Protagonist of ken kesey's' 1962 novel one flew over the cuckoo's nest. a mental patient who bucks the rigid administrative system at the asylum where he's incarcerated and pays a high price for his nonconformity. McMurphy, who's seemingly just a misdiagnosed free spirit, invigorates the previously zombified patients with his independent ways. But the authoritarian staff, led by the cold Nurse Ratched cannot accept such behaviour, and they'll do whatever it takes to bring him down.

in 1975 a film based on the book, directed by milos forman, came out starring jack nicholson as mcmurhpy.