“Ghostbusters” director Ivan Reitman has died at the age of 75

Ivan Reitman, producer and director of a series of films, including “Ghostbusters” and “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” which captured the ridiculousness of the funny bones of a generation of spectators, died Saturday at his home in Montecito, California. reported the Associated Press. He was 75.

His children, Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman, confirmed the death in a statement to the AP.

Over the course of a decade-long career, with titles just last year, Wrightman produced and directed major ticket comedies that became emblematic of the generations that grew up with them, contributing to the rise of actors such as Bill Murray and Arnold Schwarz. , who played the incredible role of a police officer disguised as a kindergarten teacher in “Kindergarten Cop” (1990).

He produced, with Matty Simmons, the 1978 film “National Lampoon’s Animal House”, an hour and a half depiction of the chaotic energy and absurdity of Greek life that has become one of the most beloved comedies in the history of the genre. . The film introduces the concept of toga party in modern culture. After the stunning success of “Animal House”, he returned to directing, later telling the New York Times that he regretted not directing it.

The 1984 film “Ghostbusters”, which he directed, was nominated for two Oscars, despite the lukewarm criticism of some critics, who complained about the discontinuous humor that gave high priority to special effects.

Viewers disagreed, got excited and had fun with Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis and Mr. Murray dressed in bold accessories and bizarre graphics that included a 100-foot-tall marshmallow dressed as a sailor and a neon green ghost. Five years later, he directed a sequel, “Ghostbusters II,” and helped produce another spinoff, “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” directed by his son Jason and released last year.

In 2007 interview at CBCremembered the first time he saw it The stars of “Ghostbusters” with their strange clothes to explode ghosts, circle Madison Avenue for a pre-shooting. “There was something so unusual about this picture,” he said. I turned to the screenwriter next to me and said, ‘I think this movie will work.’

Ivan Reitman was born in Komarno, present-day Slovakia, on October 27, 1946, to Jewish parents who survived the Nazis. Four years later, his family fled Czechoslovakia to escape communism and eventually landed in Toronto.

“We came here without a penny,” he told CBC in 2007 as he was about to get a star on the Canada Walk of Fame. “I did not speak the language.”

He began producing films as a student at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.

Working outside of Broadway on “The National Lampoon Show”, he formed an early collaboration with Mr. Ramis and John Belushi and Mr. Murray before becoming stars on “Saturday Night Live”.

After “Animal House”, he directed “Meatballs” (1979), starring Mr. Murray as a lead consultant in a chaotic summer camp, and “Stripes” (1981), in which Mr. Murray plays a revolutionary recruit. army.

Survivors include Jason’s children, Catherine and Caroline.

“Our family mourns the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek magic in life,” they told the AP. The world. “While we mourn in private, we hope that those who knew him through his films will always remember him.”

A complete obituary will appear shortly.