Ivan Reitman, the influential filmmaker and producer behind beloved comedies from “Animal House” to “Ghostbusters,” has died. He was 75.
Reitman died peacefully in his sleep Saturday (Feb 12) night time at his residence in Montecito, California, his household instructed The Associated Press.
“Our household is grieving the surprising lack of a husband, father, and grandfather who taught us to at all times search the magic in life,” kids Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman mentioned in a joint assertion. “We take consolation that his work as a filmmaker introduced laughter and happiness to numerous others world wide. While we mourn privately, we hope those that knew him by means of his movies will bear in mind him at all times.”
Known for large, bawdy comedies that caught the spirit of their time, Reitman’s huge break got here with the raucous, school fraternity sendup National Lampoon’s Animal House, which he produced. He directed Bill Murray in his first starring position in Meatballs after which once more in Stripes, however his most vital success got here with 1984’s Ghostbusters.
Not solely did the irreverent supernatural comedy starring Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis gross almost US$300mil worldwide, it earned two Oscar nominations, spawned a veritable franchise, together with spinoffs, tv exhibits and a brand new film, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, that opened final yr. His son, filmmaker Jason Reitman directed.
Among different notable movies he directed are Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Junior and Six (*75*), Seven Nights. He additionally produced Beethoven, Old School and EuroTrip, and lots of others, together with a number of for his son.
Ivan Reitman (proper) together with his son, director Jason Reitman at the premiere of ‘Ghostbusters: Afterlife’ in New York on Nov 15, 2021. Photo: AFP
He was born in Komarmo, Czechoslovakia, in 1946 the place his father owned the nation’s greatest vinegar manufacturing facility. When the communists started imprisoning capitalists after the struggle, the Reitmans determined to flee, when Ivan Reitman was solely 4. They traveled within the nailed-down maintain of a barge headed for Vienna.
“I bear in mind flashes of scenes,” Reitman instructed the AP in 1979. “Later they instructed me about how they gave me a few sleeping drugs so I wouldn’t make any noise. I used to be so knocked out that I slept with my eyes open. My dad and mom have been afraid I used to be lifeless.”
The Reitmans joined a relative in Toronto, the place Ivan displayed his present biz inclinations: beginning a puppet theater, entertaining at summer season camps, taking part in espresso homes with a folks music group. He studied music and drama at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and started making film shorts.
With pals and US$12,000, Reitman made a nine-day film, Cannibal Girls, which American International agreed to launch. He produced on a US$500 finances a weekly TV revue, Greed, with Dan Aykroyd, and have become related to the Lampoon group in its off-Broadway revue that featured John Belushi, Gilda Radner and Murray. That quickly led to Animal House.
By the time 1990’s Kindergarten Cop got here round, Reitman had established himself as probably the most profitable comedy director in historical past. Though not even being the daddy of three kids may have ready him for the arduous activity of directing 30 kids between the ages of 4 and 7 within the Arnold Schwarzenegger comedy. – AP