Margaret Quarry Plays Matchmaker for Her Mother
Margaret Quarry is stirring the matchmaking pot for her mother, actress Andie MacDowell. On a recent episode of “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon,” she shared her idea of pairing the 67-year-old MacDowell with none other than Bill Murray, who is 74 and famously known for his role in “Ghostbusters.”
While appearing on the show, the 30-year-old actress recounted an amusing moment when Murray unexpectedly dropped by her dressing room. “He came into my behind-the-scenes dressing room wearing a shirt that was just… unusual,” Quarry said, laughing at the memory.
“You see,” she explained, “I grew up in North Carolina where Piggly Wiggly stores are a big deal,” a nod to a supermarket chain that holds nostalgic value for her. “And my mom lives in Charleston now.” However, things took a turn when Murray reminisced about their time filming “Groundhog Day” back in 1993. “He mentioned that they didn’t quite hit it off during the movie,” said Quarry, chuckling, “saying my mom was too busy with her hair while he was trying to focus.” They both seemed to have a light-hearted take on their past.
Yet, despite their history, Quarry sees chemistry between the two. “They both live in Charleston; it just makes sense! They’re both single and, I mean, a little quirky. Why not?” she mused. “I feel like there’s potential there!
Fallon chimed in, clearly on board with Quarry’s plans. “It sounds like it’s time for a setup!” he remarked enthusiastically.
Quarry, hopeful about the prospect, said she’d even facilitate the connection. “If Bill wants to get in touch with my mom, I could connect them easily. Honestly, if he has any sense, he’d be the luckiest guy around!”
This playful scene unfolded under the bright lights of “The Tonight Show,” where laughter is always welcome. “Hopefully, he’s listening now!” Quarry added, with Fallon only half-jokingly suggesting that Murray was backstage, watching their conversation unfold.
An interesting side note: McDowell shares Quarry and her other two children, Justin and Rainey, with her ex-husband Paul Qualley. She married Qualley in 1986, but they divorced in 1999. After some brief romances, she eventually remarried, only to separate again in 2004. Fast forward to now, McDowell moved back to South Carolina last year, embracing a more grounded lifestyle following her children’s departures.
In January 2024, she opened up about being single and navigating life at 60. “I think it’s good to embrace being on your own,” she said recently. “I have wonderful friendships and enjoy my life as it is.” It seems that love may or may not be in the cards, but that’s truly okay with her.
