Renowned filmmaker Ivan Reitman has passed away at 75 years old. Best known for his 1984 blockbuster hit,Ghostbusters, Reitman also wrote, directed and produced some of the most cherished films of all time such asTwins,Beethoven,andMeatballs, which sawBill Murrayin his first starring role.
Reitman was born in 1946 in Komarno, Czechoslovakia. The family fled to Toronto when Reitman was four years old, and it was here that he began to exhibit his interest in entertainment. At a young age, Ivan Reitman would start a puppet theater to entertain people at summer camps and eventually, while studying music and drama at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, the young producer began makingmovie shorts.
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Following the success of his independent projects, includingAnimal House’s, the creator raised enough money to directMeatballs, for which he handpicked Bill Murray to star and therefore beginning a long-standing film partnership between the two, which included the supernatural comedy,Ghostbusters, that is loved by many to this day. Starring Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Ernie Hudson, the movie grossed nearly $300 million worldwide and received two Oscar nominations.Ghostbustersnot only established Reitman as a respected and influential filmmaker, but it alsogenerated a global franchiseinvolving spin-offs, television shows and the most recent movie,Ghostbusters: Afterlife,directed by his son, Jason. Along with this, Ivan Reitman also formed a collaboration with Arnold Schwarzenegger, putting the actor in his first major comedy,Twins. By the time of their second film,Kindergarten Cop, Reitman was well-known as the most successful comedy director in history.
After Reitman died peacefully in his sleep on Saturday, his children Jason, Catherine, and Caroline Reitman informed the Associated Press, saying “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 filmmaker 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.”
Tributes from people that knew and worked with Ivan Reitman have poured in, including the director of theGhostbusters2016 reboot,Paul Feig, who tweeted “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.”. Other tributes included writer and director Judd Apatow (known forThe40-year-old-virgin) who labeled Reitman “a true legend” and an influencer of “everything we all love about film and comedy.”
Although Reitman has passed, it is clear his work will continue to live on for years to come. In the later part of his career, the director slowed down after his 1998 adventure comedySix Days and Seven Nights, only making four subsequent films includingMy Super Ex-GirlfriendandNo Strings Attached. However, the moviemaker continued to produce through his company Montecito Picture Co, which took him on a press tour with his son, Jason, forGhostbusters: Afterlife. With the passing of the torch, the tour provided emotional moments for both and Jason commented that while directing the movie was intimidating, “I was lucky enough to do it sitting next to my dad.”
Ivan Reitman’s films have provided audiences with plenty of laughter that will not stop for years. While the film industry has lost alegendary creator, there is no doubt that Reitman’s movies and influence will continue to inspire people years after his death.
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