Comedy icon, Harold Ramis dead at 69
February 24, 2014 Matt Kleinschmidt Features, In Memoriam
Harold Ramis, one of Hollywood’s most successful comedy filmmakers has passed on. Ramis is responsible for directing, acting in, or writing some of comedy’s most iconic movies. Films such as National Lampoon’s Animal House, Stripes, Caddyshack, Meatballs, National Lampoon’s Vacation, Back To School, Groundhog Day, Analyze This, Knocked Up, and one of the top-grossing comedy movies of all time, Ghostbusters.
Ramis died earlier today from complications of a rare blood disease called Autoimmune Inflammatory Vasculitis which involves the swelling of the blood vessels. A disease that has plagued him since 2010 and has kept him mostly quiet the last few years. Ramis’ wife Erica confirmed his passing at the age of 69.
Ramis got his start as a member of Chicago’s Second City, worked on The National Lampoon Radio Hour and then became a head writer and performer with SCTV during its first three years in existence (1976-79). He then branched out into movies, breaking through with films like Animal House, Stripes, and Ghostbusters, the latter of which he co-wrote with Dan Aykroyd and still holds the distinction of being one of the highest grossing comedy films of all time. Ramis worked with many other titans in comedy like Aykroyd, John Belushi, Bill Murray, Christopher Guest, Rodney Dangerfield, Chevy Chase, and Gilda Radner. Some of them being their first forays into film. His work with Bill Murray made them both household names, concluding with Groundhog Day, a highly celebrated movie and screenplay that earned Ramis writing awards.
His latter works included working with the likes of Jon Cusack, Billy Crystal, Pat Cooper, and Robert Di Niro. Judd Apatow was such a fan of his work that cast Ramis as Seth Rogen’s dad in Knocked Up. Most recently, he directed episodes of The Office and was working with Aykroyd on the long-rumored Ghostbusters III sequel.
There is no doubt that Ramis’ legacy will last years in the comedy world as he’s already inspired a legion of comedy fans whose influence can be seen in everyone from James L. Brooks, Judd Apatow, Adam Sandler, The Farrelly Brothers and nearly every comedy person after him.
The folks at Second City released this statement, “It is with great sadness that we learn of the passing of Second City friend & alumi, Harold Ramis. Our thoughts are with his family.”
R.I.P. Dr. Egon Spengler, for you will be missed.
Update: Some of Harold’s friends, and stars from his movies released statements about his passing.
“Harold Ramis and I together did the National Lampoon show off-Broadway, Meatballs, Stripes, Caddyshack, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day. He earned his keep on this planet. God bless him.”
Dan Aykroyd:
“Deeply saddened to hear of the passing of my brilliant, gifted, funny friend, co-writer/performer and teacher Harold Ramis. May he now get the answers he was always seeking.”
Billy Crystal:
“Sad to hear my friend Harold Ramis passed away. A brilliant, funny, actor and director. A wonderful husband and dad. Big loss to us all.”
John Cusack:
“Harold was a master – a gentle wry subverter and as decent honest and kind a director as I’ve ever worked with – so sad.”
“Harold Ramis made almost every movie which made me want to become a comedy director. Animal House, Stripes, Ghostbusters, Vacation, Groundhog Day. These films are the touchstones of our lives. I interviewed him when I was 16 years old for my high school radio station, and he could not have been more gracious and hilarious. I looked up to him as a director but even more so as a man. We hired him to play Seth’s father in Knocked Up because we all saw him as the dream dad — funny, warm and wise. Harold was one of the nicest people I have ever met and he inspired countless people to go into comedy. His brilliant work will make people happy forever.”
“The world has lost a wonderful, truly original, comedy voice with the passing of Harold Ramis. He possessed the most agile mind I’ve ever witnessed. He always had the clearest sense of what was funny and how to create something in a new clever way. He was very generous about making everyone around him look better and smarter. Harold had an extraordinary impact on my career, and I loved him like a brother. My heart goes out to his children, and his lovely wife, Erica. He will be profoundly missed.”
Sigourney Weaver:
“Working with Harold on Ghostbusters was one of the happiest experiences of my life. He was amazingly talented, kind and generous and always came up with these stealthy and incredibly funny lines. His movies are so brilliant, and Harold was so low key about it all. It’s a huge loss.”
Andie MacDowell
“I was fortunate to be able to do two movies with Harold Ramis. He was the kindest of all of the directors with whom I have worked. I also considered him a genius. Aside from his talent, he could do the New York Times crossword puzzle in record time. I was lucky to have known him as well as I did. I will miss him.”
