Born on November 21, 1944, in the vibrant city of Chicago, Illinois, Harold Allen Ramis embarked on a remarkable journey in the world of comedy, commencing as the joke editor and reviewer for the renowned Playboy magazine. As his passion for comedy continued to grow, he joined the esteemed Second City's Improvisational Theatre Troupe in 1969, where he honed his skills alongside other talented individuals, including the likes of John Belushi, Gilda Radner, and Bill Murray.
In 1976, Ramis made the transition to television, becoming the head writer and a regular performer on the highly acclaimed Canadian comedy series, SCTV. His exceptional talent and dedication soon caught the attention of Hollywood, leading to his involvement in the script for National Lampoon's Animal House, a film produced by Ivan Reitman in 1978. This marked the beginning of a successful collaboration with Ivan, who would go on to produce many of Ramis's future projects.
Throughout the 1980s, Ramis continued to work closely with Ivan, penning the scripts for Meatballs (1979),Stripes (1981),Ghostbusters (1984),and Ghostbusters II (1989). Additionally, he took on acting roles in the latter three films, showcasing his versatility as a performer. Sadly, Harold Ramis passed away on February 24, 2014, at the age of 69, due to complications from autoimmune inflammatory vasculitis.
