PA just put a damper on the Super Bowl on Sunday with the devastating news that the beloved filmmaker Ivan Reitman died at the age of 75.
Reitman died peacefully in his sleep Saturday night at his home in Montecito, Calif., his family said. The Associated Press.
Reitman is best known among the horror crowd as the director of the iconic 1984 supernatural comedy ghost hunters and its sequel, Ghostbusters II. Although he didn’t realize last year Ghostbusters: Afterlifehe returned to production and passed the baton to his filmmaker son, Jason Reitman.
“Our family is mourning the unexpected loss of a husband, father and grandfather who taught us to always seek the magic in life,” children Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement. “We are reassured that his work as a filmmaker has brought laughter and happiness to countless people around the world. While we privately mourn, we hope that those who knew him through his films will always remember him.
Known for his big, bawdy comedies that captured the spirit of their time, Reitman’s big break came with the raucous send-off of the National Lampoon’s college fraternity. animal housethat he realized, remembers PA. He directed Bill Murray in his first starring role in Meatballs then again in Groovesbut his most significant success came with the years 1984 ghost hunters, which spawned several sequels and an animated series. The latter earned two Oscar nominations.
Reitman has also made Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Junior and underrated criminals Evolution, which we just celebrated a few weeks ago. It’s also worth noting that he not only produced the two comedy classics Beethoven and Old schoolbut was executive producer of David Cronenberg’s Canadian horror masterpiece Enraged.
The Bloody Disgusting community sends their thoughts and prayers to all of Ivan’s surviving family and friends. We will miss him.
left to right: Ivan Reitman, Carrie Coon, Mckenna Grace, Finn Wolfhard, Jason Reitman (provided by Columbia PIctures)
