By Harold Ramis has died at the age of 69.
The Ghostbusters star and Groundhog Day director was with his family when he died from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare condition, his wife Erica Mann Ramis told the Chicago Tribune.
Harold Ramis dies at 69: Hollywood pays tribute to Ghostbusters star
"His creativity, compassion, intelligence, humour and spirit will be missed by all who knew and loved him," said his family in a statement.
Ramis had been seriously unwell since May 2010 after suffering from an infection. After initial improvements, he suffered a relapse in 2011.
He was best known for his starring role as Egon Spengler in 1984's supernatural comedy Ghostbusters and its 1989 sequel, both of which he wrote with his co-star Dan Aykroyd.
He first gained showbiz attention as part of the National Lampoon team, going on to direct 1983's National Lampoon's Vacation.
Ramis was also the director and co-writer of hit comedy movies Caddyshack, Groundhog Day and Analyze This.
The actor had long been linked to the Ghostbusters 3 project, despite Bill Murray's inconclusive statements on whether he would return as Peter Venkman.
Aykroyd was working on a sequel with original series director Ivan Reitman and writer Etan Cohen's new screenplay with the plan of shooting in early 2014.
"We've got a sharp new writer on it, Ivan is on it, Harold [Ramis] is on it, I'm on it. And if I can put the catch-net on Billy [Murray] and bring him in, it will be wonderful, if he decides to do it," Aykroyd said.
Born to food and liquor store owners Ruth and Nathan Ramis in 1944, Harold graduated from Senn High School and Washington University in St Louis.
Ramis is survived by his wife Erica Mann and sons Julian and Daniel, and two grandchildren
Erica told the newspaper that a private service would take place this week, with a public memorial to probably take place in Chicago in May.
Harold Ramis - life in pictures:
Harold Ramis: Life in Pictures
