Ivan Reitman has died, his family said in a statement on Monday. He was 75. Reitman, who will be remembered for his work in classic Hollywood comedies like National Lampoon’s Animal House (1978) and Ghostbusters (1984), died peacefully in his sleep, his family told the Associated Press.
Reitman was residing in Montecito, California, when he died. Signed by his three children Jason, Catherine, and Caroline, the Reitman family’s joint statement read: “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,” they said. “While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always. ”Reitman earned his big break with the raucous, college fraternity satire National Lampoon’s Animal House which he produced.
He later directed Bill Murray in his first starring role in Meatballs and then again in Stripes, but his most significant success would come with Ghostbusters.
Starring Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Harold Ramis, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver and Rick Moranis, the blockbuster grossed nearly $300m in ticket sales worldwide.
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