Harold Ramis, a vanguard of the 80s comedy film scene, died today at the age of 69. Ramis is perhaps best-known for writing a string of successful comedy classics such as Animal House, Meatballs, Groundhog Day, and Caddyshack, (which he also directed), and for writing and co-starring alongside his friend Bill Murray as Dr. Egon Spengler in Ghostbusters and Russell Ziskey in Stripes. Younger generations might remember him better as Seth Rogen's father in Judd Apatow’s Knocked Up.
According to The Chicago Tribune, Ramis passed away from complications of autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis, a rare disease that involves swelling of the blood vessels, after struggling with his health since 2010. He was surrounded by family and friends when he passed.
Ramis's impressive body of work speaks for itself. The films he wrote and worked on weren't just funny or just subversive; they were smart. But what's truly remarkable about Ramis's too-short career is that you can see a clear picture of Ramis's character in the long-term collaborations of his career. Ramis didn't just work with Billy Murray, Chevy Chase or John Candy once; he worked with them over and over again. He chose to fill his work life with friendships that bordered on family, and always stayed loyal to his Chicago roots. He also served as an inspiration for a whole new generation of comedy writers. Judd Apatow recalls:
He summed up his life philosophy for Vanity Fair back in 2009:
Here's Ramis in 1983 talking to David Letterman about National Lampoon's Vacation and the joy of working with his friends.
