There is tragic news coming from Deadline and AP, former film director Ivan Reitman has passed away at the age of 75. According to his family, Reitman passed away peacefully in his sleep, his children, Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman, and Caroline Reitman said in a joint statement to the outlet:
“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. While we mourn privately, we hope those who knew him through his films will remember him always.”
Jason Reitman, Catherine Reitman, and Caroline Reitman’s Joint Statement
Ivan was born in Czechoslovakia on October 27th, 1946, but it would be Toronto that be his home as his family moved when he was 4 years old.
His big break would come in 1978 when he produced National Lampoon’s Animal House which he followed up with a directing gig in Meatballs a year later. That opened the doors for him in comedy, landing producing and directing gigs in Stripes, Twins, Kindergarten Cop, Dave, Space Jam, and No Strings Attached.
His biggest hit would be the 1984 Supernatural Comedy, Ghostbusters, starring Dan Aykroyd and Harold Ramis, who penned the screenplay, and Bill Murray, Ernie Hudson, Sigourney Weaver, Rick Moranis, and Annie Potts. It was the second highest-grossing film of the year following Beverly Hills Cop.
The film earned two Academy Award nominations: Best Original Song for “Ghostbusters” by Ray Parker, and Best Visual Effects.
He followed that up with a sequel, Ghostbusters II, five years later also as director and producer.
It would take more than three decades for the franchise’s third installment Ghostbusters: Afterlife, released in 2021. Reitman produced and Jason directed.
Tributes have poured in for Ivan, including from his son Jason, who posted on social media a message that honored his legacy not only as a filmmaker but as a hero and father.
From all of us fans of Reitman’s work, thank you for everything that you have done, and you will be missed.
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