Ivan Reitman, the filmmaker behind comedy blockbusters including "National Lampoon's Animal House" and "Ghostbusters," has died at the age of 75.
Reitman died in his sleep Saturday at his home in Montecito, California, his family told the Associated Press.
"Our family is grieving 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 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."
The CEO of Sony Pictures Motion Picture Group also issued a statement on Rietman's death, posting on the official "Ghostbusters" Twitter account.
"Tonight, the lady with the torch weeps, as do all of us at Columbia, and film lovers around the world. Ivan Reitman was an inseparable part of this studio's legacy, but more than that he was a friend," CEO Tom Rothman tweeted. "A great talent and an even finer man; he will be dearly missed. We send his family all our condolences."
Reitman caught his big break as a producer on 1978's "Animal House" starring John Belushi, according to the AP. He then went on to direct two films with Bill Murray -- 1979's "Meatballs" and 1981's "Stripes" -- before 1984's "Ghostbusters," which grossed nearly $300 million worldwide and spawned a franchise of spinoffs, TV shows, toys, games and multiple sequels.
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"I've had the good fortune of finding fresh comedic voices or actors that went on to greater fame, or became famous as a result of movies I was involved with them in," Reitman said in an interview with Canadian Business in 2006. "People like John Belushi and Bill Murray were in their first movies with me."
Reitman made similar remarks in 2007 to CBC's "The Hour," explaining that he couldn't predict which films would be a success but he could easily spot comedy stars.
"You get a sense after a while when you're seeing something special in a person," he said. "They have a way of taking stage, or taking a screen. It's not just that they know how to say something funny -- there's something about their face where you just have to keep looking at them."
Other films Reitman directed include 1988's "Twins" and 1994's "Junior" both starring Arnold Schwarzenegger and Danny DeVito, 1990's "Kindergarten Cop" also staring Schwarzenegger, 1993's "Dave" staring Kevin Kline and Sigourney Weaver, 1998's "Six Days Seven Nights" staring Harrison Ford and Anne Heche, and 2011's "No Strings Attached" starring Ashton Kutcher and Natalie Portman.
Rietman also has several producer credits including 1992's "Beethoven," 1996's "Space Jam," 2003's "Old School," 2004's "EuroTrip," 2007's "Disturbia," and 2009's "Up in the Air." He's also listed as a producer on 2021's "Ghostbusters: Afterlife," which was directed by his son, Jason.
Twitter was flooded with tributes as many expressed condolences for the influential filmmaker.
"I'm in absolute shock," wrote Paul Feig, who directed the 2016 "Ghostbusters" remake. "I had the honor of working so closely with Ivan and it was always such a learning experience. He directed some of my favorite comedies of all time. All of us in comedy owe him so very much."
"I am deeply saddened by the loss of Ivan Reitman," wrote "Ghostbusters" star Ernie Hudson. "Truly a great man and filmmaker who I had honor and privilege of knowing and working with. Deepest condolences to Jason and the entire family. May he RIP."
"I got to be in a movie because Ivan Reitman's saw me on TV and thought I was funny," wrote Guy Branum, who appeared in "No Strings Attached." "He was impossibly kind, astoundingly funny, and made so many of my favorite movies. I'm so sorry for his family's loss."
"A legend," comedian and actor Kumail Nanjiani wrote. "The number of great movies he made is absurd."
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