’s 2005 film Broken Flowers, which starred Bill Murray. However, that small role does not define his professional career. His sustained work has been in hospitality, not film or television.
Beyond the Original Restaurant: Banks Tavern and Rockefeller Center
Murray expanded his Greenpoint presence in 2024 with Banks Tavern, a neighborhood bar at 19 Greenpoint Avenue, immediately beside his restaurant. The space previously housed Grand Republic Cocktail Club. Keeping it in use added another independent venue to a block where dining and nightlife had become increasingly important.
Murray also opened the casual Mexican concept Hombre Taco at Rockefeller Center in 2020. His restaurant brand reached Manhattan in 2022 through a 21 Greenpoint outpost, although that location has since closed. The Brooklyn restaurant remains the clearest example of his continuing work, with its own current menu and local customer base.
The ventures show how a hospitality business can expand without every location becoming permanent.
Family Background and What Remains Private
Born on 3 March 1982, Homer Banks Murray is 44 years old in October 2026. His parents are Bill Murray and the actor’s first wife, Margaret Kelly. His younger brother, Luke Murray, has established a separate career in college basketball coaching and became Boston College’s men’s head coach in 2026.
Homer also has four younger half-brothers, Caleb, Jackson, Cooper and Lincoln, from his father’s marriage to Jennifer Butler. Their family connection explains some of the public curiosity, but not the professional identity Homer has built.
There is no reliably verified public figure for Homer’s personal net worth. Restaurant ownership does not by itself establish someone’s wealth, and unverified online estimates should not be treated as financial facts.
The Work Behind the Familiar Surname
As of 2026, 21 Greenpoint continues to present Murray as its chef and owner, and its published menus show an active Brooklyn operation. Banks Tavern adds a second local hospitality venture. These are tangible activities, not merely a famous surname attached to a restaurant sign.
The wider Greenpoint neighborhood has changed around the businesses, bringing more competitors, customers and expectations. Maintaining a place within that environment requires continual attention to food, service and community relationships. Murray’s most notable achievement may be the consistency of that work rather than any single night in the spotlight.
Conclusion
Homer Murray’s career is best understood through Greenpoint, not Hollywood. A photography graduate who moved into professional kitchens, he helped reshape one restaurant, earned Michelin Bib Gourmand recognition and added another neighborhood venue. Bill Murray’s appearances brought visibility, but the lasting story is his son’s work building places people can return to.
FAQs
Who is Homer Murray?
Homer Murray is an American chef and restaurateur best known as the owner of 21 Greenpoint in Brooklyn, New York. He is also Bill Murray’s eldest son. His career includes earlier work at Roebling Tea Room and River Styx, as well as involvement in Banks Tavern.
How old is Homer Murray?
He was born on 3 March 1982 and is 44 years old as of October 2026. His age is sometimes mentioned in connection with his father’s family, although most of his public professional achievements belong to the restaurant industry.
Is Homer Murray still involved with 21 Greenpoint?
Yes. The restaurant’s current website identifies him as chef and owner, and its 2026 menus show the Brooklyn business operating. The separate 21 Greenpoint location at Rockefeller Center has closed, so the two addresses should not be mistaken for one another.
Did Homer Murray appear in a film with Bill Murray?
Yes. He has a small credited role as Kid in Car in Broken Flowers, the 2005 Jim Jarmusch film starring his father. The appearance is a minor part of his biography rather than evidence of a continuing acting career.
Has Homer Murray won a Michelin star?
His Brooklyn restaurant received a Michelin Bib Gourmand designation in the 2018 New York City guide. A Bib Gourmand is not a Michelin star: it highlights good food at a comparatively accessible price. It remains an important distinction in his restaurant career.
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