Original Ghostbusters Director Ivan Reitman Has Died Aged 75
It’s the start of a new week and we don’t like to start with sad news, but we are. During the early hours of this morning news has broke that Ivan Reitman the director of the original Ghostbusters film has sadly died.
No cause of death yet was given, his family announced he died peacefully in his sleep at home in California.
Ivan’s children Jason, Catherine and Caroline Reitman released a short joint statement…
“Our family is grieving the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life. We take comfort that his work as a film-maker brought laughter and happiness to countless others around the world. While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always.”
Ivan was born in Komarmo Slovakia then Czechoslovakia in 1946. His father owned the country’s biggest vinegar factory with his mother surviving Auschwitz concentration camp. The family had to flee the post war homeland now due to communist oppression, heading to Toronto, Canada.
It was here he would grow up showing signs first a puppet theatre, playing in a folk music before joining McMaster University. There he studied drama, he did make short films which some included a certain Rick Moranis.
After producing films for David Cronenberg, his big break came in the shape of National Lampoon’s Animal House. He would be responsible for directing (& producing) some of the biggest comedies of the 1980’s and 1990s. Including the 1979 Meatballs starring a young Bill Murray in his starring role.
His biggest known success will always be the 1984 supernatural comedy Ghostbusters. Starring Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Rick Moranis, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson and Sigourney Weaver. Gaining over $300 million dollars worldwide which was massive for the decade, also earning the film 2 Oscar Nominations.
Other notable films Ivan Reitman directed were Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Junior and Six Days, Seven Nights. His last directed film was Kevin Costner‘s 2014 Draft Day.
2016 saw Reitman head back to Ghostbusters franchise when he worked closely with Paul Feig on the 2016 reboot. It was several years later he would work on Ghostbusters: Afterlife producing with his son Jason directing.
Rest in peace Mr Reitman.
I’m in absolute shock. I had the honor of working so closely with Ivan and it was always such a learning experience. He directed some of my favorite comedies of all time. All of us in comedy owe him so very much. Thank you for everything, Ivan. Truly. ❤️❤️ https://t.co/SGnI7OcT9s
— Paul Feig (@paulfeig) February 14, 2022
"Tonight, the lady with the torch weeps, as do all of us at Columbia, and film lovers around the world. Ivan Reitman was an inseparable part of this studio's legacy, but more than that he was a friend. (1/2) pic.twitter.com/saVhBoBgFG
— Ghostbusters (@Ghostbusters) February 14, 2022
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