Often, comedians are quick to take to the spotlight and aim to star in as many movies as possible. Harold Ramis was a different kind of funny guy. He had a hand in so many of the world’s greatest jokes and shaped an entire generation of laughter.
Ramis passed away today and, like many other filmmakers in recent years, left a catalog of incredible works for us to remember him by.
Ramis was a significant part of a golden age of comedy movies, working with greats like Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd and John Candy.
As an actor, Ramis is best known or playing Dr. Egon Spengler in “Ghostbusters” and “Ghostbusters II.” Spengler was dry and serious to the point of being accidentally hilarious. The character could not be more different from Ramis, who wrote and directed some of the greatest comedy movies in history.
As a writer and director, the ‘80s were an incredibly prolific time for Ramis. In the span of a dozen years, Ramis had a hand in making “National Lampoon’s Animal House,” “Meatballs,” “Caddyshack,” and “Stripes.” These movies set a precedent for comedy films and have had a major impact on the comedy films of today.
In 1993, Ramis directed and co-wrote “Groundhog Day.” The film remains one of the most lauded comedy films of all time and is a beautiful and hilarious tale of love and redemption. In 2006, the film was added to the United States National Film Registry where it sits with the greatest classics of American cinema.