Ghostbusters actor Harold Ramis dies at age 69

[pwaldo]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/arti...d-aged-69.html

Hollywood star Harold Ramis has died aged 69 after a long illness.

Ramis was one of Tinseltown's most successful filmmakers in the 1980’s and 90’s – starring in 'Ghostbusters' and writing credits on classics such as ‘Animal House,’ ‘Caddyshack,’ ‘National Lampoon’s Vacation,’ ‘Stripes,’ ‘Groundhog Day’ and ‘Analyze This.’

The Chicago native died from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis – which swells the blood vessels - surrounded by family just before 1.00am, his wife Erica told the Chicago Tribune.

Ramis’ health began going downhill in 2010 when complications of the autoimmune disease arose from an infection. The condition was so severe he had to learn how to walk all over again, a family spokesperson told the paper.

He never fully recovered, and finally lost his battle with the disease.

Tributes began pouring in from all around Hollywood as the industry reeled from his death.

'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,' Dan Akroyd said.

'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,' tweeted Billy Crystal.

'Was honored to have gotten to work with Harold Ramis, the Buddha of Comedy. Brilliant, humble, radiant. We've lost an icon,' tweeted Rainn Wilson.

Ramis recently directed several episodes of NBC's 'The Office,' Wilson co-starred in the show as the neurotic Dwight Schrute.

'Harold Ramis. Funny, gracious, kind hearted. A joy to have known you,' tweeted 'Office' star Steve Carell.

The beloved filmmaker was known for his over the top comedies with an uncommon touch.

His off-beat, but cerebral and self-aware characters brought tears of laughter and sadness to millions. His movies are the soundtrack to many childhoods that eventually grew into happy hours.

Ramis' first major film was the raucous 1978 John Belushi comedy 'Animal House,' which made the latter a household name and still inspires jokes among college students decades later.

He wrote and directed 1980's 'Caddyshack,' cementing both he and Murray's place in Hollywood. They would make several more films together.

'In 1993 Harold Ramis called me & told me his 2 rules of directing comedy: '1. Hire Bill Murray 2. Turn on camera,' filmmaker Dan Mirvish tweeted upon hearing of Ramis' death.

Ramis' seemingly struck gold with every film script he churned out, from 'Meatballs' to 'National Lampoon's Vacation,' which launched a string of sequels and Chevy Chase's film career.

The parade of hits continued with 'Caddyshack 2,' the critically acclaimed 'Groundhog Day,' 'Analyze This' and sequel 'Analyze That.'

His last acting role came as the father to Seth Rogen's character in 2009's 'Knocked Up.' Rogen has often said Ramis is one of the reasons he began doing comedy.

'His work is the reason why so many of us got into comedy,' 'Knocked Up' director Judd Apatow told the Tribune. 'We grew up on 'Second City TV' and 'Ghostbusters,' 'Vacation,' 'Animal House,' 'Stripes,' 'Meatballs,' he literally made every single one of our favorite movies.'

[Wickabee]

Analyze This and Analyze That will always be two of my favourite films.
:'(

[kalipbean]

Who ya gonna call, Ghostbusters! Loved those movies as a kid.