Harold Ramis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Harold Ramis
Ramis in 2009
Born	Harold Allen Ramis (1944-11-21)November 21, 1944 Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
Died	February 24, 2014(2014-02-24) (aged 69) Glencoe, Illinois, U.S.
Resting place	Shalom Memorial Park, Arlington Heights, Illinois, U.S.
Alma mater	Washington University in St. Louis
Occupation	Actor, comedian, director, writer
Years active	1968–2010
Spouse(s)	Anne Plotkin ​ ​ (m. 1967; div. 1984)​ Erica Mann ​ (m. 1989)​
Children	4

Harold Allen Ramis (November 21, 1944 – February 24, 2014) was an American actor, comedian, director, and writer. He was famous for his roles as Dr. Egon Spengler in the Ghostbusters movies and as Russell Ziskey in Stripes. He also helped write these films.

As a director, Harold Ramis made many popular comedies. These include Caddyshack (1980), National Lampoon's Vacation (1983), and Groundhog Day (1993). He was also the main writer for the TV show SCTV. His movies have inspired many comedians and writers who came after him.

Early life and education

Harold Ramis was born in Chicago, Illinois, on November 21, 1944. His parents were Ruth and Nathan Ramis. He went to public schools in Chicago and then studied at Washington University in St. Louis in Missouri. He graduated from college in 1966.

After college, Ramis worked for seven months at a mental hospital in St. Louis.

Comedy and film career

Starting in comedy

Harold Ramis began writing funny plays while he was in college. After working in St. Louis, he returned to Chicago in 1968. There, he worked as a substitute teacher. He also started writing for a local newspaper, the Chicago Daily News.

Around this time, Ramis joined Chicago's famous Second City comedy group. This group was known for its improvisational comedy, where performers make up scenes on the spot.

National Lampoon and SCTV

In 1974, Harold Ramis moved to New York City. He worked on The National Lampoon Radio Hour with other Second City performers, including Bill Murray. Later, Ramis became a performer and the main writer for the Canadian TV show SCTV. He worked on the show for its first three years, from 1976 to 1979.

On SCTV, Ramis played many funny characters. These included Maurice "Moe" Green, a TV station manager, and Officer Friendly, a seemingly nice but strict cop. He also did impressions of famous people like Leonard Nimoy.

Making movies

Ramis left SCTV to start working in movies. He co-wrote the script for National Lampoon's Animal House (1978). This movie was about a wild college group and became a huge success.

He also co-wrote Meatballs, which starred Bill Murray. This movie was also very popular and was the first of many films Ramis and Murray worked on together.

His first movie as a director was Caddyshack (1980). He wrote it with Douglas Kenney and Brian Doyle-Murray. It starred Chevy Chase, Rodney Dangerfield, Ted Knight, and Bill Murray. Like his earlier films, Caddyshack was a big hit.

In 1984, Ramis worked with Dan Aykroyd to write Ghostbusters. This movie became one of the biggest comedy hits ever. Ramis also starred in it as Dr. Egon Spengler. He played this role again in the sequel, Ghostbusters II (1989), which he also co-wrote.

His later film, Groundhog Day (1993), is often called his best work. His movies are known for their funny and clever way of looking at life.

Ramis also acted in other popular movies that he didn't write or direct. These include As Good as It Gets (1997) and Knocked Up (2007).

In 2009, Ramis wrote, directed, produced, and acted in his last film, Year One.

Later Ghostbusters films

Harold Ramis had plans for a third Ghostbusters movie. After his death, a new Ghostbusters movie was made in 2016. It was dedicated to him, and a statue of his character, Egon Spengler, appears in the film. In 2021, another sequel, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, was released and also dedicated to him.

Personal life

Harold Ramis was married twice and had four children. He first married Anne Plotkin in 1967, and they had a daughter named Violet. Violet's godfather is actor Bill Murray. Ramis and Anne later divorced in 1984.

In 1989, Ramis married Erica Mann. They had two sons, Julian and Daniel. Erica's Buddhist background influenced Ramis's ideas about life, and he became friends with the Dalai Lama.

Ramis was a big fan of the Chicago Cubs baseball team. He enjoyed hobbies like fencing, playing acoustic guitar, and making hats.

Illness and death

A memorial to Ramis at the Firehouse, Hook & Ladder Company 8 firehouse, where Ghostbusters was filmed

In May 2010, Harold Ramis became very ill with an infection that caused serious problems with his blood vessels. This made it hard for him to walk. He worked to learn how to walk again, but the illness returned in late 2011.

He passed away on February 24, 2014, at his home in Chicago, at the age of 69. He was buried in Arlington Heights, Illinois.

After Ramis's death, then-President Barack Obama shared a statement. He said that Ramis's movies made people laugh and think.

Harold Ramis and his longtime friend Bill Murray had not spoken for over 20 years after working on Groundhog Day. However, shortly before Ramis died, Murray visited him to make up. Murray talked for hours, as Ramis had trouble speaking. Murray also gave a tribute to Ramis at the 86th Academy Awards.

Awards and honors

Harold Ramis received many awards for his work:

• In 2004, he was honored with a spot on the St. Louis Walk of Fame.
• In 2005, he received the Distinguished Screenwriter Award from the Austin Film Festival.
• In 2010, he got a lifetime achievement award from the Chicago Improv Festival.
• In 2015, after his death, the Writers Guild of America gave him their lifetime achievement award for screenwriting.

In 2016, a film school called the Harold Ramis Film School was started in his honor. It is the first film school to focus only on comedy films.

Collaborations

Harold Ramis often worked with director Ivan Reitman. He co-wrote National Lampoon's Animal House, which Reitman produced. They also worked together on Meatballs, Stripes, Ghostbusters, and Ghostbusters II.

Filmography

Films

Other work

Television

Acting roles

Video games

Archival appearances

See also

In Spanish: Harold Ramis para niños