Vice Principals type TV Show network HBO

There aren’t many people who can intimidate actor Walton Goggins — but when Bill Murray turned up to shoot his scenes for HBO’s new Goggins- and Danny McBride-starring high school sitcom Vice Principals, the Justified actor was so freaked out that he hid in his trailer.

“I feel like I’m on a level playing field with most people,” Goggins tells EW. “But he’s not one of them! For me, Meatballs was my anthem, growing up. All of his films formed my early introduction to cinema and comedy. He was it for me.”

As Goggins explains, seeing Murray on set came after a slow buildup. “I remember knowing that he was going to be there, and sitting on this secret, and not being able to tell anyone,” he says. “And it took us a few days to actually not have a thunderstorm in South Carolina, where we could begin filming those scenes in the pilot. I remember seeing him walk up, and it was so overwhelming for me. It was my nature to hide. I walked into my trailer, and I thought I’d hid out long enough. I didn’t hear him, and I walked out and he was standing right there.”

Goggins continues: “It was like, ‘Oh f—, f—! There he is!’ Much to my surprise, he just said, ‘Walton, hey, I’m a big fan. I’ve been following you since The Shield and I really like your work.’ He was just gracious and kind. I mean he didn’t have to say that at all. Whether he meant it or not, I don’t know. They jury’s still out! [Laughs]. Maybe he just looked at IMDb or something, I don’t know.”

You can see Goggins, McBride, and Murray in the trailer for Vice Principals, below. The show premieres July 17 at 10:30 p.m. ET on HBO.

For more on Walton Goggins and Vice Principals, pick up the latest issue of Entertainment Weekly, on newsstands Friday, or buy one here. Subscribe now for more exclusive interviews and photos, only in EW.